This is a bit upsetting :-[ because I just purchased AVAST Premium package in hopes of being informed of any harmful applications being installed on my computer. I somehow spotted a virus(in browser extra ads). I navigated to my installed applications under control panel and saw that “Search Snacks” was installed on my computer even though I didn’t install it. So I uninstalled it and boom problem fixed and no more annoying ads (and who know what else it collects). Nonetheless, over the next couple of days I had exactly the same virus finding its way to my computer and AVAST had no clue of any threats. I update AVAST on daily basis.
Search Snacks is not harmful and it is not a virus.
It is a PUP and avast will (or at least should) detect it if you enable PUP detection in the settings.
Believe it or not, but yes you did install it.
It comes packed with other software.
By downloading and installing that software you agreed that to install it.
Often there is a opt-out option if you do a custom installation.
Since it came back, you did not remove it entirely or the software it came with is installing it again.
Using the remove option in control panel is nowadays unfortunately almost never enough to remove something completely.
@alexsidlinskiy,
Revo Uninstaller or some of the other uninstaller products available from Portable Apps can do a more complete job uninstalling the troublesome program.
Yes, I to am unhappy with Avast!'s current performance on these bits of mal-ware.
Marmot, it is NOT malware as I said.
It is a PUP.
Deciding on what is a PUP and what is mal-ware is a matter of opinion. Please do not act like it is a hard and fast ruling. If a PUP does vindictive damage to the machine upon it’s removal then it is mal-ware.
Bit Defender and ESET disagree with Avast!'s classification.
PUP’s are grayware and the topic is covered on the malware article at Wikipedia.
Whether they are malawre is a political issue.
No, it is not a matter of opinion.
The terms are very clearly defined.
Removing a PUP does not do damage at all unless you as user do it in the wrong way.
A car has a steering wheel.
Drive the car and hit a tree.
Who’s fault is it?
As you say it, it is the tree’s fault.
Think again.
Just to prove how wrong you are.
Webprotect is considered a PUP by Avast!
These products consider it a malware and worthy of removal and notification upon attempted install:
Bkav FE 1.3.0.4246 HW32.Laneul
IKARUS anti.virus t3scan.2.0.127 Trojan.SuspectCRC
VIPRE Antivirus 21804 Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT
It should be noted that 23 products have beaten Avast! in detection rates over the last 6 months.
Webprotect installs it’s own proxy code and redirects the web browser to it’s proxy. Browser hijacking to an underground proxy is not normally considered a simple PUP.
The only thing you have “proved” so far is that I am correct.
I can’t help it that many people / software developers and such name things wrongly.
It should be noted that 23 products have beaten Avast! in detection rates over the last 6 months.They did? Guess what... They didn't. There is no test that shows exactly what system is used for the test, what examples they have used, what settings where used etc. etc.
You have however proved one thing, and that is that you haven’t got a clue what you are talking about.
Avast! has come in 15th this month behind Avira, Panda and Emsisoft this month alone. http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php
Webprotect installs PCProxyDLL.dll and sets the system proxy to it’s underground proxy. That is a level of browser hijacking beyond just a PUP.
You can insult me all you want but I’m out here making money repairing machines while you sit here answering questions for free.
Again you have proven that I am right.
As I said, There is no test that shows exactly what system is used for the test, what examples they have used, what settings where used etc. etc.
And you very clearly don’t have a clue on how to look / interpret those so called tests.
I am not insulting you at all.
Yes, I am (trying to) help people for free that is true.
True is also that I don’t need/want to get paid for the help I am giving to others.
but I'm out here making money repairing machinesYeah, but not in in a good way.
Any sort of static test has its flaws.There are most then 50,0000 viruses coming everyday and av comparatives and some others just test against 100’s or 1000"s for 1 month and its like a drop in the bucket.No av program has 100% detection.
There is also liittle of no info on how these test beds are created and alll this 99.1% is useless from my view.Pup"s and other crapware are not viruses and avast doesnt have pup detection enabled by default.You can turn it on in file shield under sensitivity.
Every av company has different classification methods.So if 1 piece of junk program is considered pup by 1 av it doesnt have to be the same with others.
Yes, I to am unhappy with Avast!'s current performance on these bits of mal-ware.avast PUP detection is default off exept for in boot scan, so turn it on if you want PUP detection
or remove it with Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner
malwarebytes PUP writeup. http://www.malwarebytes.org/pup/
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/ads-by-search-snacks-virus/
Search Snacks it’s [b]technically not a viru[/b]s, but it does exhibit plenty of malicious traits, such as rootkit capabilities to hook deep into the operating system, browser hijacking, and in general just interfering with the user experience. [b]The industry generally refers to it as a “PUP,” or potentially unwanted program.[/b]