How to remove SweetIM?
What is SweetIM?
SweetIM is an adware program that can be installed to your computer bundled with other software. In many cases one does not know about this toolbar installation before it makes changes to Internet browser settings. Add-on becomes active if a computer user does not take off a checkbox when installing the main software. SweetIM Virus replaces original home page and default search engine to search.sweetim.com.
Although the webpage to which an infected computer’s user is redirected to looks like an ordinary search page, there are points one should know. First of all, when you perform any search on this search engine, you will be given SweetIM ads among top results. It means that you may get not exactly what you searched for. Another issue to consider is your privacy and the right to chose. The changes made to your PC were without your consent and you were not left any option to undo the changes. Talking about your privacy, SweetIM Virus is known to monitor your Internet browsing behavior and send this data to remote servers. Information gathered might be used for various purposes, such as targeted advertising.
Once you made up your mind to remove SweetIM, a simple uninstall procedure will not be enough. It is highly recommended to perform a full system scan before doing anything else. You should do this using anti-malware program like Spyhunter for this. In many cases toolbars are distributed by Trojans therefore you should make sure similar infections are removed and only then continue with uninstall procedure:
- Go to control panel. Uninstall SweetIM Toolbar.
- Open your browser. Go to extensions/pluggins. Check out that there is nothing SweetIM related. Delete all extensions that are made by anything else than Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle, Sun or Google.
- Reset your Search provider:
On IE:
Click arrow on the right of search box;
On IE8-9 choose Manage Search providers OR on IE7 click change search defaults;
Remove SweetIM from the list.
On Firefox :
In url field type “about:config” (without the quotes) and do following =>
Type “Keyword.url” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
Type “browser.search.defaultengine” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
On Google Chrome:
Click wench icon on browser toolbar;
Select Settings;
Select Basics ->Manage Search engines;
Remove SweetIM from list.
4. Scan with anti-malware program like Spyhunter or Spybot S&D to make sure no threats are left.
SweetIM is Dangerous
SweetIM is a parasitic Browser Hijacker SweetIM may show numerous annoying advertisements SweetIM logs your internet browsing history SweetIM will replace (hijack) your browser homepage SweetIM may spread additional spyware SweetIM violates your privacy and compromises your security
for SweetIM detection
Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasite like SweetIM and assists in its removal for free. You can remove detected files, processes and registry entries yourself or purchase a full version.
SweetIM screenshots
Manual SweetIM removal
Important Note: Although it is possible to manually remove SweetIM, such activity can permanently damage your system if any mistakes are made in the process, as advanced spyware parasites are able to automatically repair themselves if not completely removed. Thus, manual spyware removal is recommended for experienced users only, such as IT specialists or highly qualified system administrators. For other users, we recommend using Spyhunter or other malware and spyware removal applications found on 2-viruses.com.
Stop these SweetIM processes:
Disable these SweetIM DLL files::
Remove these SweetIM files:
It is impossible to list all file names and locations of modern parasites. You can identify remaining parasites, other SweetIM infected files and get help in SweetIM removal by using free Spyhunter scanner. It comes with free real-time protection module that helps preventing SweetIM and similar threats.
SweetIM is classified as a Browser Hijacker, which means its parasitic damage payload consists of hijacking your browser homepage, error page, or search page with its own, mostly a commercial site of its creators, forcing you to accumulate force hits to a particular website to make it more popular or by using pay-per-click sites to earn money.
The easiest way for a Browser Hijacker such as SweetIM to infect your computer is to exploit certain ActiveX controls and other security holes in your Internet Explorer browser. By browsing insecure websites on the internet, users may encounter various pop-ups, which secretly install Browser Hijackers like SweetIM on your computer once clicked upon.
As soon as SweetIM completes its operations, the overall browser stability and performance severely degrade, making it nearly impossible to surf the web normally.
