Manual Removal Guide for SynergeticSoft.PrivacyDefender

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.

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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 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 "<$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 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 "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, 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.

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.