Hi! A friend seems to have downloaded a program called DownloadWare on my computer. What is it?

*Felicity2

Here are a couple of articles I found.
DOWNLOADWARE 1
DOWNLOADWARE 2
Try these to remove the program.
ADAWARE
Just click on lhe link & save or open when prompted to.
Good Luck

Thank you, Cswchan. So, it's...not a good thing to have. Right? I was wondering...instead of downloading that "adaware" thing, couldn't I just delete the DownloadWare folder?

*Felicity2

Adaware will seek out any further infestations from your computer. Once you have downloaded the program, click on the configuration tab (looks like a gear), scroll down and selsct "Tweak", select "Cleaning Engine" and make sure the "Automatically Try to Unregister", "Let Windows Remove Files On Next Reboot" and "Delete Quarantined Objects" have been checked off. Next, click on "Check For Updates Now" (this will bring up another window. Click on "Connect", then "Proceed" when the download is completed) Next, click on "Start", then "Next". Depending on the size of you harddrive and the speed of your computer, this may take anywhere from 15 - 45 minutes.
Good Luck!

One other thing.... Once the scan is completed by Adaware, click on "Next", then right click on any of the files that are found, select "Select All", then click on "Next" again.

Does "Adaware" cost anything? I'm not too sure about this "adaware" thing...

*Felicity2

It is absolutely FREE! There is a pay version available as well but, the free version works just as well. It is VERY safe to have on your computer. I am currently running 4 computers @ home, 1 in my daughter's university lodging and also most of my friends now have it installed in their computer. It not only removes the infection but also speeds up your computer because it does not have to waste the CPU resources running these programs.

Okay...I got Adaware, it found DownloadWare and something with "ginst_001_1234_" ect., and it put it in Quarantine. Am I supposed to delete it out of there, or will it do it eventually? I don't know how this thing works.

*Felicity2

Also, what in the world is "Intelligent Explorer"? I get this thing that comes up sometimes and it says something about "synchronization complete" and that there were errors. There's also another thing that comes up that says "Intelligent Explorer" and shows weather. Is this something else "Adaware" will get rid of?
I have no idea what this thing is.
I do still need to know about the whole quarantine thing with Adaware that I mentioned in my previous post.
Thank you!

*Felicity2

The Quarantine thing is just so if there is anything that is removed that you decide you want back, you can restore it. You can delete the items in Quarantine when ever you want.

I believe the Intelligent Explorer is a spyware application and thus you will probably want to remove it. Read about this here: Intelligent Explorer

The Synchronization sounds like it might be the Windows Synchronize tool. You can open that in your Start Menu under Accessories.

Dwight

Thank you, Dwight. I'll look into that.
However, I did a search for "Intelligent Explorer" and it showed a few things. I might get it mixed up with Internet Explorer, and I don't want to get rid of the wrong thing. Oh, where I said that a thing comes up that says "Intelligent Explorer" and shows weather...That's not right. It says "IntelligentDesktop.com - news, weather as it happens!" I'll explain that "synchroniation" thing better soon...The next time I see it, I'll look at it more closely so I can tell you what it says.
Thank you!

*Felicity2

I hope someone replies to my posts soon.
Okay. I managed to get Adaware to remove DownloadWare but it won't remove that "ginst" thing. So, I tried to delete it through the Recycle Bin, but it wouldn't let me do it. It said "Cannot delete (the file name). Access denied. The source file may be in use." That doesn't make any sense. I wasn't using it...as far as I know.
Also, Adaware keeps finding "tracking cookies", "cookies", "Kontiki", "MySearch",
"eAcceleration". Should all that stuff be removed?
Please reply to my posts as soon as possible!


*Felicity2

I believe that ginst thing is a spyware application (program file) from Gator. I suggest you remove it. Files that are in use cannot be removed. You have to "close" them before they can be uninstalled. Sometimes the only way to do that is in Windows Safe Mode.

"The source file may be in use." That doesn't make any sense. I wasn't using it...as far as I know." Felicity2

That is part of the frustration with this type of program file. It starts up on its own and gives the user little control over what is happening. The program file is probably set to run automatically when you start your computer. That is why you need to run the system in Safe Mode so the program file won't be running. When it is not running, it can be removed.

You might be able to shut it down in the Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete - All 3 keys pressed together).


You can read more about this By clicking here.

And learn about spyware in general By clicking here.

I hope this helps!

Dwight

Thank you, Dwight. I appreciate your reply. I got the Gator thing removed! Yea! I didn't run it in Safe Mode...I had another idea. If that idea of mine didn't work, which I had done before I read your reply, I would've tried your idea. My idea was: press Ctrl-Alt-Dlt, and that would bring up the "Close Programs" box. I saw the ginst thing in there, so I told it to close that. Then, I went to where it was, deleted it to where it was in the Recycle Bin, then removed it from the Bin. It worked!
Now, I wish I was sure on the: Also, Adaware keeps finding "tracking cookies", "cookies", "Kontiki", "MySearch",
"eAcceleration". Should all that stuff be removed? I'll have to look at those links you gave me later...that might tell me something about those. If I see that "synchronization" thing again, I'll put what it says on here.
Thank you!

*Felicity2

Ok, I just saw that "synchronization" thing I've been talking about. Okay...a box comes up that says: "Synchronizing Intelligent Explorer ieplugin.com OnScreen Portal", and below that, it says: "http://active.ieplugin.com/active".
To the right, it gives 2 choices: "Stop" or "Details". On the bottom half of the box, there's 2 tabs: "Progress" or "Results". Then, below that, and to the right, there's 2 choices: "Skip" and "Setup". Now, after it got finished "synchronizing", it just goes away. However, it used to say something about an error under the "Results" tab. I cannot find a file for it to get rid of it, and there's no choices on that box, or the "IntelligentDesktop.com" box I've talked about before. Does anyone know how to make this stuff go away?

*Felicity2

"I believe the Intelligent Explorer is a spyware application and thus you will probably want to remove it. Read about this here: Intelligent Explorer"

Spybots download page: Spybots-Click Here

Dwight