Autoscan
How to Remove Autoscan from Your Computer
You can effectively remove Autoscan from your computer with Exterminate It!.
After installing the program, run a scan to display a list of the files associated with Autoscan in the Scan Result screen and remove these files. For information about running scans and removing malware files, see the Exterminate It! Help.
Autoscan Categorized as:^
Adware
Software that is designed to launch advertisements, frequently pop-up ads, on a user’s computer and/or to redirect search results to promotional Web sites. Adware programs are often built into freeware or shareware programs, where the adware creates an indirect ‘charge’ for using the free program. Sometimes a trojan can silently download an adware program from a Web site and install it onto a user’s machine.
Hacker tools, or Browser Hijackers, can also download an adware program by exploiting a web browser’s vulnerability. Browser Hijackers may tamper with the browser settings, redirect incorrect or incomplete URLs to unwanted Web sites, or change the default home page. They can also re-direct a user’s searches to “pay-to-view” (often pornographic) Web sites.
Typically, many adware programs do not leave any marks of their presence in the system: they are not listed on Start | Programs; they add no icons to the system tray; and they don’t show up on the task list. In addition, adware programs seldom provide an uninstallation procedure, and attempts at manually removing them frequently result in failure of the original carrier program.
Be Aware of the Following Adware Threats:
How Did My PC Get Infected with Autoscan?^
The following are the most likely reasons why your computer got infected with Autoscan:
- 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 Autoscan. 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 Autoscan.
Visiting Questionable Web Sites
When you visit sites with dubious or objectionable content, trojans-including Autoscan, spyware and adware, may well be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer.
Detecting Autoscan^
The following symptoms signal that your computer is very likely to be infected with Autoscan:
PC is working very slowly
Autoscan 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 Autoscan.
New desktop shortcuts have appeared or the home page has changed
Autoscan can tamper with your Internet settings or redirect your default home page to unwanted web sites. Autoscan may even add new shortcuts to your PC desktop.
Annoying popups keep appearing on your PC
Autoscan 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
Autoscan 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.
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