Friday
2008-11-28, 17:59
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "SearchEssistantBar" 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:
Installs a dangerous toolbar in Internet Explorer
Removal Instructions:
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 "SearchEssistant".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
A file with an unknown location named "SearchEssistant.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SearchEssistantBar 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!
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache\favicons".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache\NewCfg".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache\SiteInfo".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SearchEssistantBar 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 "SEARCHESSISTANT TOOLBAR" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANT Helper", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANT Related", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANT Search", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANTMenu Button", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANTToggle Button", plus associated values.
If SearchEssistantBar 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:
Installs a dangerous toolbar in Internet Explorer
Removal Instructions:
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 "SearchEssistant".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
A file with an unknown location named "SearchEssistant.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SearchEssistantBar 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!
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache\favicons".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache\NewCfg".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\SEARCHESSISTANT Toolbar\Cache\SiteInfo".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SearchEssistantBar 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 "SEARCHESSISTANT TOOLBAR" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANT Helper", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANT Related", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANT Search", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANTMenu Button", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "searchessistant.SEARCHESSISTANTToggle Button", plus associated values.
If SearchEssistantBar 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.