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Remove CoolWebSearch Spyware
About CoolWebSearch Spyware
CoolWebSearch is a name given to a wide range of different browser hijacker spyware that runs a Java applet. It distributes itself by exploiting security holes in older or unpatched version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Some variants (eg., CWS.Vrape) will redirect to adult sites or invoke dialers.
Remove this spyware using Spyware Doctor
This spyware has lots of variants:
| CWS.AddClass |
CWS.AFF.IEDLL |
CWS.AFF.MadFinder |
| CWS.AFF.WinShow |
CWS.AlFaSearch |
CWS.Bootconf |
| CWS.Ctfmon32 |
CWS.DataNotary |
CWS.DNSRelay |
| CWS.DReplace |
CWS.Dwinf |
CWS.GoogleMS |
| CWS.IEFeats |
CWS.LoadBAT |
CWS.MSConfd |
| CWS.MSInfo |
CWS.MSOffice |
CWS.Msspi |
| CWS.MSwsc10 |
CWS.MUpdate |
CWS.OEMSysPNP |
| CWS.OSLogo |
CWS.QTTasks |
CWS.Svchost32 |
| CWS.Svcinit |
CWS.TapiCFG |
CWS.TheRealSearch |
| CWS.Vrape |
CWS.XPlugin |
|
How to Remove CoolWebSearch ?
Merijn Bellekom has prepared a tool called CWShredder which should be able to remove all known CoolWebSearch variants automatically. You can also remove CoolWebSearch using PestPatrol .
To manually remove them, follow these instructions:
DataNotary, BootConf, MSInfo variants
For these variants, start by opening Tools->Internet Options->Accessibility and make sure the 'user style sheet' option is turned off.
You should then be able to delete the user stylesheet from the Windows folder. With DataNotary it is called 'default.css'; with MSInfo it is called 'oslogo.bmp'; with Bootconf it may be either.
MSInfo variant only
Next, open the file 'win.ini' from the Windows folder in a text editor. Delete the line “run=C:\WINDOWS\..\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\MSINFO\msinfo.exe” and save. (This line may change a little on different systems, but will always point to msinfo.exe.) Delete the 'MSInfo' folder inside 'Common Files' in the 'Program Files' folder.
BootConf, SvcHost variants
Next, open the registry (Start->Run->regedit), find the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, and delete the bootconf.exe or svchost.exe entry. You can then delete the bootconf.exe or svchost32.exe file from the System folder (which is inside the Windows folder, and called 'System32' on Windows NT/2000/XP)
BootConf, SvcHost, MSInfo variants
From the System folder, open the drivers->etc folders and find the file named 'HOSTS', with no extension. Either edit it to remove the hijacker entries, or simply delete the file.
PnP variant
Open the registry (Start->Run->regedit) and find the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Delete the 'SysPnP' entry, and the 'oemsysinf.pnp' file from the 'inf' folder (which is inside the Windows folder).
MSSPI variant
Removing a Layered Service Provider by hand is tricky and if you get it wrong you'll lose your internet connection. If you really want to try, open the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2 \Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries, delete the subkeys starting with the path of msspi.dll, renumber the remaining subkeys, and set the Num_Catalog_Entries value in the Protocol_Catalog9 key to match the highest numbered subkey left.
Normally it is better to get a program (eg. CWShredder, HijackThis or LSPFix to remove an LSP for you.
Having done that, open the registry and check the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run for an 'msupdate' entry; delete it if you find it. Restart the computer and you should be to delete msspi.dll in the System folder (which is inside the Windows folder, and called 'System32' on Windows NT/2000/XP), along with msupdate.exe if you have it.
DNSRelay variant
Open a DOS command prompt window (from Start->Programs->Accessories) and enter the following commands:
cd "%WinDir%\System"
regsvr32 /u dnsrelay.dll
Restart and you should be able to delete the file 'dnsrelay.dll' in the System folder (which is inside the Windows folder, and called 'System32' on Windows NT/2000/XP).
All variants
After having removed the software, use Internet Options->Programs->Reset Web Settings to remove the bogus home page and search settings.
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