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How to remove adware from your PC
Adware.BetterAds
Short bio
Adware.BetterAds is Malwarebytes’ detection name for adware targeting Windows systems that is delivered by bundlers. Typically, it sets a proxy on the affected system in order to show advertisements.
Symptoms
Symptoms of infection include unsolicited advertisements not related to sites you are visiting, a proxy not set by the user, and a BetterAds entry in the list of installed programs and features.
BetterAds proxy
Type and source of infection
Adware.BetterAds can reach user systems via bundlers.
Protection
Malwarebytes protects users from Adware.BetterAds by using real-time protection, and by blocking the domain that hosts the installer.
Malware blocks Adware.BetterAds
Malwarebytes blocks www.betteradssoftware.com
Remediation
Malwarebytes can remove Adware.BetterAds without further user interaction.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
To achieve full removal, a system reboot is required. Malwarebytes will prompt you to do so if necessary.
A full removal guide for BetterAds can also be found on our forums.
Malwarebytes removal log
Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com
-Log Details-
Scan Date: 4/27/17
Scan Time: 11:38 AM
Logfile: mbamBetterAds.txt
Administrator: Yes
-Software Information-
Version: 3.0.6.1469
Components Version: 1.0.96
Update Package Version: 1.0.1818
License: Premium
-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}
-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 328803
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 6 sec
-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled
-Scan Details-
Process: 1
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\Windows\src_srv\winsrcsrv.exe, Quarantined, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Module: 1
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\Windows\src_srv\winsrcsrv.exe, Quarantined, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Registry Key: 5
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\srcsrv, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\NLASVC\PARAMETERS\INTERNET\MANUALPROXIES, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
PUP.Optional.BetterAds, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\betterads, Delete-on-Reboot, [476], [383836],1.0.1818
PUP.Optional.Amonetize, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MBS_INSTALL, Delete-on-Reboot, [6], [392968],1.0.1818
PUP.Optional.BetterAds, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{376CA350-6C34-4F10-B8DC-586F8CA03009}_is1, Delete-on-Reboot, [476], [383837],1.0.1818
Registry Value: 13
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\S-1-5-19\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\S-1-5-20\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\S-1-5-18\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\S-1-5-19\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\S-1-5-20\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYENABLE, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS|PROXYSERVER, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [-1],0.0.0
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\SRCSRV|IMAGEPATH, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392906],1.0.1818
PUP.Optional.Amonetize, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MBS_INSTALL|CHANNEL, Delete-on-Reboot, [6], [392968],1.0.1818
Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Folder: 1
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\WINDOWS\SRC_SRV, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
File: 6
PUP.Optional.BetterAds, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\SRC_SRV_AMONETIZE.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [476], [391675],1.0.1818
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\WINDOWS\SRC_SRV\TRUSTED.WEB.PROXY.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\Windows\src_srv\accept_cert.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\Windows\src_srv\Ionic.Zip.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\Windows\src_srv\rootCert.pfx, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Adware.BetterAds.PrxySvrRST, C:\Windows\src_srv\winsrcsrv.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [6542], [392905],1.0.1818
Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)
(end)
Traces/IOCs
You may see these entries in FRST logs:
() C:\Windows\src_srv\winsrcsrv.exe
ProxyEnable: [.DEFAULT] => Proxy is enabled.
ProxyServer: [.DEFAULT] => 127.0.0.1:8003
ProxyEnable: [S-1-5-19] => Proxy is enabled.
ProxyServer: [S-1-5-19] => 127.0.0.1:8003
ProxyEnable: [S-1-5-20] => Proxy is enabled.
ProxyServer: [S-1-5-20] => 127.0.0.1:8003
ProxyEnable: [S-1-5-21-1350903546-318028887-1286703239-1003] => Proxy is enabled.
ProxyServer: [S-1-5-21-1350903546-318028887-1286703239-1003] => 127.0.0.1:8003
ManualProxies: 1127.0.0.1:8003
R2 srcsrv; C:\Windows\src_srv\winsrcsrv.exe [16384 2017-04-04] () [File not signed]
C:\Windows\unins000.exe
C:\Windows\unins000.dat
C:\Windows\src_srv
BetterAds version 1 (HKLM-x32\…\{376CA350-6C34-4F10-B8DC-586F8CA03009}_is1) (Version: 1 – )
Associated files:
%WinDir%\src_srv\winsrcsrv.exe
Domains:
betteradssoftware.com