Manual Removal Guide for LinkMaker

The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "LinkMaker" 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:

• adware

Description:

LinkMaker installs without user consent into the system directory of the computer and contacts a dangerous website by surfing to each normal domain. If the user types special key words popups with advertising appear.

Removal Instructions:

Autorun:

Please use Spybot-S&D, RunAlyzer or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.

• Entries pointing to "<$SYSDIR>bdpn.exe".

Files:

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

• The file at "<$WINDIR>\system32ftuninst.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\system32ssec.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\system32tfthot.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\ftuninst.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\tfthot.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\hvzead7v.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\ssec.exe".
• The file at "<$SYSDIR>\v199.dll".

Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If LinkMaker 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.

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.