Manual Removal Guide for CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch

The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.

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Threat Details:

Categories:

• hijacker

Description:

It redirects your Internet Explorer start page and search page, to XXX.magicsearch.Xx and tries to download files from the internet. Autorun entries are created to load the downloaded files on every Windows start.

Removal Instructions:

Autorun:

Please use Spybot-S&D, RunAlyzer or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.

• Entries named "UserSystem".
• Entries named "MicrosoftWindows".
• Entries named "UserSystem".
• Entries pointing to "\IEXPLORER.EXE".
• Entries pointing to "\IEXPLORER.EXE".

Files:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.

• The file at "<$WINDIR>\initial.sys".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\initial.sys".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\directx\directx.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\directx\directx.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\directx\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\directx\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\systeem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\systeem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Windows\explore.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\explore.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Windows\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System\internet.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System\internet.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Media\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Media\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Media\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Media\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Help\helpcvs.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Help\helpcvs.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Help\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Help\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Accessories\accesss.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Accessories\accesss.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Accessories\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Accessories\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Games\systemcritical.exe".
• The file at "C:\Games\systemcritical.exe".
• The file at "C:\Games\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Games\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Documents Settings\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Documents Settings\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Documents Settings\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Documents Settings\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Documents And Settings\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Documents And Settings\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Documents And Settings\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Documents And Settings\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Media Player\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Media Player\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Game.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Game.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\Windows\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System\RunDll16.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System\RunDll16.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System32\RunDll16.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System32\RunDll16.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System32\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Windows\System32\temp.txt".
• The file at "C:\y.exe".
• The file at "C:\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\x.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Windows\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Cash Advance.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Online Betting.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Student Loan Consolidation.url".
• The file at "c:\funny.exe".
• The file at "c:\funniest.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\notepad32.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\system\kazaa.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\system32\kazaa.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\explore.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\exploreer.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\sistem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\critical.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\directx.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\internet.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\window.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\winmgnt.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\clrssn.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\explorer32.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\win32e.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\directx32.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\uninstall.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\volume.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\autorun.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\users32.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\notepad.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\win64.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\inetinf.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\time.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\systeem.exe".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\network.sys".
• The file at "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Services\temp.txt".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Sell Future Payment.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Debt Management.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Payday Advance.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Soma Linking.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Arizona Health Insurance.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Cash Loan.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Debt Consolidation.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Debt Solutions.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Dvd Rental Mail.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\E-Learning.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Fast Loan.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Help Desk Software.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Home Equity Loan.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Hotels In Johannesburg.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Mortgage Lead.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Movie Rental Online.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Party Poker.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Quick Cash.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Refinance.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Time Clock.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Viagra Online.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Tramadol.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Advance Cash.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Credit Card Debt.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Data Recovery.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Diazepam.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\E Loan.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Fast Loans.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Loan.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Louis Vuitton Replica.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Party Poker.Com.url".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\What Is Xanax.url".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\explore.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\exploreer.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\sistem.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\critical.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\directx.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\window.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\winmgnt.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\clrssn.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\explorer32.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\win32e.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\directx32.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\volume.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\users32.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\win64.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\inetinf.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\time.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\systeem.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\initial.sys".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\temp32.txt".
• The file at "<$FAVORITES>\Payday Loan Online.url".
• The file at "c:\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "c:\explore.exe".
• The file at "c:\exploreer.exe".
• The file at "c:\sistem.exe".
• The file at "c:\critical.exe".
• The file at "c:\directx.exe".
• The file at "c:\window.exe".
• The file at "c:\winmgnt.exe".
• The file at "c:\clrssn.exe".
• The file at "c:\explorer32.exe".
• The file at "c:\win32e.exe".
• The file at "c:\directx32.exe".
• The file at "c:\volume.exe".
• The file at "c:\autorun.exe".
• The file at "c:\users32.exe".
• The file at "c:\notepad.exe".
• The file at "c:\win64.exe".
• The file at "c:\inetinf.exe".
• The file at "c:\time.exe".
• The file at "c:\systeem.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\iexplorer.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\directx\directx.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\internet.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\system32\internet.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\explore.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\network.sys".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Common Files\System\systeem.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Accessories\accesss.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\Media\wmplayer.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\Help\helpcvs.exe".

Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!

Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D to remove them.

Registry:

You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.

• Delete the registry value "www" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\".

If CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer, RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.

Browser:

The following browser plugins or items can either be removed directly in your browser, or through the help of e.g. Spybot-S&D or RunAlyzer.

• Please check your bookmarks for links to "smartsearch.ws".
• Please check your bookmarks for links to "81.211.105.26".
• Please check your bookmarks for links to "magicsearch.ws".

Final Words:

If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,

1. Please read these instructions before requesting assistance,
2. Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.