Quite often, many users of computer systems and even mobile gadgets are faced with a situation where it is simply impossible to remove a program or utility if it is no longer necessary. And the F-Secure antivirus is no exception. Let's look at some simple ways to uninstall this application completely.
F-Secure: what is it?
As already clear, this application package is a comprehensive solution to protect computer systems not only from numerous viruses, but also from the penetration of malicious executable codes, all kinds of trojans, worms or spyware into the system.
For all these processes, the F-Secure package is used in real time. The feedback from users of computers and mobile gadgets, as well as many experts in the field of security technologies, in general, is rather flattering. The modules included in the utility work like clockwork. But here's the problem: unfortunately, removing F-Secure from your device when you need to install, say, other anti-virus software, as it turns out, is not so simple. But first things first.
Removal by standard method
To begin, consider the simplest standard methodology designed for computers and laptops. In this case, we will need to use the standard "Control Panel", where you need to select the program and component section (in older versions of Windows, this is the section for installing and uninstalling programs).
In theory, if you look through the list, it should reflect either the main program or all its components, for example F-Secure Internet Security. Next we act, as they say, according to the pattern. Just select the program or the desired component and start the uninstall process by pressing the appropriate button.
However, it is not a fact that absolutely all components, including residual files or registry entries, will be completely deleted.
However, if the package was installed relatively recently (a week or two maximum), you can try to roll back (restore) the system to a checkpoint that fixes the state of the computer that preceded the installation of F-Secure.
But what if the application and all its components were installed much earlier? As you know, the native Windows uninstaller does not work well, leaving a lot of computer garbage in the system. Specialized utilities will be needed here.
Using special programs to uninstall
Among the most powerful programs of this type, you can recommend applications like iObit Uninstaller, CCleaner, or Everything. Actually, they work on similar principles.
But iObit looks preferable because it has a special function called Forced Uninstall and integrates into the standard Windows program removal menu. The application first deletes the main and secondary files associated with the program, and then performs a comprehensive scan for residual entries in the form of registry keys. Unfortunately, this does not always help. The user may not even know what exactly will remain in the system, and some processes will still “hang” when Windows starts.
Uninstall F-Secure using the native utility
In such a situation, we need a special utility from the antivirus developers themselves. It is called the F-Secure Uninstallation Tool. Agree, who knows better than the creators themselves which files, folders, and registry keys are present in what volume in the system after installing the package?
Installing the utility does not cause difficulties. After uninstalling the antivirus, the utility itself can also be removed without much difficulty in the standard way.
However, there is one caveat. The utility must be run when entering the system in safe mode. To do this, when starting Windows, use the F8 key. Now just run the program, activate the start of the F-Secure removal process, and after the restart we restart the computer. As already clear, after rebooting the utility is also deleted.
Removal method from mobile devices
What about mobile devices, for example, with operating systems such as Symbian or Android? When changing the SIM card, the program blocks the entrance to the gadget, prompting you to enter a password. But you do not remember him. You have to insert the old SIM card.
After that, you can try to remove the mobile version of the antivirus either in the standard way from the application menu, or (if this does not help) download the updated version from the official website of the developer, reinstall it on your gadget, after which the entire package can be removed in normal mode.
However, if this does not help, you can use utilities such as CCleaner, however, sometimes root-rights may be required on Android devices. In addition, if you did not forget to back up, in the same way as in the case of Windows, you can restore data.
Total
As you can see, there will be much less trouble with mobile gadgets, although if you look at Windows, in general, there is nothing much complicated in uninstalling such an antivirus. By the way, such things apply to such well-known packages as Eset Smart Security (NOD32) or the standard Kaspersky.