"search companion" - how can i remove this?

Question

hi all,
i already remove "yahoo toolbar", but the Companion software still showing in "Windows search" tool.
how can i remove?

Answer 1

One of the first things to do when you suspect malware is DISABLE System Restore.
If enabled, this allows malware to hide in the computer and re-install itself.
So, to disable it, RIGHT-click on "My Computer." Select "Properties" then under the 'System Restore' tab, check 'Turn off system restore' IF not already checked.
The next most helpful things that would help you are to use ONLINE scanners from websites to remove any malware on your PC.
The current best online scanners I prefer are from Kaspersky antivirus and Bitdefender antivirus. Together, these 2 scanners will find ALL the bad stuff on your PC because they have the BEST detection rate.
First, use Kaspersky's. (FYI: ALL these scans require you to agree to a EULA and install an activex control which is needed to perform the scan, so agree to them all.)

*NOTE: Some scanners ONLY work with IE or may not fully remove malware

http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner (KAV)

Then scan with:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html


There are MANY other good online scanners which you may choose to also use (which will take longer but ensure safety):

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm (Windows Live Onecare)

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/ax/ (A-squared scanner)

http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/ (ewido)

http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/pest/scan.aspx (Spyware scan)

http://www.ca.com/us/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx (Virus scan)

http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/ (Panda Antivirus)

http://www.housecall.trendmicro.com/ (TrendMicro)

http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/ (Nod32)

http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml (F-secure)


After using these, it's ESSENTIAL to install at least 3 antispywares. Do NOT use more than 1 antiVIRUS as they conflict.

The best things in life are FREE, and great free software can be found @:

Superantispyware.com (Superantispyware FREE version)
lavasoft.com (Ad-aware)
emsisoft.com (A-squared FREE)
safer-networking.org (Spybot S&D)
javacoolsoftware.com (SpywareBlaster, EULAlyzer, & MRU-Blaster)
microsoft.com (Windows Defender)
grisoft.com (AVG AV)
Avast.com (Avast AV)
avira.com (Avira AV)
activevirusshield.com (AOL Virus Shield, which is basically Kaspersky for free)
siteadvisor.com (Tells you how safe websites are)
phoenixlabs.org (Peerguardian blocks malware, government, and anti-p2p org's)
zonealarm.com (Top Notch Firewall)
comodo.com (Another Top Notch firewall)
iobit.com (Advanced Windows Care)
Eusing.com (Registry cleaner)
ccleaner.com (Junk file cleaner)



Now if you can afford it, the best software to BUY are:

Spy Sweeper
Security Task Manager
Norton Internet Security (Uses CPU but it's nice if you can afford to use those resources up)
Kaspersky (BEST! =D )
Bitdefender
F-secure (Same as Kaspersky)
Linkscanner (Blocks exploits in real time)
Advanced Uninstaller

If there's ever ONE file you suspect is infected, you can go to a couple of sites that have single file scanners which use MULTIPLE engines to scan a file.
They are virusscan.jotti.org and virustotal.com

If you're PC is squeaky clean, re-enable system restore because it IS good to have but we needed to shut it off to wipe out the malware.
Just RIGHT-click on "My Computer." Select "Properties" then under the 'System Restore' tab, UN-check "Turn off system restore."


*Another thing to consider is using another browser besides Internet Explorer. IE has a lot of security holes,
making it less safe than other browsers. I prefer Firefox from mozilla.org.
It's just as easy to use and has a lot of neat little add-ons you can toy around with. By itself, it is also safer from exploits than IE.*


As always, things will vary for you. I hope the best for everybody. As always, others may disagree but there's only one way to find things out---try it! As long
as you have an UPDATED Antivirus, Antispyware, & firewall, things will go smoothly. And browse wisely. As a side note, please email me any/all websites you got the infection from or if any are popping up or hijacking your page so I can help further security software's measures.
Sometimes you may get a NEW and Unknown malware and I can submit it to be blacklisted to companies.
Thx. Hope I was able to help and fix anything needed. If I have, please consider returning & leaving a nice comment and
"Best Answer" to whomever you thinks deserves it...

Answer 2

This is one of the biggest rips. Search Companion will work fine if you get rid of Yahoo Toolbar. The Manage add ons stayed even after I deleted everything YT in regedit relating to that program.. I disabled all of them months ago. They went into my Windows Explorer & I was mad. I constantly run search there & it kept sticking on me, never finished a search. If you know how, do it! SC runs fine now & I'm using indexing.

Answer 3

Go to Tools and then choose Internet Options and click the Content tab and select the AutoComplete button in the Personal information row and click Clear Forms. You can also uncheck the forms box that will prevent it from saving the information in the first place.

Answer 4

www.maximumpc.com/article/xp_strikes_back_with_windows_desktop_search