Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe by Spigot (Removal Guide)

ApplicationUpdater.exe is a potentially unwanted program which is installed with the Spigot toolbar, and its sole purpose is to is to check periodically that the toolbar is the most up to date version.
ApplicationUpdater.exe is included with various adware offer bundles and is a cross browser extension that runs with multiple parts including a Windows service, an auto-starting component and the browser toolbar/plugin which is designed to inject advertisements in the browser in form of banner ads, hyper-text links and popups. .

ApplicationUpdater.exe it’s technically not a virus, but it does exhibit plenty of malicious traits, such as rootkit capabilities to hook deep into the operating system, browser hijacking, and in general just interfering with the user experience. The industry generally refers to it as a “PUP,” or potentially unwanted program.

ApplicationUpdater.exe is part of the Spigot Application Updater program, and is typically added when you install another free software (video recording/streaming, download-managers or PDF creators) that had bundled into their installation this malicious program. When you install these free programs, they will also install ApplicationUpdater.exe as well. Some of the programs that are known to bundle ApplicationUpdater.exe include Dellio Toolbar, Widget Toolbar, Spigot Toolbar and many other programs.

When the Spigot Toolbar is installed on a machine, the ApplicationUpdater.exe process runs automatically every time Windows starts, and it stays active in the background and checks for software updates. The ApplicationUpdater.exe malicious process may be visible in Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL), and you may find two or more ApplicationUpdater.exe running at the safe time.

You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this ApplicationUpdater.exe hijacker. Be very careful what you agree to install.
Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.

How to remove ApplicationUpdater.exe (Virus Removal Guide)

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove ApplicationUpdater.exe pop-ups from your computer, and any other adware program that may have been installed during the setup process.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
STEP 1: Uninstall the adware program that is responsible for the ApplicationUpdater.exe background process
STEP 2: Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome with AdwCleaner
STEP 3: Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe browser hijacker from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome with Junkware Removal Tool
STEP 4: Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
STEP 5: Double-check for the ApplicationUpdater.exe adware infection with HitmanPro

STEP 1: Uninstall the adware program adware that is responsible for the ApplicationUpdater.exe pop-up ads from your computer

In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious program that might be installed on your computer.

1. To uninstall the program responsible for the ApplicationUpdater.exe process from Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, click the “Start” button, then click on the “Control Panel” menu option.
   
   If you are using Windows 8, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for “control panel” .Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select “Control Panel” from there.
   
2. When the “Control Panel” window opens click on the “Uninstall a program” option under “Programs” category. This option is shown by the arrow in the image below. If you are using the “Classic View” of the Control Panel, then you would double-click on the “Programs and Features” icon instead.
   
3. When the “Programs and Features” or the “Uninstall a Program” screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and uninstall Search Settings, Widgi Toolbar Platform, PDF Forge Toolbar, Dealio Toolbar and any other program from Spigot from your computer.
   To view the most recently installed programs, you can click on the “Installed On” column to sort your program by the installation date. Scroll though the list, and uninstall any unwanted or unknown programs.
   
   Depending on what program has installed the ApplicationUpdater.exe adware infection, the above program may have a different name or not be installed on your computer. If you cannot find any unwanted or unknown programs on your machine, then you can proceed with the next step.

If you are having issues while trying to uninstall the ApplicationUpdater.exe program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove this unwanted program from your machine.

STEP 2: Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe adware from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome with AdwCleaner

The AdwCleaner utility will scan your computer and web browser for the “ApplicationUpdater.exe” adware that may have been installed on your computer without your knowledge.

1. You can download AdwCleaner utility from the below link.
   ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download AdwCleaner on your computer)
2. Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs and internet browsers, then double-click on the AdwCleaner icon.
   
   If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
3. When the AdwCleaner program will open, click on the “Scan” button as shown below.
   
   AdwCleaner will now start to search for the ApplicationUpdater.exe malicious files that may be installed on your computer.
4. To remove the ApplicationUpdater.exe malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the “Clean” button.
   
5. AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to reboot the computer. Please do so and then click on the OK button. AdwCleaner will now delete all detected adware from your computer. When it is done it will display an alert that explains what PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) and Adware are. Please read through this information and then press the OK button. You will now be presented with an alert that states AdwCleaner needs to reboot your computer.
   Please click on the OK button to allow AdwCleaner reboot your computer.

STEP 3: Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe browser hijacker from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome with Junkware Removal Tool

Junkware Removal Tool is a powerful utility, which will remove ApplicationUpdater.exe virus from Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google Chrome.

1. You can download the Junkware Removal Tool utility from the below link:
   JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download the Junkware Removal Tool utility on your computer)
2. Once Junkware Removal Tool has finished downloading, please double-click on the JRT.exe icon as seen below.
   
   If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run Junkware Removal Tool, please allow it to run.
3. Junkware Removal Tool will now start, and at the Command Prompt, you’ll need to press any key to perform a scan for the ApplicationUpdater.exe.
   
   Please be patient as this can take a while to complete (up to 10 minutes) depending on your system’s specifications.
4. When the scan Junkware Removal Tool will be completed, this utility will display a log with the malicious files and registry keys that were removed from your computer.
   

STEP 4: Remove ApplicationUpdater.exe virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free uses industry-leading technology to detect and remove all traces of malware, including worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware, and more.
It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware works well and should run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.

1. You can download download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from the below link.
   MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)
2. Once downloaded, close all programs, then double-click on the icon on your desktop named “mbam-setup-consumer-2.00.xx” to start the installation of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
   
   You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
3. When the installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation process.
   
   To install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on your machine, keep following the prompts by clicking the “Next” button.
   
4. Once installed, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program, and that a scan has never been run on your system. To start a system scan you can click on the “Fix Now” button.
   
   Alternatively, you can click on the “Scan” tab and select “Threat Scan“, then click on the “Scan Now” button.
   
5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now check for updates, and if there are any, you will need to click on the “Update Now” button.
   
6. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for the ApplicationUpdater.exe virus. When Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is scanning it will look like the image below.
   
7. When the scan has completed, you will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes Anti-malware has found, click on the “Quarantine All” button, and then click on the “Apply Now” button.
   
   Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
8. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now quarantine all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. When removing the files, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot your computer, please allow it to do so.
   
   After your computer will restart, you should open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and perform another “Threat Scan” scan to verify that there are no remaining threats

STEP 5: Double-check for the ApplicationUpdater.exe adware infection with HitmanPro

HitmanPro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security measures you have taken (such as anti virus software, firewalls, etc.). HitmanPro is designed to work alongside existing security programs without any conflicts. It scans the computer quickly (less than 5 minutes) and does not slow down the computer.

1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
   HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
2. Double-click on the file named “HitmanPro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “HitmanPro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows). When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below.
   
   Click on the “Next” button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.
   
3. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for ApplicationUpdater.exe malicious files.
   
4. When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the “Next” button, to remove ApplicationUpdater.exe virus.
   
5. Click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
   

Your computer should now be free of the ApplicationUpdater.exe virus. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future, and perform regular computer scans with HitmanPro.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove “ApplicationUpdater.exe” virus from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.