How to stop Safe Surfer protection from being uninstalled on Windows computers
This guide will show you how to stop Safe Surfer protection from being uninstalled on a Windows computer.
If you're not already reading this guide on a mobile device, it's easiest to do so on mobile. Scan the QR code with your camera app to get started.
There are two steps involved in stopping uninstallation: the first is to set a PIN for the Safe Surfer app, and the second is to change the device user account settings to enforce the protection installation. We recommend performing step 1 in all cases, and also step 2 if this device has any tech-savvy users.
Due to the new technology that that Safe Surfer for Windows app uses, the app can be uninstalled. No problem—we've specifically designed the protection experience so that this will not affect the protection installation (and any set PIN) whatsoever. If the app is ever uninstalled, it can simply be reinstalled if you need to manage the protection at a later date.
Open the Safe Surfer app, then click the Settings icon at the upper-right corner.
Under the PIN section, click the Set up button.
Enter a PIN, then click the OK button.
If you forget your PIN in the future, you can reset it with your Safe Surfer account details.
Click the Protection menu.
You've now successfully applied a PIN for the Safe Surfer app. You can now close the app.
This step involves changing the user account settings for this device. This means that each applicable user account on this device will not be able to remove the protection installation without the password of the device administrator (being you). The device user(s) might need you to enter your admininstrator password on occasion, as some apps require these permissions to be opened and/or make system changes. Most apps don't need these permissions.
In most cases there will only be one user account that needs changing, but in some cases there will be separate user accounts for each device user. We will now perform the following:
Create a new administrator account
Set all applicable user accounts to standard-level permissions
Click the Start menu button.
Click the Settings app.
Click the Accounts menu on the left-hand sidebar.
Click the Other users menu.
Under Add other user, click the Add account button.
Click the option labelled "I don't have this person's sign-in information".
Click the option labelled "Add a user without a Microsoft account".
Call the user account "Admin" and enter a password. Make sure to use a memorable password, along with setting security questions that only you know. Once you're done, click the Next button.
Click the Admin user account listing.
Under Account options, click the Change account type button.
Under Account type, click the drop-down box.
Click the Administrator option.
Click the OK button. You can now close the Settings app.
Open the Start menu, then click the user account section.
Click the three-dot button at the upper-right corner of the account card.
Click the Switch user option.
When you reach the lock screen, enter your password for the new Admin user account. Windows will take a moment to prepare the user account. Once it's finished, proceed through the privacy settings and click the Next button.
Once you've reached the desktop for the Admin user account, open the Start menu and click the Settings app.
Click the Accounts menu on the left-hand sidebar.
Click the Other users menu.
Click the user account listing that belongs to the person being protected. We'll repeat these changes for any other applicable user accounts later.
Under Account options, click the Change account type button.
Under Account type, click the drop-down box.
Click the Standard User option.
Click the OK option. Repeat the account type change for any other applicable user accounts. Once you’ve done this, you can close the Settings app.
Open the Start menu, then click the Power icon at the lower-right corner. Click the Restart option.
Great work! This device is now fully protected. If you have any other Windows devices you would like to protect, visit our Windows guides page.
If you're not already reading this guide on a mobile device, it's easiest to do so on mobile. Scan the QR code with your camera app to get started.
Step 1: Set a PIN
There are two steps involved in stopping uninstallation: the first is to set a PIN for the Safe Surfer app, and the second is to change the device user account settings to enforce the protection installation. We recommend performing step 1 in all cases, and also step 2 if this device has any tech-savvy users.
Due to the new technology that that Safe Surfer for Windows app uses, the app can be uninstalled. No problem—we've specifically designed the protection experience so that this will not affect the protection installation (and any set PIN) whatsoever. If the app is ever uninstalled, it can simply be reinstalled if you need to manage the protection at a later date.
Open the Safe Surfer app, then click the Settings icon at the upper-right corner.
Under the PIN section, click the Set up button.
Enter a PIN, then click the OK button.
If you forget your PIN in the future, you can reset it with your Safe Surfer account details.
Click the Protection menu.
You've now successfully applied a PIN for the Safe Surfer app. You can now close the app.
Step 2: Lock down for tech-savvy device users (optional)
This step involves changing the user account settings for this device. This means that each applicable user account on this device will not be able to remove the protection installation without the password of the device administrator (being you). The device user(s) might need you to enter your admininstrator password on occasion, as some apps require these permissions to be opened and/or make system changes. Most apps don't need these permissions.
In most cases there will only be one user account that needs changing, but in some cases there will be separate user accounts for each device user. We will now perform the following:
Create a new administrator account
Set all applicable user accounts to standard-level permissions
Click the Start menu button.
Click the Settings app.
Click the Accounts menu on the left-hand sidebar.
Click the Other users menu.
Under Add other user, click the Add account button.
Click the option labelled "I don't have this person's sign-in information".
Click the option labelled "Add a user without a Microsoft account".
Call the user account "Admin" and enter a password. Make sure to use a memorable password, along with setting security questions that only you know. Once you're done, click the Next button.
Click the Admin user account listing.
Under Account options, click the Change account type button.
Under Account type, click the drop-down box.
Click the Administrator option.
Click the OK button. You can now close the Settings app.
Open the Start menu, then click the user account section.
Click the three-dot button at the upper-right corner of the account card.
Click the Switch user option.
When you reach the lock screen, enter your password for the new Admin user account. Windows will take a moment to prepare the user account. Once it's finished, proceed through the privacy settings and click the Next button.
Once you've reached the desktop for the Admin user account, open the Start menu and click the Settings app.
Click the Accounts menu on the left-hand sidebar.
Click the Other users menu.
Click the user account listing that belongs to the person being protected. We'll repeat these changes for any other applicable user accounts later.
Under Account options, click the Change account type button.
Under Account type, click the drop-down box.
Click the Standard User option.
Click the OK option. Repeat the account type change for any other applicable user accounts. Once you’ve done this, you can close the Settings app.
Open the Start menu, then click the Power icon at the lower-right corner. Click the Restart option.
Protection complete
Great work! This device is now fully protected. If you have any other Windows devices you would like to protect, visit our Windows guides page.
Updated on: 19/08/2024
Thank you!