How to remove the Surf Sidekick 2/3 and VCClient

What this program does:

Delivers ads to your computer.


Tools Needed for this fix:

• HijackThis
  

Related Tutorials:

• How to use HijackThis to remove Browser Hijackers & Spyware
  

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log (Maybe different entries but will contain the same domains and hostnames):


R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {000AB005-FF12-42C2-8DF5-39E12E5F9C91} - C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\SskBho.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\Ssk.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SurfSideKick] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\Ssk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick 3] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\Ssk.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CU1] C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\VCClient.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CU2] C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\VCMain.exe
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: repairs.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: repairs302972943.dll

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Removal Instructions:

1. Download HijackThis from the above link and extract it to c:\hijackthis.
   
   
2. Print out these instructions.
   
   
3. Close Internet Explorer and keep it closed throughout the entire removal process.
   
   
4. Enter the control panel by clicking on the Start menu, then clicking on Run.
   
   
5. Now type control in the Open field and press the OK button.
   
   
6. Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.
   
   
7. Look for and uninstall the following entries if found in the Add/Remove Programs window.
   
   Surf Sidekick
   Surf Sidekick 2
   Surf Sidekick 3
   
   It may prompt about whether or not you are sure you want to remove this program. Reply Yes to this prompt. It will then uninstall the program.
   
   If there is no Add/Remove Programs entry for this programs, click on Start, then Run and type the followin in the Open: field:
   
   C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\Ssk.exe /u
   
   and press the OK button. A code will be displayed that it will ask you to enter. Enter this code and reboot. Once back to your desktop continue with the rest of the fix.
   
   
8. Navigate to the c:\hijackthis directory and double-click on HijackThis
   
   
9. When the program starts, double-click on the HijackThis icon and then click on the Scan button.
   
   
10. Put a checkmark next to the following entries if they exist:
    
    R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {000AB005-FF12-42C2-8DF5-39E12E5F9C91} - (no file)
    R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {000AB005-FF12-42C2-8DF5-39E12E5F9C91} - C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\SskBho.dll
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\Ssk.exe
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SurfSideKick] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\Ssk.exe
    O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick 3] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\Ssk.exe
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CU1] C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\VCClient.exe
    O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CU2] C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\VCMain.exe
    O20 - AppInit_DLLs: repairs.dll
    O20 - AppInit_DLLs: repairs302972943.dll
    
    
11. Then click the Fix button
    
    
12. Exit HijackThis.
    
    
13. Reboot your computer
    
    
14. Delete the following directories if they exist:
    
    C:\PROGRAM FILES\SurfSideKick
    C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\
    C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\
    
    
15. Search for the following files and if found delete them:
    
    Sskknwrd.dll
    Ssk.log
    SskUpdater.exe
    
Ssk.exe

Now your computer should no longer be infected with Surf SideKick. It may be possible that you still have some spyware or malware installed on your computer. If you feel this is the case, follow the instructions below to post a HijackThis log and someone will help you to remove the rest.

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BleepingComputer.com can not be held responsible for problems that may occur by using this information. If you would like help with any of these fixes, you can post a HijackThis log in our HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum.

If you have any questions about this self-help guide then please post those questions in our AntiVirus, Firewall and Privacy Products and Protection Methods forum and someone will help you.

Updated to include removal of VCClient.