How to remove en.softonic malware that appears on desktop periodically

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  1. Posts : 18
    windows 10 pro
       #1

    How to remove en.softonic malware that appears on desktop periodically


    A kind of malware has somehow gotten onto my win 10 PC. What I get is a small advertisment that pops up in the bottom right on my desktop... When I turn it off (clicking the corner X). It comes back again some time later but with different content.

    I haven't timed it but seems lake maybe a 1/2 hr.

    I've googled extensively but all the instructions I've found, tell you to use the windows uninstaller to uninstall softonic. And maybe some manual clean up after the uninstall. But there is nothing installed with `softonic' in its name and even when the ad is running there is no process running with softonic in its name.

    All the google hits appear to assume the windows uninstaller will know about softonic. Even the manual parts of some of the hits appear to assume you have been successful in unintalling it.

    The instructions also suggest several free malware removal products and claim any of them will remove it.
    `Zema Anti-malware', `MalwareBytes' and `AdwCleaner'

    I tried all those listed in one of the instruction sets, ran the scan but none of them found whatever is running the little softonic pop up ad.

    This type of malware apparently falls into a category called a `PUP'.

    I never found in the google hits what expected would be there somewhere. A list of steps to remove something like this by hand.

    Can anyone here advise me?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #2

    AdwCleaner should remove it for you, I'm surprised it apparently didn't for you.

    https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 18
    windows 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Bree said:
    AdwCleaner should remove it for you, I'm surprised it apparently didn't for you.

    https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/
    Tried it again on your sayso. See the results in image one, and the pesky pop up (PUP) in image two

    How to remove en.softonic malware that appears on desktop periodically-2018-02-17_212835.png

    Bottom Right corner of Desktop
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How to remove en.softonic malware that appears on desktop periodically-softonic.png  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 685
    10 Home
       #4

    What did you download and install from softonic? Also look carefully in your list of installed programmes, it may not be named Softonic at all, check all dates of when programmes were installed and work from there.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 18
    windows 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Brightblessings said:
    What did you download and install from softonic? Also look carefully in your list of installed programmes, it may not be named Softonic at all, check all dates of when programmes were installed and work from there.
    I installed nothing from softonic. The one thing I installed close to when the ad started popping was the new winamp or maybe its the same one but back on the market.

    So, I uninstalled winamp... several days ago, the popper is still here.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 685
    10 Home
       #6

    look through your installed programmes and see if anything else was installed the same day as you installed winamp
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 18
    windows 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Brightblessings said:
    look through your installed programmes and see if anything else was installed the same day as you installed winamp
    As I mentioned ... winamp was only thing close.

    Next closest ...4 days earlier would have been Adobe Acrobat DC ... which was really an update done by my subscription to adobe cloud installer tool .. It installs a suite of Adobe tools and keeps them updated.

    It seems downright unlikely for that to be the source... I've been working with adobe for several yrs.... never got unwanted junk from them.

    Is there no other way to proceed?
    I did do a registry search for the string softonic... during the last 20 minutes .. no hits.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,026
    Win10 Version 21H2 19044.1645
       #8

    System Restore Windows 10


    Consider a System Restore .

    If not, reset your browsers, manually check the registry (regedit) for suspect entries and delete, disable any addons to see if any effect. Run AdwCleaner again.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18
    windows 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    torre said:
    System Restore Windows 10


    Consider a System Restore .

    If not, reset your browsers, manually check the registry (regedit) for suspect entries and delete, disable any addons to see if any effect. Run AdwCleaner again.
    My thoughts too, but wanted to hear from experienced folks ... I just assumed someone would know how to track this down or have had the same problem and got a solution not involving a system restore.

    Incidentally; When a system restore is done do things actually get removed similar to a restore from a previous Image like an image backup taken with something like acronis?

    As an example, if you had downloaded something, but not installed it... so its setting in `Downloads'. Would that file be gone after a system restore
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,026
    Win10 Version 21H2 19044.1645
       #10

    hput3 said:
    Incidentally; When a system restore is done do things actually get removed similar to a restore from a previous Image like an image backup taken with something like acronis?

    As an example, if you had downloaded something, but not installed it... so its setting in `Downloads'. Would that file be gone after a system restore
    No, it does not affect files. After you click Next, there is an option to scan for affected programs. However, it may not remove any other malware you may have, just the PUP.


    How to remove en.softonic malware that appears on desktop periodically-capture-sys-rest.png
      My Computer


 

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