SearchAndDestroy Threat Level:

SearchAndDestroy is more rogue anti-spyware, not to be confused with the legit anti-spyware application Spybot Search&Destroy (it’s common practice for rogues to dress up like real anti-spyware).

A Trojan might have installed SearchAndDestroy onto your system as an early birthday present, or you could have even thought SearchAndDestroy was honest and downloaded SearchAndDestroy from a website. Like other rogue anti spyware, SearchAndDestroy runs exaggerated “security” scans and launches fake security alerts to try to trick you into buying SearchAndDestroy. Besides trying to scam you, SearchAndDestroy can slow down your computer.

Unless you like getting ripped off, delete SearchAndDestroy.

Do I Have SearchAndDestroy?

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

Free SearchAndDestroy Scan, with SpyHunter

You can easily detect SearchAndDestroy with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scanner. And if you’re really infected with SearchAndDestroy, you can buy the full version of SpyHunter to remove SearchAndDestroy and other spyware. Or you can use my instructions below and remove SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy, you can get a custom fix for your computer.

Get Rid of SearchAndDestroy Manually

Manual removal of any spyware can be difficult. When you manually remove SearchAndDestroy, 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 SearchAndDestroy. Also, I recommend you backup your system any time before editing your registry.

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

Stop SearchAndDestroy processes:

Delete SearchAndDestroy files:

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.

Relatedly, “%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”).

SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy and other spyware, adware, trojans, viruses, keyloggers, and more that can be hidden in your PC. It’s also recommended before you manually remove SearchAndDestroy you backup your system.

Free SearchAndDestroy Scan, with SpyHunter

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

How to delete SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy processes.
4. Once you’ve found the SearchAndDestroy processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill SearchAndDestroy.

How to remove SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of SearchAndDestroy’s registry keys.
4. As soon as SearchAndDestroy registry key appears, you can delete the SearchAndDestroy registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

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

How to remove SearchAndDestroy DLL files:

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

1. First you’ll locate SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy. 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 SearchAndDestroy.

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 SearchAndDestroy.

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

Slow computer performance: It only takes one or two spyware parasites like SearchAndDestroy 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 SearchAndDestroy 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.

Often when you’re infected with rogue anti-spyware like SearchAndDestroy, you’ll see a false popup security alert like this:

Rogue Anti-Spyware Tactics

Typically, rogue anti-spyware has one or more of the qualities listed below, which is why rogue anti-spyware is considered anti-spyware software of questionable value.

» False positives/fake alerts: Rogue anti-spyware may produce a large number of false positives or use fake alerts, noting that your computer is infected with spyware parasites or other threats that do not really exist.

» Copycat looks: Rogue anti-spyware may copy the look and feel of other legitimate or rogue anti-spyware applications. Often, rogue anti-spyware applications may appear as close clones of other rogue anti-spyware software.

» High pressure marketing: Rogue anti-spyware may use scare tactics or other aggressive advertising and marketing tactics to try to trick you into buying the rogue anti-spyware application. Often, rogue anti-spyware may produce false positives and fake alerts about your computer being infected.

» Poor detection/scan reporting: Rogue anti-spyware may produce poor reports when it scans your PC. For example, rogue anti-spyware may say your computer is infected 11 parasites, but not specify which spyware parasites or what type of parasites. Rogue anti-spyware may also report that your PC is infected with SafeAndClean, but not tell you which related files, DLLS, etc. were found on your computer.

» Weak scanning/detection: Rogue anti-spyware may not only poorly report on computer infection, but rogue antispyware may also poorly scan your PC. Rogue anti-spyware may skip over important folders and files of your computer that should be scanned to detect spyware.

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

Some Trojans may also fall under the category of spyware. Spyware is any software or malware (”malicious software”) used to spy or track your computer activity. While some spyware is legitimately and intentionally installed by parents or employers to monitor Internet activity on a computer, spyware may be installed maliciously. Often spyware may come bundled with downloads of free software or come in the form of a cookie via a website, and this spyware may track your Internet activity or may steal secret account usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal and financial information.

Methods of SearchAndDestroy and Other Trojans Infection

Most trojans infect your computer by tricking you into running an infected application. This infected application could disguised as a small file, such as a jpeg or other email attachment, or it might be downloaded via a website or FTP.

» Email: Your PC may be infected with a trojan when you download infected email attachments, or sometimes even when you simply open an email. Many trojans exploit security holes in Microsoft Outlook. You may be able to reduce your chances of getting infected by a Trojan by using a spam-blocking software.

» Websites: Your PC may be infected with a trojan when you visit a rogue site. Many trojans exploit security holes in Internet Explorer web browser so that by simply visiting a website you may unknowingly download a Trojan.

» Open ports: If your computer runs programs that provide file-sharing functions - such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, and more - you may open your computer up to vulnerabilities. Using file sharing through these applications may create a network that gives attackers the opportunity to remotely access your computer.

SearchAndDestroy may have infected your PC by through one of those methods. Trojans are some of the most sophisticated and dangerous type of malware, capable of controlling your system. Because of this, it may be best if SearchAndDestroy and Trojans are removed from your computer immediately.

"SearchAndDestroy" keywords: Rogue Anti Spyware, Search And Destroy, Search AndDestroy, SearchAnd Destroy, Trojans

"SearchAndDestroy" was posted on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 12:31 am. 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.