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Searched as:

autostartup
AutoStartup Spyware/Adware
delete a locked registry key on startup
ast.exe removal
remove autostarter ast.exe
autostart up remover tool
runast.dll
windows autostartup
autostartup files

AutoStartup

How to Remove AutoStartup from Your Computer

To completely purge AutoStartup from your computer, you need to delete the files, folders, and Windows registry keys, and registry values associated with AutoStartup. These files, folders, and registry keys are respectively listed in the Files, Folders, Registry Keys, and Registry Values sections on this page.

For instructions on deleting the AutoStartup registry keys and registry values, see How to Remove AutoStartup from the Windows Registry.

For instructions on deleting the AutoStartup files and folders,
see How to Delete AutoStartup Files (.exe, .dll, etc.)

How to Delete AutoStartup Files (.exe, .dll, etc.)

The files and folders associated with AutoStartup are listed in the Files and Folders sections on this page.

To delete the AutoStartup files and folders:

Using your file explorer, browse to each file and folder listed in the Folders and Files sections.
Note: The paths use certain conventions such as [%PROGRAM_FILES%]. These conventions are explained here.
Select the file or folder and press SHIFT+Delete on the keyboard.
Click Yes in the confirm deletion dialog box.

IMPORTANT: If a file is locked (in use by some application), its deletion will fail (the Windows will display a corresponding message).You can delete such locked files with the RemoveOnReboot utility. To delete a locked file, right-click on the file, select Send To->Remove on Next Reboot on the menu, and restart your computer. You can install the RemoveOnReboot utility from here.

Files:

[%SYSTEM%]\ast.exe
[%WINDOWS%]\ac.aut
[%WINDOWS%]\ib.exe
[%WINDOWS%]\system\ast.exe
[%WINDOWS%]\unast.exe

view mapping details

Scan your File System for AutoStartup

How to Remove AutoStartup from the Windows Registry

The Windows registry stores important system information such as system preferences, user settings, and installed programs details as well as the information about the applications that are automatically run at start-up. Because of this, spyware, malware, and adware often store references to their own files in your Windows registry so that they can automatically launch every time you start up your computer.

To effectively remove AutoStartup from your Windows registry, you must delete all the registry keys and values associated with AutoStartup, which are listed in the Registry Keys and Registry Values sections on this page.

IMPORTANT: Because the registry is a core component of your Windows system, it is strongly recommended that you back up the registry before you begin deleting keys and values. For information about backing up the Windows registry, refer to the Registry Editor online help.

To remove the AutoStartup registry keys and values:

On the Windows Start menu, click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit and click OK.
The Registry Editor window opens. This window consists of two panes. The left pane displays folders that represent the registry keys arranged in hierarchical order. The right one lists the registry values of the currently selected registry key.
To delete each registry key listed in the Registry Keys section, do the following:
- Locate the key in the left pane of the Registry Editor window by sequentially expanding the folders according to the path indicated in the Registry Keys section. For example, if the path of a registry key is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\FolderA\FolderB\KeyName1, sequentially expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, software, FolderA, and FolderB folders.
- Select the key name indicated at the end of the path (KeyName1 in the example above).
- Right-click the key name and select Delete on the menu.
- Click Yes in the Confirm Key Delete dialog box.
To delete each registry value listed in the Registry Values section, do the following:
- Display the value in the right pane of the Registry Editor window by sequentially expanding the folders in the left pane according to the path indicated in the Registry Values section and selecting the specified key name. For example, if the path of a registry value is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\FolderA\FolderB\KeyName2\,valueC=, sequentially expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, software, FolderA, and FolderB folders and select the KeyName2 key to display the valueC value in the right pane.
- In the right pane, select the value name indicated after a comma at the end of the path (valueC in the example above).
- Right-click the value name and select Delete on the menu.
- Click Yes in the Confirm Value Delete dialog box.

Registry Values:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run, ast=
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run, astart=

Scan your Windows Registry for AutoStartup

AutoStartup Categorized as:

Spyware

Spyware is designed to gather data from a computer and transfer it to a third party without the consent or knowledge of the computer’s owner. This includes collecting confidential information (passwords, credit card numbers, PIN numbers, etc.), monitoring key strokes, gathering e-mail addresses, or tracking surfing habits. Such resource-consuming activities slow down the system and generally impact the computer’s performance.

“Spyware” is an umbrella term for a diverse group of malware-related programs, rather than a clear-cut category. Most spyware definitions apply not only to adware, pornware and ‘riskware’ programs, but to many trojans as well.

How Did My PC Get Infected with AutoStartup?

The following are the most likely reasons why your computer got infected with AutoStartup:

Your operating system and Web browser's security settings are too lax.
You are not following safe Internet surfing and PC practices.

Downloading and Installing Freeware or Shareware

Small-charge or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like AutoStartup. Sometimes adware is attached to free software to enable the developers to cover the overhead involved in created the software. Spyware frequently piggybacks on free software into your computer to damage it and steal valuable private information.

Using Peer-to-Peer Software

The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) programs or other applications using a shared network exposes your system to the risk of unwittingly downloading infected files, including malicious programs like AutoStartup.

Visiting Questionable Web Sites

When you visit sites with dubious or objectionable content, trojans-including AutoStartup-, spyware, and adware, may well be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer.

Detecting AutoStartup

The following symptoms signal that your computer is very likely to be infected with AutoStartup.

PC is working very slowly
AutoStartup can seriously slow down your computer. If your PC takes a lot longer than normal to restart or your Internet connection is extremely slow, your computer may well be infected with AutoStartup.

New desktop shortcuts have appeared or the home page has changed
AutoStartup can tamper with your Internet settings or redirect your default home page to unwanted web sites. AutoStartup may even add new shortcuts to your PC desktop.

Annoying popups keep appearing on your PC
AutoStartup may swamp your computer with pestering popup ads, even when you're not connected to the Internet, while secretly tracking your browsing habits and gathering your personal information.

E-mails that you didn't write are being sent from your mailbox
AutoStartup may gain complete control of your mailbox to generate and send e-mail with virus attachments, e-mail hoaxes, spam, and other types of unsolicited e-mail to other people.

Check now if your PC is infected with AutoStartup

Also Be Aware of the Following Threats:

Spyware

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