SIViewer

We want to inform you about a newly released program called SIViewer which is supposed to be a program for viewing animated GIFs and other image formats. However, you should remove it because it is next to useless. We have classified this application as potentially unwanted because its real purpose is to get a particular search engine to replace Google Chrome’s homepage. SIViewer is a functional application, and you can use it to view pictures. However, it does not feature as many features as it claims and it is more on par with programs such as Windows Paint than anything else. Please read this article to find out more about this seemingly useful program.

First and foremost, we must talk about this application’s origins. Our analysis has shown that its files have been digitally signed by a company known as Evangel Technology Ltd, a largely unknown company that seems to be in the software developing business as we have found that in the past it has released an application called Uncheckit. We do not know whether this application is legitimate or not but given what SIViewer has to offer we do not put our faith in Uncheckit either. So all we know is that is a software publisher that seems to be based in Hong Kong, but we do not know for certain if its country of origin is true. In any case, let us move on to how this application is distributed.

While collecting information about this program we found that it is being distributed using two methods. Firstly, it has a dedicated distribution website at Siviewer.com. This website hosts its standalone installer as well as some information about its functions. Nevertheless, we believe that it may also come bundled with other potentially unwanted programs that are promoted using adware or hosted on questionable freeware distributing websites. Whatever the case may be, we have found that this program is quite popular especially in countries such as Indonesia with 17.9% of all users, India with 8.7%, Algeria with 8.2%, Poland with 8.2%, and Germany with 6.7%. Now that we know where SIViewer comes from and how it is disseminated let us proceed to how it works.

There is one major issue we have with this application that we have put a huge emphasis on. Its installer does not allow the installation of this program to proceed until you agree to set Start.siviewer.com as Google Chrome’s default homepage regardless of whether you use Chrome or not. We believe that this program’s only purpose is to act as the bait to get users to set Start.siviewer.com as their browser’s homepage. We regard Start.siviewer.com as a browser hijacker whose only purpose is to redirect web traffic to itself and generate advertising revenue from the promotional links that are included in its search results. The problem is, however, that this hijacker comes from Evangel Technology Ltd as well. Therefore, we regard it and its promoted links as unreliable. We fear that this search engine may promote other potentially unwanted programs that might try to extract money from you.

Now let us elaborate on SIViewer. As mentioned in the introduction, this application is on par with programs, such as Widows Paint because it was made so poorly. Yes, you can view GIFs and other images with it, but you can do the same with Windows Photo Viewer. As far as its image manipulation functions are concerned, they are laughable. It allows you to perform simple tasks such as rotating, cropping, and enhancing the image, but that is basically it. Therefore, we regard this application as nothing more than a gimmick that is used to deceive you into accepting an unreliable search engine. So now that you know SIViewer’s true purpose you might want to delete it altogether.

In closing, this image viewer is a useless application that serves as bait so that its developers could replace Chrome’s homepage with Start.siviewer.com. This is a clever tactic, but malicious as well and you should not tolerate it. Therefore, we recommend that you uninstall it from your computer using the instructions we have provided at the end of this description. All you have to do to remove Start.siviewer.com and SIViewer is to run this application’s uninstaller found in the Control Panel.

Uninstall using Control Panel

Windows 10

1. Right-click on the Start menu.
2. Go to Programs and Features.
3. Find the application and uninstall it.

Windows 8 and 8.1

1. Open the Charm bar and select Settings.
2. Go to Control Panel.
3. Open Uninstall a program.
4. Find the software and click the Uninstall button.

Windows Vista and 7

1. Click the Start menu button.
2. Open Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a program.
4. Find the adware and then right-click on it.
5. Uninstall.

Windows XP

1. Open the Start menu and select Control Panel.
2. Click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Find the unwanted software and click Uninstall.