Category: Malware

Download the following three applications that are all freely available from the: www.bleepingcomputer.com web site. Download them all before executing any of them. I recommend that the three applications be run in the order listed. Also it is important to run them all in order as only partially completing the steps may take your system off-line. At the end a reboot of the system initiated by Adwcleaner is an absolutely essential step.

Save any open work before proceeding.

There are detailed descriptions of each utility on the same page and more technical details of each ore available on their home pages.

Using the “Download Now” will get you the most current version of each one. The http://www.bleepingcomputer.com web pages also list other utilities that may be needed in more complex infestations but these are the three that I use almost all of the time.

JRT – Junkware Removal Tool 

1. Save it to a known location on your computer.
2. Execute the JRT.exe once it has completed downloading. It is a Command Line interface, it checks itself to verify that the newest version is being run and will update itself if necessary.
3. Follow the prompt to press any key to continue. If “System Restore” is disabled the creation of a “System Restore Point” creation will fail. The application may show some commands that it cannot perform. This is dependant of the individual system configuration. As JRT runs it may stop any already running processes including open web browsers.
4. Once it has finished it will produce a notepad txt file of the items it has cleaned or eliminated.

Roguekiller 

1. Save it to a known location on your computer.
2. Execute the Roguekiller.exe once it has completed downloading. It will run an initial check on the system as well as check that it is the current version.
3. Once the check has completed press the Scan button to continue. The completed scan will show any Processes, Registry settings, Host file issues, AntiRootkit, Files/Folders, MBR (Master Boot Records) and Web browser items that have issues.
4. A pop- up screen offers the purchase of the PRO version. It is your choice to subscribe of not. From my experience I select all Processes, Registry settings Host file items but only selectively choose and Web Browser add-ins to be deleted.
5. Then hit the delete button.
6. Once completed close the application.

For those who are running an x64 bit Windows system there is a version built for it that is downloadable from the Roguekiller home page at: http://www.adlice.com/software/roguekiller/

Adwcleaner 

1. Save it to a known location on your computer.
2. Execute the Adwcleaner.exe once it has completed downloading.
3. Press the Scan button to continue.
4. Once the scan is completed press the Cleaning button.
5. This will be followed by three OK buttons.These close all running applications and will reboot the system. This is essential in the cleaning process as it can leave your system off line if not completed. So save any open work first.
6. Once the system has rebooted a notepad txt file listing the items found and fixed by Adwcleaner will be shown on the screen.

Making it a habit to run these three utilities on a regular basis from the previously downloaded files will assist in keeping your system free of malware unwanted or uninvited infestations. Each application checks itself to verify that you are using the most current version.