BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch

Alias: Spyware/Altnet, TopSearch

Description: BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch is a browser plugin. It comes with Kazaa. BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch acts as a search engine, and supplies advertising to Kazaa users.

Threat type:

BHO - A Browser Helper Object (BHO) is a software application that runs automatically whenever you start Internet Explorer. Browser Helper Objects are typically installed by other programs such as toolbar accessories and can track internet usage, create popup windows, display additional information on a viewed page and collect information that is transmitted by you over the internet. Malicious software that exploits this technology can replace banner advertisements with other ads, monitor your actions, change your home page, etc.

Toolbar - A Toolbar is a group of buttons that performs different tasks. Unwanted toolbars are usually installed by adware programs that try to send users to their paying advertisers.

Advice: Remove This is a very high risk threat and should be removed immediately as to prevent harm to your computer or your privacy.

Detection:
SpyNoMore detects BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch: Yes

Threat risk: Medium Risk

Potentially dangerous malware. May collect sensitive user information and broadcast data back to a server with "opt-out" permission. Category includes most adware programs.

Symptoms:

BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch displays commercial advertisements.

BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch stays resident in background.

BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch Signature Details: The following information includes some of the standard signatures associated with this spyware threat. Please do not attempt to manually remove these items from your computer; Removing these items incorrectly or partially can cause your computer to experience critical errors, prevent your computer from restarting or cause loss of Internet connectivity. Should you be infected with BHO/Toolbar/TopSearch, you can clean your computer by downloading SpyNoMore now.

Running Process Signatures:
N/A

File Signatures:
%PROGRAM_FILES%\kazaa lite\topsearch.dll
%PROGRAM_FILES%\kazaa\topsearch.dll

Registered Dll (Dynamic Link Library) Signatures:
N/A

Folder Signatures:
%PROGRAM_FILES%\altnet
%WINDOWS%\temp\altnet
%PROGRAM_FILES%\topsearch
%PROFILE%\start menu\programs\altnet

Registry Signatures:
N/A

SpyNoMore Collected Residual File Signatures:
N/A

See Also:
Hacker Tool/ZATAZ Navigateur 2.0
Key Logger/ASProtect-2
Key Logger/Telephone Spy
Exploit/YeC
Adware/Downloader/P2P/AtomWire
Tracking Cookie/Ad-Flow.com
Adware/Adware-Xupiter
Tracking Cookie/Accendo.com
Tracking Cookie/Angara.com
Tracking Cookie/ClickTrade.com