Friday
2008-11-28, 18:12
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "BreakSpyware" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
malware
Description:
BreakSpyware claims to be an antispyware solution. If it is installed on the computer it detects some spyware even if the computer is a totally clean machine. In order to fix these problems, the user needs to purchase a licence.
Removal Instructions:
Start Menu:
Please remove the following items from your start menu.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Items named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "BeakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Uninstall.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "BeakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "Uninstall.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\Uninstall.exe".
Items named "Break-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Break-Spyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Beak-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Break-Spyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Uninstall.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
Quicklaunch area:
Please remove the following items from your start quick launch area text to the "Start" button in the taskbar at the bottom.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Autorun:
Important: There are more autorun entries that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "Break Spyware".
Products that have a key or property named "BreakSpyware".
Products that have a key or property named "Break-Spyware".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\BreakSpyware.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\database.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\whitelist.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\BreakSpyware.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\database.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\Uninstall.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\whitelist.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\BreakSpyware.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\database.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\whitelist.dat".
The file at "<$DESKTOP>\BreakSpyware.lnk".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If BreakSpyware uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
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 (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\Break Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\Quarantine".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\BreakSpyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\Quarantine".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\Break-Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\Quarantine".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If BreakSpyware uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
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 "Break Spyware" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "BreakSpyware" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "Break-Spyware" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
If BreakSpyware uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
malware
Description:
BreakSpyware claims to be an antispyware solution. If it is installed on the computer it detects some spyware even if the computer is a totally clean machine. In order to fix these problems, the user needs to purchase a licence.
Removal Instructions:
Start Menu:
Please remove the following items from your start menu.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Items named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "BeakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Uninstall.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "BeakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "BreakSpyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Items named "Uninstall.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\Uninstall.exe".
Items named "Break-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Break-Spyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Beak-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Break-Spyware Monitor.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Items named "Uninstall.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
Quicklaunch area:
Please remove the following items from your start quick launch area text to the "Start" button in the taskbar at the bottom.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "BreakSpyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Quicklaunch symbols named "Break-Spyware.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\*.exe".
Autorun:
Important: There are more autorun entries that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "Break Spyware".
Products that have a key or property named "BreakSpyware".
Products that have a key or property named "Break-Spyware".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\BreakSpyware.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\database.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\whitelist.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\BreakSpyware.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\database.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\Uninstall.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\whitelist.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\BreakSpyware.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\database.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\Uninstall.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\whitelist.dat".
The file at "<$DESKTOP>\BreakSpyware.lnk".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If BreakSpyware uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\Break Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break Spyware\Quarantine".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\BreakSpyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BreakSpyware\Quarantine".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\Break-Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Break-Spyware\Quarantine".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If BreakSpyware uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
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 "Break Spyware" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "BreakSpyware" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "Break-Spyware" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
If BreakSpyware uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.