Main.targo12.com “Virus” Pop-up Removal

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In this article we are going to try and help you remove Main.targo12.com . Our instructions cover all Windows versions as well as most browsers – Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer etc.

Dear reader,

Thank you for selecting our article. We have prepared it to help you solve your current technical issue connected to Main.targo12.com . This program is exactly what makes your browser go crazy and show numerous ads no matter what website you visit. Actually, Main.targo12.com is a type of Browser hijacker.  It is a software, which is programmed to display pop-ups, banners, pop-unders and other forms of probably useless and annoying ads on your monitor. This ad-generating software could be able to open new browser windows and tabs without your knowledge and/or clear consent.  It is believed that the Browser hijacker infections may occur more often than those caused by computer malware, nevertheless our guide will help you remove it from your PC easily and effectively.

Main.targo12.com “Virus” Pop-up

Many readers believe Main.targo12.com “Virus” is a virus. Well it might come as a suprise but in reality Main.targo12.com in not a virus. If you have only “met” a Browser hijacker for the first time, it could just seem very irritating to you because of the plenty of hard-to-close ads.  However, it may also be able to compromise your system’s performance as a whole, because showing many ads could consume a big amount of CPU and RAM. This is why many users probably mistake Browser hijacker for a virus like Ransomware. We would, however, like to assure you that Browser hijacker stands far away from malware and viruses and isn’t remotely as dangerous.

Nowadays you are likely to get acquainted with such ad-producing programs in many various ways. Nevertheless, the most common and widely spread means of distributing Browser hijacker is by incorporating it into software bundles. Such bundles represent free programs that we get from the Internet. If we venture into installing a program from such a bundle and you are not careful enough, you may end up being overwhelmed by the bonus product from the bundle – Browser hijacker. That’s why you should strive to always install any software using the Advanced or the Custom feature of the given installer, instead of the Default one.

What’s even more important is to carefully read through all menus so that you receive the essential details about the program that is going to become a part of your system. If you learn to do that every time you venture into installing anything on your computer, you are likely to successfully avoid Browser hijacker and many forms of malware.

The favorite browsers of the majority of users may get compromised – no matter whether you use Firefox, Chrome, Explorer or Opera, etc.  Whether or not you’ve been infected, though, we have some good news for you.
The ads-displaying programs are not capable of copying and/or using any of your private information (data like: passwords, account credentials or banking details).  Neither is Browser hijacker capable of spying on your system, nor can it destroy or damage any of your files, like ransomware would do, for example. Despite that, it may indeed possess one somehow shady feature – some of its versions are programmed to track your surfing history and show as many ads that match your recent search requests as it’s possible. Also, sometimes some Browser hijacker-like products could be able to sell the collected information about your preferences to 3rd parties, which are most commonly vendors who would like to sell something to you.

However, why do more and more programmers include Browser hijackers in their software bundles?

Usually, it is about the prospects of making a lot of money. Some developers have found a way to finance their further programming activities by using the pay-per-click system.  Obviously, when they include an Browser hijacker-based program into their bundles, it will start showing ads and it will be very difficult not to click on any of them. Every click is a coin, figuratively speaking.

Main.targo12.com in particular

Normally, Main.targo12.com acts just like a typical Browser hijacker-based application.  Its behavior changes in accordance with the change in your surfing preferences. It also strives to display as many ads that fit your recent search requests as possible. As you might expect, it is among the most irritating products that have ever been created. In spite of that, its negative features stop at that point. Actually, very rarely some of the generated advertisements may redirect you to web pages with suspicious and in the worst case – malicious content.

Say goodbye to the infection … amicably!

The guide you will find at the end of this article has been especially prepared to help you solve your issue with the constant and probably unwanted ads. Read it carefully before you make a decision to implement the removal steps. Good luck!

Main.targo12.com Pop-up Removal 

Many types of malware will restrict your access to their core files. It is highly recommended that you reboot your PC in safe mode before attempting to use this guide.

  • To enable Safe Mode reboot you PC, then hit F8 repeatedly. When the corresponding menu opens please select Safe Mode with Networking.

WARNING! If you are using Windows 8,0 or later and/or your operating system is installed on a fast SSD drive this may fail to work. In this case click here to see how to start your PC in Safe Mode.

#1: Uninstall the malicious program from your control panel

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Enter control panel to look for any suspicious programs, which may have installed on your PC. To do that:

  1. Navigate to your Desktop
  2. Press simultaneously the Win button together with the R button (Win+R)
  3. In the Run window that just opened type appwiz.cpl

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  1. Go through the list of programs and find Main.targo12.com or anything else that may seem suspicious. Right-click on it and choose the uninstallation option

WARNING! Carefully read any confirmation messages that may be created in the process. Sometimes you may get offers to download more Browser hijacker applications and this can be linked to either the Yes or the No answer depending on the wording!

  • Optional:

Go through the list of programs again and check online for any potentially unwanted programs. We have an article that covers this awesome free software that makes sure that your computer is free from bloatware and programs that you don’t need.

#2: Remove Main.targo12.com From Chrome

Now we’ll remove the extensions that the malware has attached to your browser.

  1. Open your Google Chrome browser.
  2. Type chrome://extensions/  in the URL address bar and press Enter.
  3. Click on “Developer Mode” on the top right and look for the extension installed by Main.targo12.com and anything that might be related to it. Copy their IDs (the string of letters), then remove them by clicking on the trash bin icon.

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  1. Type Regedit in the Windows Start Menu and press Enter. Go in : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions and delete the entries corresponding to the suspicious IDs you recorded.

#3: Remove Main.targo12.com From Firefox

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser.
  2. Type “about:support” in the URL address bar and press Enter.
  3. Click on the “Refresh Firefox” button on the right and confirm.

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#4 Remove Main.targo12.com From Internet Explorer

  1. Open your Internet Explorer internet browser.
  2. Click on the Gear icon on the up right, then on manage add-ons.
  3. Go through the list disable any suspicious extensions.

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#5 Remove any leftover parasitic processes

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From the task manager:

  1. Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc and open the Task manager, then click on the Processes
  2. Go through the list of processes and look for unknown or otherwise suspicious entries.
  3. If you see anything suspicious right click on the process and shoes Open File Location, then terminate the process and delete any files you find in the directory.

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WARNING! If the directory you open from this menu has no files inside of it it’s probably because the malware has hidden them. You need to reveal hidden files and folders in order to be able to see them. Click here if you don’t know how to do that.


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From the start menu:

  1. Press simultaneously the Win button together with the R button (Win+R)
  2. In the Run window that just opened type msconfig
  3. Click on the Startup tab.

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This menu controls which programs are loaded when windows starts after a reboot. Disable anything that seems suspicious. Optionally you can also disable any program that you don’t need and also has a high impact on your startup time.

Feel free to write to us in the comment section with any questions that you may have. Also if we have been helpful to you please share this article to help us reach more people like you.  

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