The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "TheSpywareShield" 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:
  • malware

Description:
TheSpywareShield is a rogue antispyware solution. It is related to SpyViper and Ad-PurgeSpywareAndAdwareRemoverPro. When installed, it asks the user to provide an e-mail address in order to get a password to run a system scan.
Removal Instructions:

Desktop:

Please remove the following files from your desktop.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
  • Shortcuts named "the Spyware Shield.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\the Spyware Shield\theSpywareShieldFull.exe".

Files:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
  • The file at "<$STARTMENU>\Programs\theSpywareShield.com Software\the Spyware Shield\theSpywareShield.com.url".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\the Spyware Shield\help.chm".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\the Spyware Shield\Localization.xml".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\the Spyware Shield\theSpywareShield.com.url".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\the Spyware Shield\theSpywareShieldFull.exe".
  • The file at "<$DESKTOP>\the Spyware Shield.lnk".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If TheSpywareShield 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.

Folders:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
  • The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\the Spyware Shield".
  • The directory at "<$STARTMENU>\Programs\theSpywareShield.com Software\the Spyware Shield".
  • The directory at "<$STARTMENU>\Programs\theSpywareShield.com Software".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If TheSpywareShield 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 folders!

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.