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View Full Version : Manual Removal Guide for IMNames



Friday
2008-11-28, 18:40
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "IMNames" 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:
In the help section of their homepage you can read the following: Does IM Names come with spyware or other harmful applications?
No! IM Names Does Not Contain Spyware or harmful applications. ...
But it installs the 2Search Adware against userīs will and explicit consent.
Supposed Functionality:
IM Names is free desktop software that will allow you to find great screen names for MSN, Yahoo or AOL

Removal Instructions:

Autorun:

Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.

Entries named "IMprocess" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\IM-svr.exe".
Entries named "IMprocess" and pointing to "*\IM-svr.EXE".
Entries named "IMprocess" and pointing to "*.EXE".

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 "IMNames".

Files:

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

The file at "<$PROGRAMS>\Instant Messenger Names\IM Names.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\0.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\1.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\a.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\c.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\e.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\g.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\home.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\i.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\IMNames.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\IM-svr.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\k.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\m.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\main.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\o.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\q.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\s.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\u.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\w.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names\y.txt".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\feeds\1.dat".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\feeds\2.dat".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\feeds\3.dat".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\feeds\4.dat".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\feeds\feed.dst".
A file with an unknown location named "main.exe".
A file with an unknown location named "IM-Names.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\BHO\plugin.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Instant Messenger Names\1.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Instant Messenger Names\IMNames.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Instant Messenger Names\IM-svr.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Instant Messenger Names\main.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If IMNames 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 "<$PROGRAMS>\Instant Messenger Names".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\IM Names".
The directory at "<$SYSDIR>\feeds".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Instant Messenger Names".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If IMNames 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 "IMAdvertiser" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\".
Delete the registry key "IMAdvertiser" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
If IMNames 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).

There are more registry 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.

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.