How to remove the Driver Tuneup app from your computer
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Driver Tuneup?
Driver Tuneup is advertised as a program that finds and installs missing drivers, and updates drivers that are out-of-date.
In fact, developers promote this app through the download and/or installation set-ups of other software (such as Advance System Care). Programs that are distributed in this way are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since people often download and install them unintentionally.
Driver Tuneup scans systems for outdated or missing drivers, however, to download and install them, users must first activate the Driver Tuneup paid version. Programs that are categorized as PUAs are generally useless - they detect fake issues and errors and do not fix any genuine problems.
Since Driver Tuneup is classified as PUA, it is very likely that, if activated, it will not update any outdated drivers. Typically, programs that detect fake issues (in this case, outdated or missing drivers) are used trick people into paying for bogus software activation.
In many cases, the set-ups of programs such as Driver Tuneup are used to distribute other PUAs such as browser hijackers, adware, and so on. If installed, these apps feed users with intrusive ads (coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on) and/or collect information relating to browsing habits.
Having apps of this type installed can lead to problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and so on. Some people might even become victims of identity theft. The criminals who develop these apps often share the details with third parties (potentially cyber criminals).
Collected data might include sensitive/private information. We recommend that you uninstall One Click Booster and other unwanted, unintentionally installed applications/programs immediately.
| Name | Driver Tuneup potentially unwanted application |
| Threat Type | PUP (potentially unwanted program), PUA (potentially unwanted application). |
| Supposed Functionality | Driver Tuneup supposedly finds missing drivers and updates outdated drivers. |
| Detection Names | Cylance (Unsafe), DrWeb (Program.Unwanted.2364), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/GT32SupportGeeks.E Potentially Unwanted), Microsoft (PUA:Win32/SpeedChecker), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | A program that you do not recall installing suddenly appeared on your computer. New application is performing computer scans and displays warning messages about found issues. Asks for payment to eliminate the supposedly found errors. |
| Distribution Methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Related Domains | advancepctools[.]net |
| Damage | Monetary loss (unnecessary purchase of fake software), unwanted warning pop-ups, slow computer performance. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Driver Tuneup is similar to other programs of this type including, for example, Auto PC Care, IOByte System Care, and CompuClever PC TuneUp. Typically, PUAs deliver no real value. I.e., they are useless and designed only to trick people into paying for activation. Furthermore, most of their setups are used to distribute other unwanted applications.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
Driver Tuneup can be downloaded via its website, however, most people download and install PUAs through clicked intrusive ads (ads that run scripts designed to download/install unwanted applications) or when software developers use the "bundling" method.
The main purpose is to trick people into downloading and installing various apps together with other software, which was downloaded or installed intentionally. In most cases, developers hide information about the inclusion of PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings of the software download/installation set-ups.
People are often tricked into unwanted download/installation when they leave these settings unchanged.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Software should be downloaded from official websites and using direct download links. Third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, etc.), and other similar channels should not be trusted. In many cases, they are monetized by promoting various unwanted applications.
Furthermore, unwanted downloads and installations can be avoided by checking all settings available in the set-ups and dismissing offers to download/install unwanted software. Do not click intrusive ads, especially when they are displayed on unofficial, dubious web pages.
If clicked, they can redirect people to dubious sites. If the browser opens dubious sites and/or displays unwanted ads, it is likely that this is due to an unwanted extension, plug-in, or add-on installed on it. We recommend that you uninstall these apps from the browser immediately and also apply this to programs of this kind installed on the computer.
If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Website promoting Driver Tuneup unwanted application:
Driver Tuneup installation setup:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is Driver Tuneup?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove malicious plug-ins from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Removal of potentially unwanted applications:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window, look for "Driver Tuneup" and other suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove rogue extensions from Internet browsers:
At the time of research, Driver Tuneup did not install any unwanted browser extensions, however, some unwanted applications can be installed together with adware and browser hijackers. If you experience unwanted ads or redirects when browsing the internet, continue with the removal guide below.
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the driver tuneup potentially unwanted application, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the driver tuneup potentially unwanted application, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with driver tuneup potentially unwanted application removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the driver tuneup potentially unwanted application, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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