ContentEraser Threat Level:

ContentEraser, or Content Eraser, is a fake registry cleaner/system optimizer. Like other scam-ware, ContentEraser pops up fake error alerts to try and scare you into buying ContentEraser.

If ContentEraser is annoying you, the only system issue you have is ContentEraser.

I’ll show you how to get rid of ContentEraser for free.

Do I Have ContentEraser?

You can search your computer manually, but it might take hours to find ContentEraser’s hidden files. To save time, I recommend you automatically scan your PC for ContentEraser and other spyware. Why not? It’s free.

Free ContentEraser Scan, with SpyHunter

You can easily detect ContentEraser with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scanner. And if you’re really infected with ContentEraser, you can buy the full version of SpyHunter to remove ContentEraser and other spyware. Or you can use my instructions below and remove ContentEraser for free.

I’m a big fan of SpyHunter. Here’s why: SpyHunter offers live support on the phone, and if SpyHunter doesn’t automatically remove ContentEraser, you can get a custom fix for your computer.

Get Rid of ContentEraser Manually

Manual removal of any spyware can be difficult. When you manually remove ContentEraser, you have to fiddle with your registry and risk destroying your PC. It’s highly recommended you use an automatic spyware scanner to make sure you’re infected with ContentEraser. Also, I recommend you backup your system any time before editing your registry.

To remove ContentEraser manually, you need to delete ContentEraser files. Not sure how to delete ContentEraser files? Click here, and I’ll tell you. Otherwise, go ahead and…

Block ContentEraser sites:

Stop ContentEraser processes:

Get rid of ContentEraser registry keys:

Note: In any files I mention above, “%System%” is a variable referring to your PC’s System folder. Maybe you renamed it, but by default your System folder is “C:\Windows\System32″ on Windows XP, “C:\Winnt\System32″ on Windows NT/2000,” or “C:\Windows\System” on Windows 95/98/Me.

“%Program_Files%”, “%ProgramFiles%”, or “%Profile%” is a variable referring to a folder in your PC where applications that aren’t a part of your PC’s operating system are installed by default. You may have changed this folder’s name or moved it, but if you didn’t touch it, find the folder as “C:\Program Files”. If you’re having trouble finding this folder, you can locate it by looking up registry value “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir”.

Also, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. If you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\JoeSmith”).

ContentEraser changed your homepage?

Click Windows Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options. Next, under Home Page, select the General > Use Default. Type in the URL you want as your home page (e.g., “http://www.homepage.com”). Then select Apply > OK. You’ll want to open a fresh web page and make sure that your new default home page pops up.

Recommendation:

To save time and avoid risking destroying your computer, I highly recommend you use a spyware scanner, such as SpyHunter, to detect ContentEraser and other spyware, adware, trojans, viruses, keyloggers, and more that can be hidden in your PC. It’s also recommended before you manually remove ContentEraser you backup your system.

Free ContentEraser Scan, with SpyHunter

Automatically detect ContentEraser and other spyware on your PC with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scan.

How to delete ContentEraser files in Windows XP and Vista:

1. Click your Windows Start menu, and from “Search,” click “For Files and Folders…“
2. A speech bubble will pop up asking you, “What do you want to search for?” Click “All files and folders.”
3. Type any file name in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
4. Click “Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop ContentEraser processes:

1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click “OK.” You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys ALT + CTRL + DELETE or CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find ContentEraser processes.
4. Once you’ve found the ContentEraser processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill ContentEraser.

How to remove ContentEraser registry keys:

Your Windows registry is the core of your Windows operating system, storing information about user settings, system preferences, and software, including which applications automatically launch at start up. Because of this, spyware, malware, and adware will often bury their own files into your Windows registry so that they automatically launch every time your start up your PC.

Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Editing your registry can be intimidating if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or registry value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire Windows operating system. Make sure your backup your registry before editing it.

1. Select your Windows menu “Start,” and click “Run.” An “Open” field will appear. Type “regedit” and click “OK” to open up your Registry Editor.
2. Registry Editor will open as a window with two panes. The left side Registry Editor’s window lets you select various registry keys, and the right side displays the registry values of the registry key you select.
3. To find a registry key, such as any ContentEraser registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of ContentEraser’s registry keys.
4. As soon as ContentEraser registry key appears, you can delete the ContentEraser registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

Computer acting funny after you’ve edited your registry and deleted ContentEraser registry keys? Just restore your registry with your backup.

How to remove ContentEraser DLL files:

Like most any software, spyware, adware, and malware may also use DLL files. DLL is short for “dynamically linked library,” and ContentEraser DLL files, like other DLLs, carryout predetermined tasks. To manually delete ContentEraser DLL files, you’ll use Regsver32, a Windows tool designed to help you remove DLL and other files.

1. First you’ll locate ContentEraser DLL files you want to delete. Open your Windows Start menu, then click “Run.” Type “cmd” in Run, and click “OK.”
2. To change your current directory, type “cd” in the command box, press your “Space” key, and enter the full directory where the ContentEraser DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the ContentEraser DLL file is located in a particular directory, enter “dir” in the command box to display a directory’s contents. To go one directory back, enter “cd ..” in the command box and press “Enter.”
3. When you’ve located the ContentEraser DLL file you want to remove, type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll”) and press your “Enter” key.

That’s it. If you want to restore ContentEraser DLL file you removed, enter “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Freeware or Shareware:
Did you download and install shareware or freeware? These low-cost or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like ContentEraser. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly and maliciously attached to free software to harm your computer and steal your personal and financial information.

Peer-to-Peer Software:
Do you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) program or other application with a shared network? When you use these applications, you put your system at risk for unknowingly downloading an infected file, including applications like ContentEraser.

Questionable Websites: Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, Trojans, spyware, and adware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like ContentEraser.

It’s important to practice safer online habits to prevent being infected with ContentEraser . You may want to scan your computer for the latest version of ContentEraser and other security threats.

Slow computer performance: It only takes one or two spyware parasites like ContentEraser to cause your computer to slow dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, your computer may be infected with malware.

New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Malware like ContentEraser may change your Internet settings or redirect your default homepage to another web site. Malware may even add new desktop shortcuts on your PC.

Annoying popups on your PC: Malware may bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Malware may stop your regular Internet activity and track your surfing habits and gather personal information about you, putting your financial and personal information at risk.

Rogue Registry Cleaner Tactics

Typically, a rogue registry cleaner such as ContentEraser has one or more of the qualities listed below, which is why rogue registry cleaners are considered registry cleaning software of questionable value.

False positives/fake alerts: Rogue registry cleaner may produce a large number of false positives or use fake alerts, noting that your computer has registry errors that don’t really exist.

Copycat looks: Rogue registry cleaners may copy the look and feel of other legitimate registry cleaners. Often, rogue registry cleaners may appear as close clones of other rogue registry cleaner software.

High pressure marketing: Rogue registry cleaners may use scare tactics or other aggressive advertising and marketing tactics to try to trick you into buying the rogue registry cleaner application. Often, rogue registry cleaners may produce false positives and fake alerts about your system being damaged.

Poor detection/scan reporting: Rogue registry cleaner software may produce poor reports when it scans your PC. For example, a rogue registry cleaner may say your computer has 12 registry errors, but not specify which what types of errors. Rogue registry cleaners may also report that your PC has Fake Error #20, but not tell you which files or registry keys are specifically damaged.

Weak scanning/detection: Rogue registry cleaner applications may not only poorly report on registry errors, but rogue registry cleaners may also poorly scan your PC. Rogue registry cleaner applications may skip over important folders and files of your computer that should be scanned to detect errors.

ContentEraser may use these tactics to trick or scare you into purchasing ContentEraser.

"ContentEraser" keywords: Rogue Registry Cleaner

"ContentEraser" was posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.