How To Remove Privacy Protector Or Privacyprotector (removal Instructions)

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How To Remove Privacy Protector Or Privacyprotector (removal Instructions)

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Grinler View Member Profile	Jul 5 2007, 01:54 PM Post #1
Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 28,179 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3	How to remove Privacy Protector or PrivacyProtector (Removal Instructions) What these programs do: Privacy Protector, or PrivacyProtector, is a rogue security product that states it will scan your computer to find private information and allow you to delete it. In order to clean the information, you would be required to purchase their software. I did not test whether or not the program does what it states it can do, and for all we know it actually can. Our problem with Privacy Protector is that it uses Trojans and other malware to advertise itself without your permission on your computer. This alone places it in the rogue status and means it should be removed. Privacy Protector Screenshot This guide will remove the Privacy Protector infection and the other malware installed with it. Tools Needed for this fix: SmitFraudFix (Automated Fix) Symptoms in a HijackThis Log (Not all symptoms may be present): O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Privacy Protector] C:\Program Files\Privacy Protector\Privacy Protector.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avp] C:\WINDOWS\avp.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [smgr] mgrs.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows update loader] C:\Windows\xpupdate.exe O21 - SSODL: msole - {80047F31-5F13-47A4-ACFB-CC64BCCDDE75} - C:\WINDOWS\msole.dll O21 - SSODL: msdde - {7725C992-B6C9-42AC-ACF9-A00D6AA45166} - C:\WINDOWS\msdde.dll O21 - SSODL: wmpenv - {E0846809-E05C-4800-B201-C6B04E71181D} - C:\WINDOWS\wmpenv.dll O21 - SSODL: wmpconf - {446E5D9F-F553-4D27-9E0D-B3066B9C7A1E} - C:\WINDOWS\wmpconf.dll Add/Remove Programs control panel entry: Privacy Protector Guide Updates: 07/05/07 - Initial guide creation. Choose the removal method you would like to use: Manual Removal (Should be used if automated method does not work.) Manual Removal Instructions for Privacy Protector: These steps may appear to be long and daunting. They are, though, quite easy to do and consist of so many steps only because I have written them in an extremely detailed manner. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix. Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop: SmitFraudFix.exe Confirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below: Next, please reboot your computer into Safe Mode by doing the following: Restart your computer After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8. Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode. When you are at the logon prompt, log in as the same user which you had done the previous steps. When your computer has started in safe mode and you see the desktop proceed to the next step. Close all open Windows. Now, double-click on the SmitFraudfix icon that should be residing on your desktop.The icon will look like the one below: When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen. When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen. You will now see a menu as shown in the image below. Press the number 2 on your keyboard and the press the enter key to choose the option *Clean (safe mode recommended).* The program will start cleaning your computer and go through a series of cleanup processes. When it is done, it will automatically start the Disk Cleanup program as shown by the image below. This program will remove all Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and other files that may be leftover files from this infection. This process can take up to a few hours depending on your computer, so please be patient. When it is complete, it will close automatically and you will should continue with step 25. When Disk Cleanup is finished, you will be presented with an option asking Do you want to clean the registry ? (y/n). At this screen you should press the Y button on your keyboard and then press the enter key. When this last routine is finished, you will be presented with a red screen stating Computer will reboot now. Close all applications. You should now press the spacebar on your computer. A counter will appear stating that the computer will reboot in 15 seconds. Do not cancel this countdown and allow your computer to reboot. Once the computer has rebooted, you will be presented with a Notepad screen containing a log of all the files removed from your computer. Examine this log to see what files were found, and when you are done, close the Notepad screen. Now, click on the Start Menu button. Click on the Control Panel option. Double-click on the Add or Remove Programs icon. Find the entry for Privacy Protector and double-click on it to uninstall if found. Follow the prompts to uninstall the program, but do not allow it to reboot the computer if it asks. When it has completed uninstalling you can close Add or Remove Programs and your Control Panel. Delete the following files and folders (Do not be concerned if this folder does not exist): C:\Program Files\PrivacyProtector Free\ We next perform an online scan with Panda to find any possible inactive remnants from this infection: Panda Online Once you are on the Panda site click the Scan your PC button A new window will open...click the Check Now button Enter your Country Enter your State/Province Enter your e-mail address and click send Select either Home User or Company Click the big Scan Now button If it wants to install an ActiveX component allow it It will start downloading the files it requires for the scan (Note: It may take a few minutes) When download is complete, click on Local Disks to start the scan When the online scan has been completed, let it remove what it finds, and then you can close Internet Explorer. Your computer should now be free of the Privacy Protector infection. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below: Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log This is a self-help guide. Use at your own risk. 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. -------------------- Lawrence

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