Friday
2008-11-30, 14:57
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender" 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:
pups
Description:
Software is able to remove usage tracks as described. Privacy Defender is sold for about 15$ but vendor hides his identity.
Supposed Functionality:
supposed to be legit software that can remove usage tracks.
Removal Instructions:
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\1.ico".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\help.chm".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\License.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\prd.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\uninst.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender 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 "SynergeticSoft" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "Privacy Defender" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SynergeticSoft\".
Delete the registry key "IE5Tools" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "ToolBar Buttons" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IE5Tools\".
Delete the registry key "SynergeticSoft" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "Privacy Defender 7.0.3" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SynergeticSoft\".
If SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender 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.
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:
pups
Description:
Software is able to remove usage tracks as described. Privacy Defender is sold for about 15$ but vendor hides his identity.
Supposed Functionality:
supposed to be legit software that can remove usage tracks.
Removal Instructions:
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\1.ico".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\help.chm".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\License.txt".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\prd.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender\uninst.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Privacy Defender".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender 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 "SynergeticSoft" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "Privacy Defender" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SynergeticSoft\".
Delete the registry key "IE5Tools" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "ToolBar Buttons" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IE5Tools\".
Delete the registry key "SynergeticSoft" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "Privacy Defender 7.0.3" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SynergeticSoft\".
If SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender 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.