The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "SearchAmong.Toolbar" 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:
  • adware

Description:
SearchAmong.Toolbar is installed by other software like OptimumInstaller. The User has the choice to install the toolbar. By default the toolbar will be installed on the computer. So the user has to deselect this option.
Removal Instructions:

Files:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
  • The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\SearchAmong Toolbar\Uninstall SearchAmong Toolbar.lnk".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SearchAmong Toolbar\SearchAmongToolbar.dll".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SearchAmong Toolbar\unins000.dat".
  • The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SearchAmong Toolbar\unins000.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SearchAmong.Toolbar 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 "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\SearchAmong Toolbar".
  • The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SearchAmong Toolbar".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SearchAmong.Toolbar 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!

Registry:

You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
  • Delete the registry key "{154d339e-ccaa-49a5-9b38-6878ad4220bc}" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\".
  • Delete the registry value "DefaultScope={154d339e-ccaa-49a5-9b38-6878ad4220bc}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\".
  • Delete the registry value "DisplayName" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{154d339e-ccaa-49a5-9b38-6878ad4220bc}\".
  • Delete the registry value "Start Page=http://www.searchamong.com/" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\".
  • Delete the registry value "URL" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{154d339e-ccaa-49a5-9b38-6878ad4220bc}\".
  • Delete the registry value "URL" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{154d339e-ccaa-49a5-9b38-6878ad4220bc}\".
If SearchAmong.Toolbar uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer, RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.

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

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 "http://www.searchamong.com/searchview.php?query={searchTerms}&cat=webs&bar=true".

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.