MetaDirect.Keyword
Aliases of MetaDirect.Keyword (AKA):
| [Panda] | Spyware/Overpro |
How to Remove MetaDirect.Keyword from Your Computer^
To completely purge MetaDirect.Keyword from your computer, you need to delete the files and folders associated with MetaDirect.Keyword. These files and folders are respectively listed in the Files and Folders sections on this page.
For instructions on deleting the MetaDirect.Keyword files and folders, see the following section How to Delete MetaDirect.Keyword Files (.exe, .dll, etc.).
How to Delete MetaDirect.Keyword Files (.exe, .dll, etc.)^
The files and folders associated with MetaDirect.Keyword are listed in the Files and Folders sections on this page.
To delete the MetaDirect.Keyword files and folders:
- Using your file explorer, browse to each file and folder listed in the Folders and Files sections.
- Select the file or folder and press SHIFT+Delete on the keyboard.
- Click Yes in the confirm deletion dialog box.
MetaDirect.Keyword 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:
not.virus:Joke.Win32.FakeFormat, Ofrel, The.Best.Offers.Network, NameLater, kr.
How Did My PC Get Infected with MetaDirect.Keyword?^
The following are the most likely reasons why your computer got infected with MetaDirect.Keyword:
- 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 MetaDirect.Keyword. 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 MetaDirect.Keyword.
Visiting Questionable Web Sites
When you visit sites with dubious or objectionable content, trojans-including MetaDirect.Keyword, spyware and adware, may well be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer.
Detecting MetaDirect.Keyword^
The following symptoms signal that your computer is very likely to be infected with MetaDirect.Keyword:
PC is working very slowly
MetaDirect.Keyword 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 MetaDirect.Keyword.
New desktop shortcuts have appeared or the home page has changed
MetaDirect.Keyword can tamper with your Internet settings or redirect your default home page to unwanted web sites. MetaDirect.Keyword may even add new shortcuts to your PC desktop.
Annoying popups keep appearing on your PC
MetaDirect.Keyword 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
MetaDirect.Keyword 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.
A lot of the smart viruses and Trojan horses today try really hard and prevent you form going to the main anti-virus and cleanup sort of product including microsoft own tools. They actually block your access to those sites.
A couple of weeks ago my wife's laptop got totally infected (she must be browsing porn) and I ended up finding a little known program that did most of the clean up and then followed up with Microsoft tools that are available on their site and successfully cleaned everything with the exception of one item i had to get rid of manually.
Name of the product is Exterminate it. Worked pretty well.
Source