Host-Codec Threat Level:

Host-Codec may be a spyware cookie related to Zlob and other Trojans and malware disguised as media players. Host-Codec may monitor your web browsing activity and personal information as your surf the Internet. Host-Codec may then send your data to its parent server.

Do You Have Host-Codec?

When you’re infected with badware — whether it’s Host-Codec, spyware, adware, a Trojan, or a virus — there are a few key symptoms. Have you noticed…

• Slow computer performance: It just takes one parasite like Host-Codec to slow your computer dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot, or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, you may be infected with Host-Codec.
• New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Badware like Host-Codec may change your Internet settings to redirect your homepage to another site. Badware can even add desktop shortcuts to your PC.
• Annoying popups: Badware can bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Through these popups, you may be tricked into downloading more spyware.

How to Remove Host-Codec Manually

Before we get started, you should backup your system and your registry, so it’ll be easy to restore your computer if anything goes wrong.

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

Detect and Delete Host-Codec files:

Note: In any Host-Codec files I mention above, “%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”). If you have any questions about manual Host-Codec removal, go ahead and leave a comment.

How Do You Remove Host-Codec Files?

Need help figuring out how to delete Host-Codec files? While there’s some risk involved, and you should only manually remove Host-Codec files if you’re comfortable editing your system, you’ll find it’s fairly easy to delete Host-Codec files in Windows.

How to delete Host-Codec files in Windows XP and Vista:

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

How to stop Host-Codec 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 CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find Host-Codec processes.
4. Once you’ve found the Host-Codec processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill Host-Codec.

How to remove Host-Codec registry keys:

Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you edit 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 value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire 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 Host-Codec registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of Host-Codec’s registry keys.
4. As soon as Host-Codec registry key appears, you can delete the Host-Codec registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

How to delete Host-Codec DLL files:

1. First locate Host-Codec 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 Host-Codec DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the Host-Codec 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 Host-Codec 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 any Host-Codec DLL file you removed, type “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Did Host-Codec change your homepage?

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

Host-Codec Removal Tip

Is your computer acting funny after deleting any Host-Codec files? I recommend using a program like File Recover from PC Tools. File Recover saves deleted files that otherwise can’t be recovered by Windows operating sytem.

Want to save time finding Host-Codec files? Download Spyware Doctor, let it find the Host-Codec files for you, and then manually delete Host-Codec files.

How Did You Get Host-Codec?

Wondering how Host-Codec ended up on your PC? If you’re infected with Host-Codec or other badware, perhaps you were using…

• 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 Host-Codec. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly 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 Host-Codec.
• Questionable websites: Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, badware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like Host-Codec. I recommend you use Firefox web browser, if you don’t already.

Understanding Host-Codec

If you’re infected with Host-Codec, you should know what you’re fighting. I’ll explain some definitions related to Host-Codec.

Host-Codec May Be a Tracking Cookie

Tracking cookies are small files deposited onto your PC’s hard drive as you browse the Internet. Regular cookies work the same way, but unlike those harmless cookies that are designed to remember your account information so that you can use websites more easily, tracking cookies may collect and report information about your web browsing habits. Tracking cookies monitoring your web browsing habits may tell advertisers some of your personal information.

Because of Host-Codec’s and other tracking cookies’ possibly stealth methods, tracking cookies, even when installed without malicious reasons, may put your personal and financial information at risk. It may be a good idea to remove Host-Codec and other tracking cookies.

What Companies Learn from a Tracking Cookie Like Host-Codec

Marketing companies can learn a lot from tracking cookies. If you fill out a form online with your contact info and real name, enter a contest or sweepstakes, or click an ad to buy a product, it’s possible Internet advertisers using tracking cookies know your real name, your Internet Protocol (IP address), and other information about you.

Online marketing and advertising companies that hold this identifiable information about you and your web browsing habits may sell your personal info to other companies, or merge their information about you with other companies’ information about you. A tracking cookie may seem harmless, but in reality some tracking cookies allow companies to know quite a lot about your online and offline habits and lifestyle, and how to find you.