The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "FreeScratchCards" 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:
  • hijacker
  • spyware
  • malware

Description:
Changes start- & search page, and tracks your Internet usage. Auto-installs updates and possible other software (according to license with user consent, but in our test it installed C2.lop without asking for confirmation).
Privacy Statement:
To insure you always have the latest version and for your convenience this software will automatically update itself from time to time once installed. Also we will download other companies programs to your computer which you will have the choice to install or not install once downloaded.
[...]
Removal Instructions:

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 "install.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If FreeScratchCards 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!

Registry:

You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
  • Delete the registry key "{ED3ADB6E-5AA9-41B0-9DDC-6F31A34552BE}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Code Store Database\Distribution Units\".
  • Delete the registry key "FSCClient" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FSC\".
If FreeScratchCards uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer, RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.

Browser:

The following browser plugins or items can either be removed directly in your browser, or through the help of e.g. Spybot-S&D or RunAlyzer.
  • Look for ActiveX software installed from "www.free-scratch-cards.com/install.exe".

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.