What Is Wave Browser and Is It Safe?

Wave Browser is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) you probably installed unintentionally. It's meant to mimic common web browsers like Chrome, so you might not realize you’re using the wrong browser.

We consider Wave Browser to be unsafe software because it can make your machine vulnerable to intrusive ads, collect your data, and change browser settings. If that doesn’t convince you, Wave Browser can also make your device more vulnerable to malware.

Learning about Wave Browser’s dangers is crucial. We take a deeper look into this intrusive browser tool and show you how to remove it from your device. We'll also provide recommendations for the best antivirus software to protect your device from PUPs.

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What is Wave Browser?

Wave Browser looks and acts like other browsing tools but it’s a potentially unwanted program (PUP). A PUP is software that you either didn’t ask for or that starts to exhibit shady behavior, so it’s not something you want hanging around. How does this PUP fool users into thinking it’s secure? For one thing, Wave is a Chromium-based browser designed to resemble other trusted browsers, like Google Chrome, Brave, and Microsoft Edge.

Wave Browser is advertised as being a safe tool for surfing the net faster. One of the problems with Wave Browser is that it spreads through distribution channels without your consent.

Is Wave Browser safe?

Wave Browser is not safe because it can collect lots of your data. The privacy policy for the browser tool mentions that it collects and stores information like your search activity, your device event information, ads you’ve clicked, and even the domain name of your internet service provider (ISP).

The policy also says it’ll share that data with vendors and companies within Wave Browser’s group of companies. If that weren’t enough, your activities will be collected and stored by cookies, web beacons, mobile device IDs, and other similar technologies.

Although it’s not technically a virus, Wave Browser can cause malicious ads to pop up excessively on your device. Not only are those ads annoying, but they can contain malicious software, better known as malware. Wave can also install a browser hijacker on your browser and cause dangerous redirects to phishing websites, which could put your information and device in danger of hackers and other cybercriminals.

Why is Wave Browser on my device?

You may have intentionally downloaded Wave Browser on your device. After all, it looks similar to other browsers that are secure, which could be confusing and misleading.

Another reason Wave Browser may be on your device is because it was attached to another download. Sometimes third-party apps come with PUPs, and if you don’t uncheck the box to download them, you could end up with something like Wave Browser on your device without having installed it intentionally.

If you don’t have antivirus software on your device, that could be another reason you were vulnerable to this PUP. Antivirus software protects your online security by checking your devices for malicious files and codes.

How to uninstall Wave Browser on your device

Whether you installed Wave Browser intentionally or have been the victim of a shady installation, it’s still possible to remove Wave from your device. We’ll give you step-by-step instructions related to your specific machine and browser.

How to uninstall Wave Browser on Windows

1. Right-click the Windows icon on your taskbar and open Installed apps from the menu.
2. Open the list of installed software and select Wave Browser. Select the three-dot icon beside it to remove the browser.
3. Open Task Manager by right-clicking on the Windows taskbar.
4. Scroll through the list of processes and find those related to Wave Browser. Right-click on those processes and select Open file location.
5. Delete everything inside the browser’s folder.
6. Right-click the Wave Browser process again and click End task.
7. Repeat these last two steps for each process related to Wave Browser.
8. After that, go to the Startup apps tab on the Task Manager. When you find any name associated with Wave Browser, right-click it, then click Disable.
9. Hold the Windows key and press R to open the Run window function. Type in “regedit” and click OK.
10. Hold down the CTRL key and press F to open a search window. Type in “wave” and select Find next.
11. Delete any files related to Wave Browser in the system registry editor.
12. Run an antivirus scan to make sure there are no Wave Browser files left.

How to uninstall Wave Browser on macOS

1. Select the Finder icon in your dock to open a new window.
2. From the finder, select Applications on the left.
3. Scroll through the software list and right-click on Wave Browser.
4. Move anything related to Wave Browser to the trash bin.
5. Right-click on the trash bin and choose Empty trash.
6. Run an antivirus scan to ensure nothing from Wave Browser is left behind .

How to uninstall Wave Browser on Android

1. On your Android device, go to the Wave Browser app.
2. Hold the app until a pop-up menu appears.
3. Tap Uninstall.
4. Click OK to confirm the app removal.
5. Run a malware scan to check for any signs of Wave Browser.

How to uninstall Wave Browser on iOS

1. On your device, locate Wave Browser.
2. Click and hold the app until a pop-up menu appears.
3. Click Remove App.
4. From the pop-up, tap Delete App to confirm the removal.
5. Run a malware scan to check for any Wave Browser remains.

How to remove the Wave Browser extension

Wave Browser may also be on your device as a browser extension, so you’ll need to remove it from your browser as well. We’ll guide you through how to remove Wave Browser from the most common browser types.

How to remove the Wave Browser extension from Google Chrome

1. In the top-right corner of your Chrome browser, click the three dots > Settings.
2. Select Extensions from the menu on the left.
3. Click Remove on the Wave Browser extension.
4. Quit Chrome and relaunch.

How to remove the Wave Browser extension from Mozilla Firefox

1. At the top-right corner of the browser, click the three horizontal lines for the menu option.
2. Go to Settings > Extensions & Themes.
3. Select the Wave Browser extension and click Remove.
4. Quit Firefox and restart the browser.

How to remove the Wave Browser extension from Safari

1. On the Safari browser, go to Preferences > Extensions.
2. Look for any extensions related to Wave Browser (these could be any extensions you don’t recognize).
3. Click Uninstall.
4. Quit Safari and reopen it.

How to protect your device from PUPs

When you want to protect your device from intrusive PUPs, there are some easy steps you can take. These tips are also much better than having to remove a potentially unwanted program. Here’s how to stay safe online and protect your device from PUPs:

• Invest in an antivirus program: Get the best antivirus software to scan your devices for threats and guard against malware or other unwanted software.
• Use ad blockers: Ad blockers can help prevent unwanted programs from popping up on your device and causing browser redirects to malicious websites.
• Don’t neglect software updates: Software updates can contain patches to fix system vulnerabilities.
• Get a VPN: Using a virtual private network (VPN) can prevent malware attacks by encrypting your internet connection and making it more secure.

Best antivirus software to protect against PUPs

One of the most important ways to protect your devices against PUPs is to use antivirus software. Here are some antivirus that we recommend, in a variety of price ranges.

Antivirus
Best for	Best overall antivirus software	All-in-one software	Comprehensive security	Best value
Starting price	$29.00/first yr	$3.00/mo for the first year	$29.99/first yr	$3.49/mo
Features	Zero-day scans, anti-phishing, ransomware protection, password manager, ad blocker	Antivirus protection, VPN, password manager, security for multiple devices	Antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, password manager	Antivirus protection, VPN, private search engine, data leak alerts
Learn more	Get TotalAV	Get Aura	Get Norton360 Antivirus	Get Surfshark Antivirus

Wave Browser FAQs

Bottom line

Although PUPs fall into a gray area because they aren’t technically malware, you still don’t want programs like Wave Browser hanging around. The best way to protect your device is to have trusted antivirus software and use options like a secure VPN and ad blockers. These all work to prevent intrusive software from invading your device and your data. In a world full of cyberthreats, prevention is always the best practice.

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Author Details

Patti Croft

About the Author

Patti Croft is a seasoned writer specializing in technology, with three years of experience. With a B.S. in Computer Science and a background as a technical analyst and security specialist, she covers a range of topics like data security and parental control software.