Recently, many computer system users have come across Spyhunter (usually version 4). When installing this application on a computer or laptop, many do not even suspect how many problems may arise in the future. Moreover, often the user does not even know how to remove the Spyhunter4 program .
What is Spyhunter
To begin with, the Spyhunter application, as stated by the developer, is a comprehensive solution to protect the system from various direct and indirect threats in the form of viruses, malicious codes, trojans, worms, keyloggers, adware, spam, spyware, etc. , etc.
In fact, if you look, even the name of the Spyhunter software package, reviews of which leave much to be desired, speaks for itself, because literally it can be translated as “spy hunter” (in this case, spyware, which is essentially one and also).
Unfortunately, very few users know what this program is intended for and how it works. Let's try to figure out what's what.
Principle of operation
First of all, it is worth noting that scanning a computer system for threats is very different from what standard antiviruses do. Although it says that the application has a huge database of virus signatures, in fact, the scan mostly affects the registry and the boot sector of Windows.
Extremely negative consequences of using Spyhunter are frequent. Feedback from many users suggests that the application is able to change the boot sector, making its own correct entries there. For some, the whole system flies because of this. In addition, the application activates its own entries in the startup system, which is not possible to get rid of by standard methods. When threats are detected, they also have their pitfalls, which the user will find out only at the end of the scanning process.
Direct and indirect threat detection
Some people think that Spyhunter 4 antivirus is better than Kaspersky. Nothing like this. Firstly, although it positions itself as anti-virus and anti-spyware software, there can be no question of any comparison with anti-virus software. Secondly, as mentioned above, all scanning mainly comes down to the system registry and boot entries.
It is clear that the Spyhunter application can detect a direct threat. Any anti-spyware is able to detect some types of viruses. But here about indirect threats, records of which are present in the system registry, you can argue. The fact is that the program has its own parameters, by which it determines whether some key in the registry is dangerous. As practice shows, an application for no reason can produce lists of keys that are not really a threat.
On top of that, the extremely obscure and spontaneous behavior of the Spyhunter application can be noted. Spyhunter reviews often contain amazing things. So, for example, the first scan gives a message about the presence of such a number of threats, with the second scan they become smaller, with the third - their number increases again. Notice, after all, nobody corrected or deleted anything. How can this be?
This is where the user comes across what are called pitfalls. The fact is that it is simply impossible to remove detected threats without activating the program. Often you can find cases where the user still paid the money (for example, from a bank card), he received an activation confirmation, but there is no code in it. And such cases are not uncommon.
Why does Spyhunter 4 see viruses, but Avast doesn't?
Although Spyhunter can be classified as anti-virus software like Avast or something else, the language does not turn around, it is worth noting that the problem of detecting so-called viruses by Spyhunter is a bluff. In fact, the application finds exactly the wrong keys and entries in the registry, that's all. But it shows them as viruses or spyware. Probably, it is already clear that this is simply attracting the attention of the user, as well as an attempt to make him pay 40 cu for activation.
Problems using
There are enough problems using the application. For example, developers say that Spyhunter has an intuitive and simple interface that even a child can figure out. Nothing like this. Of course, you can use a quick scan, but an inexperienced user cannot figure out the correct settings.
According to all those who have come across this application, it is designed for an experienced user. But experienced users themselves do not recommend installing this program at all, because then it will not be so easy to get rid of it.
Spyhunter Reviews
As for the reviews, opinions regarding the use of this software product were divided. Some argue that in the world of computer technology there is no equal to Spyhunter. The reviews of others only indicate that this application is too abstruse and unpredictable. However, it is a sin to concede, and they both agree that it is impossible to remove this application without special knowledge and tools.
Problems Uninstalling Spyhunter
If we talk about the uninstall process, then it is not so simple. First of all, we note that the program does not have its own uninstaller and prescribes its keys wherever possible. Most utilities with automatic correction of invalid shortcuts and registry keys do not cope with this task. That is why there is a need to edit it manually. But this is fraught with consequences.
Some users claim that you can remove the program in the standard way by disabling the service in the "task manager" called by the msconfig command, and then applying uninstall via the "Programs and Features" menu. No matter how!
In fact, the service will really shut down at startup, remove some components, but it will remain in the system anyway.
For complete removal, you can use special utilities such as iObit Uninstaller or Microsoft Fixit Tool. Sometimes Spyhunter can be uninstalled using this method. If it is not in the list of installed applications, you will have to crawl into the system registry using the regedit command in the Run menu.
Here you need to use the search ( Ctrl + F), and set the value in the search field to "Spyhunter". When the results appear, you will need to manually delete absolutely all the keys containing this value, asking the search again and again until it stops occurring.
But that is not all. On the system drive (usually a C drive), you will need to find and delete the following files and folders: C: \ Program Files \ Enigma Software Group \ SpyHunter \ SH4Service.exe, C: \ Users \ Username \ Desktop \ SpyHunter.lnk, C : \ bootsqm.dat, C: \ Windows \ System32 \ Drivers \ EsgScanner.sys, C: \ sh4ldr, C: \ Users \ Username \ Downloads \ SpyHunter-Installer.exe and C: \ Program Files \ Enigma Software Group. Only after that can you reboot the system and make sure that Spyhunter is completely removed from the computer terminal. But this is not a fact. Sometimes it may be necessary to go into boot records and restore them from the Windows recovery console .
Instead of an afterword
As it has already become clear, we are dealing with a rather specific application. The Spyhunter program, reviews of which were given above, is too confused, so to speak. Even antiviruses like Kaspersky do not cause such difficulties when using or deleting. Therefore, any user, regardless of the level of knowledge and training, can be given only one piece of advice: in no case do not install this software product on your computer terminal or laptop. Then sin will not turn around!