XP Antispyware 2010 is a rogue anti-spyware application that is specific to the Windows XP operating system. It appears under different names in different operating systems, but the basic function is always the same: it tries to trick users into buying a software license. XP Antispyware 2010 reaches the user’s system via Trojan viruses that get downloaded from dangerous websites. Once established on the system, this rogue application loads itself at boot time and performs endless fake security scans, returning results that show that the system is under threat from dangerous malware. It also generates an endless stream of fake pop-ups from the Windows taskbar that claim that the user’s computer is under threat. Then XP Antispyware 2010 urges the user to purchase a license to the ‘full’ version of the software, claiming that the currently installed ‘trial’ version is incapable of properly cleaning out the detected fake ‘threats’. However, users should remember that the so-called ‘full’ version of XP Antispyware 2010 is just as incapable of scanning or cleaning their computers as the ‘trial’ version is.
In order to remove XP Antispyware 2010, you must stop its processes, delete its files and folders and remove its registry entries. The process of XP Antispyware 2010 removal is outlined below.
File Removal Procedures
The first step in XP Antispyware 2010 removal is to stop the following process:
- av.exe
The next step in XP Antispyware 2010 removal is to delete the following files and folders:
- %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\av.exe
- %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\WRblt8464P
Once the above steps have been completed, XP Antispyware no longer resides on your hard disk.
Registry Removal Procedures
Removing files and folders alone is not sufficient to get rid of this rogue software completely. To ensure complete XP Antispyware 2010 removal, you should remove the following registry entries as well:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “%1? %*
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “firefox.exe”
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “firefox.exe” -safe-mode
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “av.exe” /START “iexplore.exe”
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center “AntiVirusOverride” = “1?
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center “FirewallOverride” = “1?
Now it is safe to say that XP Antispyware 2010 removal is complete. While this kind of software is usually installed with the help of other forms of malware it is recommended to scan the entire computer using a genuine antivirus product such as Spyware Doctor with Antivirus.
Conclusion
Manual XP Antispyware 2010 removal is not recommended for inexperienced users, as any wrong move could cause damage to the operating system. Inexperienced users are advised to use a web-based system cleaning/scanning service such as www.onlinecomputerrepair.org or a legitimate security product to completely and safely remove XP Antispyware 2010.