Should I delete this file from my computer...

[Jakar]

I have been having problems with a homepage hijacker called Search Control that I just cannot seem to get rid of.

A friend of mine said I should download a program called TrojanHunter and give it a go.

Now it has come up with a file called asvhost.exe. I have run a Goggle search on it, but nothing has come up. Is it an important file? Would it kill the computer if I deleted it?

Sorry about the question, but I know next to nothing about the runnings of computers. Any help would be great.

 

[the Jester]

I've been having tons of issues with spyware and adware and homepage hijackings and so on lately. They piss me off!!!

My advice: back up the important stuff and then delete the file. I'd also download a program called CWShredder- it destroys another browser hijack program that Adaware and Spybot and stuff can't kill.

But back up first. And be ready to reinstall.

 

[Wycen]

There are 4 programs I suggest, all needing to be used as they solve some problems the others don't.

Ad-aware by Lavasoft will find tracking cookies and some key logging and other malicious files.

SpyBot Search and Destroy (can't remember who makes it) does the same thing but uses a different algorithm, so some files will be found by Ad-aware but not by SpyBot Search and Destroy and vice versa.

CWShredder by merjin.com (might have mispelled the creator) specifically looks for Cool Web Search browser hijackers and all it's variants.

Finally, HiJackThis (don't remember who makes it) is a program that looks for malicious stuff in your registry. HiJackThis is the least user friendly and though it makes backups of the files you remove, (if you have that option turned on which I think it does by default) it can be harmful if you remove something that isn't bad and cause other problems.

I use them all plus since I'm a gimp and use MSIE I use the Google Toolbar to block pop ups, which I've found like to add auto executing crap sometimes, particularly when visiting free ezboards.

 

[reanjr]

I have been having problems with a homepage hijacker called Search Control that I just cannot seem to get rid of.

A friend of mine said I should download a program called TrojanHunter and give it a go.

Now it has come up with a file called asvhost.exe. I have run a Goggle search on it, but nothing has come up. Is it an important file? Would it kill the computer if I deleted it?

Sorry about the question, but I know next to nothing about the runnings of computers. Any help would be great.

Yes. It is not a necessary file to the system (I can guarentee you that). It may be necessary to a program you installed. But if TrojanHunter comes up with it as a Trojan then you don't want to run apps from that company anyway.

And, please for the love of all that is holy, everyone stop using IE and learn that when a box pops up, the correct answer is either "No" or "Cancel", or stop complaining homepage hijacking, popups, spyware, adware, drive-by installations, your love life, and how your dog after 2 years still pisses behind the couch.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Using this browser will fix most of these issues.

 

[Jakar]

Thanks for the help guys. I run all those programs everyday, but I cannot get rid of this bugger.

That's what you get when you let your 13 year old on the computer and says yes to everything. I will have to look into getting another browser I think.

 

[Jakar]

The computer will not let me delete it. Grrrr.

 

[cybertalus]

The computer will not let me delete it. Grrrr.

Have you tried booting Windows to Safe Mode and deleting it while in Safe Mode?

 

[Taladas]

The reason you can't delete it is probably that it is running, windows will not let you delete a program that is running.

You might want to try this. First turn off any system restore you have on. When your done with that, hit ctrl-alt-del and windows task manager should pop up. Select processes and find asvhost.exe. Select asvhost.exe and hit the end task button. Exit from task manager and you should now be able to delete the file.

I hope this helps.

 

[Jakar]

That did it Taldas. I will let you know what happens when I reboot and if it comes back from the dead.

Thanks for the help guys.