CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32

CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 is a fake threat that appears in popups and desktop warnings by fake antispyware and rogue sites. The popup reads:

“WARNING! You May Have Spyware
Top 10 Threats for last week:
N-case.win32
CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32
I-Worm.Sobig
Backdoor.SdBot.gen
TrojanDropper.JS.Mimail
Recommendation: click the “Protect now” button to download security tool to upgrade your computer”

Is CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 dangerous? It might have been a serious threat, once upon a time. Now, CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32′s biggest danger is scaring you into wasting money on fake anti-spyware like Antivir64.

You’re not really infected with CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 — you’re infected with scamware that you need to remove. I’ll show you how to get rid of it for free.

Remove CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 Now Download STOPzilla

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Stop CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 processes:

c:Program FilesAntivir64Antivir64.exe
Antvrs.exe
setup_1096_MHwzNXww_-3.exe
c:Program FilesAntivir64Uninstall.exe

Delete CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 files:

c:Program FilesAntivir64Buy.url
c:Program FilesAntivir64Help.url
c:Program FilesAntivir64HowToBuy.txt
c:Program FilesAntivir64ID.dat
c:Program FilesAntivir64License.txt
%UserProfile%DesktopAntivir64.lnk
%UserProfile%Application DataAntivir64
%UserProfile%Application DataAntivir64Antivir64.ini
%UserProfile%Application DataAntivir64base.dat
%UserProfile%Application DataAntivir64base2.dat
%UserProfile%Application DataAntivir64Desc.dat
%UserProfile%Application DataAntivir64spline.dat
c:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsAntivir64
c:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsAntivir64Purchase License.lnk
c:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsAntivir64Start Antivir64.lnk
c:Documents and SettingsAll UsersStart MenuProgramsAntivir64Support Page.lnk

Get rid of DLLs:

%ProgramFiles%[RANDOM NAME]MFC71.dll
%ProgramFiles%[RANDOM NAME]MFC71ENU.DLL
%ProgramFiles%[RANDOM NAME]msvcp71.dll
%ProgramFiles%[RANDOM NAME]msvcr71.dll
%ProgramFiles%[RANDOM NAME]shlwapi.dll
%ProgramFiles%[RANDOM NAME]wininet.dll

Remove registry values:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAntivirus
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAntivirus
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun”Antivirus” = “%ProgramFiles%Antivir64Antvrs.exe”

Get rid of folders:

c:Program FilesAntivir64

DIY CoolWebSearch(CWS).win32 Removal Instructions

Start by removing the above files. If you're not sure how to do this, refer to the instructions below.

Note: In any files I mention above, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. (Not an iEuphemism for muth@fugg@#*!@.) So if you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP/7, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\NoahFence”).

How to Manually Delete Badware Files

Need some removing badware files help? No biggie. While you should only manually delete badware files if you're comfy editing your system, you'll find it's pretty easy. And probably really satisfying.

How to delete badware files in Windows XP/Vista/7:

1. Click your Windows Start menu, then click "Search."
2. A pop up will ask, "What do you want to search for?" Click "All files and folders."
3. Type a badware file in the search box, and select "Local Hard Drives."
4. Click "Search." Once the badware file is found, delete it.

How to stop badware processes:

1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click "OK." You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find badware processes.
4. Once you've found the badware processes, right-click them and select "End Process" to kill badware.

How to remove badware registry keys:

Backup your registry before you edit it. Then...

1. Click the Start menu, and click "Run." An "Open" field will appear. Type "regedit" and click "OK " to open up your Registry Editor. In Windows 7, just type "regedit" into the "Search programs and files" box in the Start menu.
2. Registry Editor opens as a two-paned window: the left side lets you select registry keys,the right side shows the values of any selected registry key.
3. To find a badware registry key, select "Edit," then select "Find," and in the search bar type any of badware 's registry keys.
4. When the badware registry key appears, to delete the badware registry key, right-click it, and select "Modify," then select "Delete."

How to delete badware DLLs:

1. Open the Start menu, and click "Run." Type "cmd" in Run, and click "OK." (In Windows 7, just type "regedit" into the "Search programs and files" box in the Start menu.)
2. To change your current directory, type "cd" in the command box, press "Space," and enter the full directory where the badware DLL is located. If you're not sure where the badware DLL is located, enter "dir" in the command box to display a directory's contents. To go one directory back, type "cd .." in the command box and press "Enter."
3. When you've found a badware DLL, type "regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll" (e.g., "regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll") and press "Enter."

That's it. If you want to restore any badware DLL you removed, type "regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll" (e.g., "regsvr32 jl27script.dll") into your command box, and press "Enter."

Did badware change your homepage?

1. Select Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options > General.
2. Type your preferred home page's URL.
3. Click "Use Default," "Apply," and "OK."