Many users of computer systems running Windows OS often encounter a kind of seemingly protective utility called Anyprotect on their terminals. What kind of program is this? Some mistakenly consider it anti-virus or security software. This is actually the most common virus related to browser hijackers classified as Hijackers. But what is it about this virus that it should be removed immediately upon detection?
Anyprotect: what is this program?
To begin with, this is not only a hijacker who acts in the image and likeness of his brothers, changing search engines, start pages or installing his own add-ons in browsers, constantly redirecting to sites of dubious or advertising content, also to viral resources.
The main distinguishing feature of the Anyprotect virus can be called the fact that it (in addition to everything else) is also a false antivirus that is able to issue dubious warnings about threats of computer infection requiring immediate cleaning. But let's say the user agrees. Which of these? Never mind!
The virus will offer to perform either registration or pay money to obtain a full-fledged instrument (not the fact that it will work). This is somewhat reminiscent of the use of the widely publicized SpyHunter utility, which under no circumstances can be installed on your computer.
The second difference is protection against deletion. Despite the fact that the program is displayed in the list of installed Windows applications in the Control Panel, it is impossible to remove it using standard system tools. But then how to remove Anyprotect? To do this, you will have to perform a number of preliminary steps.
How to remove Anyprotect with Windows system tools?
The first and most important condition for unlocking the program is not even to use utilities like Unlocker or to obtain an extended set of administrator rights. All the same, it will not give anything.
The first step is to use the registry editor (regedit) with the task of searching for keys by the name of the virus. All records found must be deleted. Only then can you proceed to the standard uninstall of the Anyprotect virus. What kind of program is this? She, like any other application, is displayed in the list of installed applets, completely disguised. Select the desired program and delete it by pressing the corresponding button on the top or through the PCM menu bar.
Using RMB, you should check the registry in the object type line in the properties menu of the browser shortcut (it must end with the name of the browser with the .exe extension, for Opera - Launcher.exe). Just in case, double-check the search engines and start pages, if necessary - change them. If all else fails, perform a full reset of your browsers (and all that are in the system) to the initial settings, then reboot the system completely.
After the restart, to be completely sure, if possible, scan the computer with portable utilities like AdwCleaner (not stationary, but portable ones that do not require installation on a hard disk).
Search and removal of residual components
Upon completion of the procedure, it is highly recommended that you search for and remove any residual components that might have been stored in the file system.
To do this, you can use the same "Explorer" with the search by the above criteria. If something is not deleted, Unlocker in this case (after deleting the registry keys) will work.
Specialized Uninstallers
But why use only the system’s tools and manually neutralize the virus? These processes can be fully automated through the use of special programs, such as iObit Uninstaller, which allow you to delete even those that cannot be deleted using standard tools.
How to get rid of Anyprotect using such a utility? Simple enough! Attention should be paid to the initial setup of the program, in which it is desirable to enable the automatic use of the advanced scanning mode after performing the standard procedure for uninstalling any software. In principle, you can activate it later (there is nothing wrong with that).
The program immediately displays a list of all applications. We find the desired virus, click on the delete button to the right, indicated by the trash can icon, turn on the in-depth scan, select the results and delete them with the obligatory setting of the flag in the “File destruction” item. You can not even doubt that all registry keys, files and folders will be deleted from the hard drive or from the logical partition automatically and in full.
The advantages are obvious, because the user will not need to look for leftovers in the manual mode, otherwise, if you don’t know the basics of working with the registry, you can play through to the point that the entire computer system will be completely inoperative. If anyone does not know, in the editor the changes are saved automatically, and the function of canceling the changes made is absent as such.
Instead of an afterword
Actually, that’s all about the false anti-virus Anyprotect. What kind of program is this, I hope, is also understandable. Removing it is a bit complicated when comparing this threat with many similar ones. But as already clear, this can be done. The main condition is the initial intervention in the registry. Without this, nothing will work.