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

Description:
Transmits URLs and unique ID with every page visited. See also http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/SideStep.html
Supposed Functionality:
Sidebar to help finding cheap flights, hotels and cars.
Links (be careful!):
Website: http://www.sidestep.com/
Removal Instructions:

Desktop:

Please remove the following files from your desktop.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
  • Shortcuts that include "sidestep.com" in the target they point to.

Start Menu:

Please remove the following items from your start menu.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
  • Items that include "sidestep.com" in the target they point to.

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 or RunAlyzer to locate and get rid of these entries.
  • Products that have a key or property named "SideStep".

Files:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
  • The file at "<$WINDIR>\Downloaded Program Files\SbCIe025.dll".
  • The file at "<$WINDIR>\Downloaded Program Files\SbCIe025.inf".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SideStep 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.

Registry:

You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
  • Delete the registry key "SideStep" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
  • References to the file "SbCIe025.dll" at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ModuleUsage\.
  • References to the file "SbCIe025.dll" at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDlls\.
  • Delete the registry key "{08351225-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\".
  • Delete the registry key "{08351226-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\".
  • Delete the registry key "{3E230861-5C87-11D3-A1C6-00105A1B41B8}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\".
  • Delete the registry key "{08351225-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
  • Delete the registry key "{08361225-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
  • Delete the registry key "{0837121A-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
  • Delete the registry key "{0837121A-6472-43BD-8A40-D9221FF1C4CE}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Code Store Database\Distribution Units\".
If SideStep 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 "download.sidestep.com".
  • Please remove Browser Helpers named "SideStep Browser Helper".
  • Look for Internet Explorer extensions named "SideStep".

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.