How to remove Andromeda AntiVirus (Uninstall Instructions)

Posted by Grinler on August 25, 2008 @ 08:08 PM · Views: 1,788

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What this programs does:

Andromeda AntiVirus is a new rogue anti-spyware program that displays false and exaggerated results that cannot be removed unless you first purchase the software. When installed, Andromeda AV will create 8 harmless files on your computer with the filenames:

c:\WINDOWS\system32\bprint.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\hinetres.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\rpthreadVC.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\settings
c:\WINDOWS\system32\thunk.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\vclipsrv.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\cpifmgr.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\tmswdat10.dll

These programs are created so when Andromeda AntiVirus is run, it will detect them as malware even though they are harmless and were installed by the program in the first place. This program will also detect other files as malware even though they are legitimate files or do not even exist on the computer. It is this type of deceptive behavior that puts AndromedaAV in the rogue anti-spyware category. Another problem associated with this program is that since it is set to run automatically when you start the computer, it can cause your computer to operate slower. Another annoying byproduct of having this program installed is that it will periodically display pop-up alerts stating that you are infected and should purchase the program.

Screen shot of Andromeda AntiVirus
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 7 images you can view.

This guide will walk you through uninstalling the Andromeda AntiVirus program and any related malware that may be installed with it.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs

Advanced information:

View Andromeda AntiVirus files.
View Andromeda AntiVirus Registry Information.

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O23 - Service: Andromeda AV (AndromedaAVService) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\AndromedaAv.exe

Guide Updates:

08/25/08 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for Andromeda AntiVirus using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link
   
   


3. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
4. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named Download_mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
5. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.
   
   
6. MBAM will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main program as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform quick scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Andromeda AntiVirus related files.
   
   
8. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. When the scan is finished a message box will appear as shown in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the Andromeda AV removal process.
   
   
10. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
11. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below. Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.
    
    
12. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.
    
    
13. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    

Your computer should now be free of the Andromeda AV program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.

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

Associated Andromeda AntiVirus Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Andromeda AntiVirus.lnk
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\av.exe
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases\av_nav_hd.avp
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases\av_nav_m.avp
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases\avd.avp
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases\avhd.avp
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases\avhd1.avp
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\DataBases\avm.avp
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\Logs
c:\Program Files\AndromedaAv\Logs\08-2008_AndromedaAvLog.log
c:\WINDOWS\system32\andrav_inet.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\AndromedaAv.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\bprint.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\hinetres.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\rpthreadVC.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\settings
c:\WINDOWS\system32\thunk.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\vclipsrv.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\cpifmgr.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\tmswdat10.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\winav.sys

Associated Andromeda AntiVirus Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\AV
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\AV
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AndromedaAv
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_ANDROMEDAAVDRV
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AndromedaAvDrv
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_ANDROMEDAAVDRV
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AndromedaAvDrv
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\AndromedaAVService
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AndromedaAVService