One of my anti spy programs finds adware called "Searchnet". But, it can't be removed. Any ideas?

Question

I have Yahoo Anti-Spy. It's not my primary but I do run it periodically just for s---ts and giggles. It always finds adware called "Searchnet", but can't remove it. None of my other anti-spyware programs finds it. Any ideas or info?

My primary anti-spy programs are: Adaware, AVG anti-spy, and Spybot Search & Destroy. They don't ever find anything called "Searchnet". Just the Yahoo Anti-Spy program.

Answer 1

Download the free Superantispyware. This program is well known to find what all other miss. (I use myself). You will get daily auto. updates. Recommend that you run an indepth scan on your first run. When the spyware is found, if it is a really nasty one, superantispyware may say to reboot. Best to reboot anyway.

http://www.superantispyware.com

Minddoctor, France

Answer 2

To kill it, You will need to go under your browser plug in and disable it from there. It can however have different names it goes by so I can't help out on what to look for.

But there should be a description or authentication name on each of your plug ins.

Do not remove until you are certain. If the description or authentication name is blank, try disabling it and give it a day or two to make sure that everything else is running properly as far as your browser, then put in the correct start page back into your browser, such as something like http://www.yahoo.com if the link stays, then you have disabled Searchnet.

Back Up your computer file

After you have disabled the Searchnet do a search through your computer using the keyword of Searchnet and the keyword of the plug in that was associated with it. And responsibly remove the rest of the items associated with it.

Responsibly being, if you are not sure that the items in the folder that Searchnet and the associated plugin name are in is legit or not. Then do not delete.

You may also and with "Backing Up your registry file first" You can also do a search through there and remove the items involving with Searchnet. The registry section is not for beginners so don't attempt it if you do not know what to do.

The restart your computer when you are finished. Some files associated with Searchnet may have been locked while you were cleaning it out and now can be removed after the restart.

That is doing it manually

There may also be program that can do it automatically such as products from http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp



I have to follow up with MICHAEL N says.

It is very hard to kill. searchnet comes from a manual download. So most likely you have programs with it and it does protect itself. So if you take one thing out, it will recover. If you take out all or as much as you can, you can stand more of a chance to remove it or cripple it enough for a removal tool to handle the rest.

Although I say to back up your computer, this is one of those where you will need to remove the back up after the program is crippled or it will reinfect your system. Or chance it and not back up your computer.

Answer 3

I assume it cannot be deleted because it is being used.

so try this:

Delete unwanted icon or program
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For more success you need to able to see your hidden files.
Find out in the windows help support "show hidden files" will tell you how

Try to get a name; some key letters of the name of the thing you trying to get rid of.

In XP, click start - search and search all files and folders using part of the name (don’t use all of it)

in the results delete any thing you can find that is to do with your unwanted file. Make sure you understand what you are deleting.

If you can’t delete it right click - properties - try to remove the read only attribute, then should delete.

Delete any of its icons of the desktop.

Reboot and search again, as a file cannot be deleted if it was running. It should not be running now so delete it this time.

Answer 4

Well if you run Yahoo Anti-Spy and detect something on your IE; I would recommend you to download Spybot-Search & Destroy - a freeware, lite on the system and much powerfull than Yahoo Anti-Spy.

Answer 5

you don't say what other programs you are using, if this is the genuine searchnet addware then it will be picked up and removed by Windows malicious software removal tool, Adaware, Spybot search and destroy, superantispyware and so on, also doing online scans at the Mcafee website or trendmicro.com will remove it.

Answer 6

Avast 5 is astounding particularly fairly much as good as any paid for anti-virus, identity propose setting up it (hyperlink on my profile) updating it, then working a boot test. shop it put in to keep away from you getting an infection interior the destiny.

Answer 7

You mean search dot right here's how to remove it
download northen antivirus(trial) and follow these steps

Updated: February 13, 2007 11:37:10 AM
Type: Adware
Risk Impact: Medium
File Names: Systeminit.exe,Sstyle.css
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP


The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support Security Risk detection.

Update the definitions.
Delete the value that was added to the registry.
Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.Searchdot.
Reset the Internet Explorer home page.
Reset the Internet Explorer Search page.
Delete the added lines from the Windows Hosts file.

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To update the definitions
To obtain the most recent definitions, start your Symantec program and run LiveUpdate.

2. To delete the value from the registry

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WARNING: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.
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Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
Type regedit

Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)


Navigate to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run


In the right pane, delete the value:

"system32.dll"="%WinDir%\system\systeminit.exe"


Exit the Registry Editor.


Restart the computer.

3. To scan for and delete the files
Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
If any files are detected as Adware.Searchdot, click Delete.


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Note: If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, write down the path and file name. Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
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4. To reset the Internet Explorer home page
Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Connect to the Internet, and then go to the page that you want to set as your home page.
In the Home page section of the General tab, click Use Current, and then click OK.
Click the Tools menu > Internet Options.

For additional information, or if this procedure does not work, read the Microsoft® Knowledge Base article, "Home Page Setting Changes Unexpectedly, or You Cannot Change Your Home Page Setting, Article ID 320159."


5. To reset the Internet Explorer Search page
Follow the instructions for your version of Windows

Windows 98/Me/2000
Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Click the Search button on the toolbar.
In the Search pane, click Customize.
Click Reset.
Click Autosearch Settings.
Select a search site from the drop-down list, and then click OK.
Click OK.

Windows XP
Because Windows XP is set by default to use animated characters in the search, how you do this can vary. Read all the instructions before you start.
Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Click the Search button on the toolbar.
Do one of the following:

If the pane that opens looks similar to this picture:





click the word Customize. Then skip to step h.


If the pane that opens has the words "Search Companion" at the top, and the center looks similar to this picture:





click the "Change preferences" link as shown above. Proceed with step d.


Click the "Change Internet search behavior" link.
Under "Internet Search Behavior," click "With Classic Internet Search."
Click OK. Then close Internet Explorer. (Close the program for the change to take effect.)
Start Internet Explorer. When the search pane opens, it should now look similar to this:





Click the word Customize, and then proceed with the next step.


In the Search pane, click Customize.
Click Reset.
Click Autosearch Settings.
Select a search site from the drop-down list, and then click OK.
Click OK.
Do one of the following:
If you were using (or want to continue using) the "Classic Internet Search" panel, stop here (or proceed with the next section).
If you want to go back to the "Search Companion" search (it usually has an animated character at the button), proceed with step n.


Click the word Customize again.
In the "Customize Search Settings" window, click "Use Search Companion," and then click OK.
Close Internet Explorer. The next time you open it, it will again use the Search Companion.



6. To delete the added lines from the Windows Hosts file


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The location of the Hosts file may vary and some computers may not have this file. For example, if the file exists in Windows 98, it will usually be in C:\Windows; and it is located in the C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc folder in Windows 2000. There may also be multiple copies of this file in different locations.
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Follow the instructions for your operating system:
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000
Click Start, point to Find or Search, and then click Files or Folders.
Make sure that "Look in" is set to (C:) and that "Include subfolders" is checked.
In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type:

hosts


Click Find Now or Search Now.
For each Hosts file that you find, right-click the file, and then click "Open With."
Deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
When the file opens, delete all the entries in the Hosts file, except for the following line:

127.0.0.1 localhost


Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.


Windows XP
Click Start, and then click Search.
Click All files and folders.
In the "All or part of the file name" box, type:

hosts


Verify that "Look in" is set to "Local Hard Drives" or to (C:).
Click "More advanced options."
Check "Search system folders."
Check "Search subfolders."
Click Search.
Click Find Now or Search Now.
For each Hosts file that you find, right-click the file, and then click "Open With."
Deselect the "Always use this program to open this program" check box.
Scroll through the list of programs and double-click Notepad.
When the file opens, delete all the entries in the Hosts file except for the following line:

127.0.0.1 localhost


Close Notepad and save your changes when prompted.

Answer 8

Try Bit defender