Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What is the Driver Whiz unwanted application?

Driver Whiz is the name of an untrustworthy piece of software. This application is endorsed as a tool capable of detecting out-of-date and missing drivers and updating/installing them. Its promotional material even proclaims Driver Whiz to be the best driver updater of 2018.

Since most users download/install this app inadvertently, it is classified as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application). It is noteworthy that apps within this classification can have unmentioned and heinous abilities.

What is vGriefferS?

vGriefferS is a type of malicious software that infects computers, blocks access to files by encryption, and keeps them inaccessible until the victims pay ransoms to the attackers. Unlike most ransomware, vGriefferS does not rename any of the encrypted files.

Typically, malware displays or creates ransom messages with contact, payment, and other details. Note that vGriefferS displays a pop-up window that contains instructions about how to contact the attackers and various other details. The ransom message is in Polish.

What kind of software is OneUpdater?

OneUpdater is rogue software classified as adware. Following successful infiltration, it runs intrusive advertisement campaigns. Therefore, this app delivers various unwanted and even dangerous ads. Additionally, most adware-type software monitors users' browsing activity, and it is highly likely that OneUpdater does so as well.

What kind of application is Fire Search?

Fire Search is rogue software that is categorized as a browser hijacker. It operates by making changes to browser settings to promote the firesear.ch fake search engine. Additionally, Fire Search adds the "Managed by your organization" feature to Google Chrome browsers.

This program is also designed to modify the proxy settings, thereby causing redirects. Most browser hijackers have data tracking capabilities, which are used to collect browsing-related information.

Due to the dubious methods employed to distribute Fire Search, it is also classified as an unwanted application. This browser hijacker has been observed being distributed via fake Adobe Flash Player updates.

Note that rogue software updaters/installers proliferate not only unwanted apps, but also Trojans, ransomware, and other malware.

What is ApolloResults?

ApolloResults displays advertisements and changes certain browser settings to promote a fake search engine. There is a high probability that it might also collect details relating to browsing activities and other information. This app is classified as adware and a browser hijacker.

ApolloResults and similar apps are not often downloaded or installed by users intentionally and, therefore, they are classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Note that ApolloResults is distributed through a fake installer for Adobe Flash Player.

What is protected-connect[.]com?

protected-connect[.]com is a deceptive website, which runs various scams. The content presented on this page typically targets iPhone users, yet it is possible that the site may be accessed through other Apple devices.

At the time of research, protected-connect[.]com promoted a free VPN app scheme, however, it might promote variants of the "(3) Viruses have been detected on your iPhone", "Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged", or "VPN Update" scams.

The goal of these schemes is to endorse untrusted software such as fake anti-virus tools, adware, browser hijackers, and other Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs).

Note that this type of scam can proliferate malware (e.g., Trojans, ransomware, etc.). Websites like protected-connect[.]com are usually accessed unintentionally via mistyped URLs, redirects caused by intrusive advertisements, or installed PUAs.

What is support-notify[.]space?

support-notify[.]space is one of many scam websites which attempt to trick users into believing they must download and install certain applications to remove the viruses that have apparently been detected on their devices.

Web pages that use such scare tactics should never be trusted. All of the virus notifications/alerts issued by them are fake. Note that users do not often visit these bogus sites intentionally - they are opened after clicking dubious advertisements, through other bogus websites, or by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) installed on devices.

What is VaPo?

VaPo is a type of malware that prevents victims from accessing their files by encryption. It also changes the desktop wallpaper, creates the "HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt" files in folders that contain encrypted files, and displays a pop-up window. All three contain messages demanding a ransom to restore access to files.

Additionally, VaPo renames each encrypted file by appending the ".VaPo" extension. For example, "1.jpg" is renamed to "1.jpg.VaPo", "2.jpg" to "2.jpg.VaPo", and so on.

Note that VaPo is a part of the Xorist ransomware family.

What is settings-chrome[.]com?

The internet is full of untrusted websites, including settings-chrome[.]com, which shares many similarities with thehypenewz.com, lcutterlyba.top, thehypenewz.com, and countless others. Visitors to these sites are presented with dubious content and/or are redirected to other bogus and malicious websites.

Typically, access to settings-chrome[.]com and similar sites is caused via redirects from intrusive ads or Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs). These apps do not need explicit consent to be installed onto systems, and thus visitors may be unaware of their presence.

PUAs have dangerous functionality, including force-opening sites, running intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collecting browsing-related information.

What is newsfeedscroller[.]com?

newsfeedscroller[.]com is an untrusted website: it promotes other bogus web pages and contains deceptive, dubious content.

These site are not often visited by people intentionally - they are opened after clicking deceptive ads, through other untrusted web pages, or by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) that users have inadvertently installed onto their browsers or computers.

There are many pages similar to newsfeedscroller[.]com on the internet. Some examples are thehypenewz[.]com, lcutterlyba[.]top, and goodmode[.]biz.