Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What is the "Important Defender update available" scam?

"Important Defender update available" is a fake message displayed by untrustworthy websites. This scam claims that users need to update their Windows Defender anti-virus software. It must be emphasized that this scheme is in no way associated with the Microsoft Corporation - Windows product developers.

The "Important Defender update available" scam has been observed promoting dubious/malicious applications through the legitimate Microsoft installation setup. However, it is not unlikely that this scheme may proliferate different content via other installers.

Scams of this type are typically used to endorse fake anti-virus tools, adware, browser hijackers, and other PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). These schemes may also proliferate malware, e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, etc. Most users access deceptive sites unintentionally.

They enter the pages through mistyped URLs, redirects caused by intrusive ads, or have them force-opened by installed PUAs.

What is bengekoo[.]com?

The Internet is rife with untrustworthy websites, bengekoo[.]com is but one of them. Pyiera.com, kpoila.com, topgirlsdating.com - are a couple examples of others. The bengekoo[.]com page operates by presenting visitors with dubious content and/or redirecting them to rogue/malicious sites.

Typically, users access such websites unintentionally. Most enter these pages via redirects caused by intrusive advertisements or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). This software does not require explicit permission to infiltrate systems; hence, users may be unaware of its presence.

PUAs are designed to cause redirects, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns, and gather browsing-related information.

What is Wannapay?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts files (makes them inaccessible/unusable) and generates a ransom note. Wannapay is new variant of the RIP Lmao ransomware. It encrypts files and appends the ".wannapay" extension to their filenames.

For instance, it renames a file named "1.jpg" to "1.jpg.wannapay", "2.jpg" to "2jpg.wannapay", and so forth. It also displays a pop-up window and creates the "___RECOVER__FILES__.wannapay.txt" file. Both of them contain a ransom note.

What is spleasedon[.]fun?

It is not common for pages like spleasedon[.]fun to be visited, opened by users on purpose. Typically, these sites get opened after clicking on questionable advertisements, while visiting other shady websites, or by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) that users have installed on their browsers or computers.

There are many pages like spleasedon[.]fun on the Internet, some examples are pyiera[.]com, acceptww[.]com, and kpoila[.]com. Usually, these pages load questionable content, open other untrustworthy sites. Therefore, they should never be trusted, visited.

What is secureblogcn[.]com?

Secureblogcn[.]com is an untrustworthy site running various scams. At the time of research, it promoted multiple variants of the "VPN Update" scheme. In essence, these scams attempt to trick users into downloading/installing and/or purchasing VPN software - through misleading or outright deceptive claims.

Schemes of this type aim to endorse unreliable and possibly dangerous products. Typically, they push fake anti-viruses, adware, browser hijackers, and other PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). It is noteworthy that such scams may also proliferate malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, etc.).

Most users enter websites like secureblogcn[.]com via mistyped URLs, redirects caused by intrusive advertisements, or have them force-opened by installed PUAs.

What is SearchForWords?

Typically, adware is designed to generate unwanted advertisements. Also, it can be designed to hijack browsers by changing their settings. It is known that SearchForWords displays ads and changes settings. Therefore, this app is categorized both as adware and a browser hijacker.

It is noteworthy that apps of this type tend to be designed to gather browsing data or other details. Another important detail about SearchForWords is that the installer for this app is designed to look like an installer for the Adobe Flash Player. In other words, SearchForWords is distributed using a fake installer.

Typically, users download and install such apps unknowingly. Apps that users download, install unintentionally are called potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

What is Zuadr ransomware?

Zuadr is a piece of malicious software categorized as ransomware. It operates by encrypting data (rendering files inaccessible) and demanding payment for the decryption (access recovery). During the encryption process, files are appended with the ".zuadr" extension.

For example, a file initially named something like "1.jpg" would appear as "1.jpg.zuadr", "2.jpg" as "2.jpg.zuadr", "3.jpg" as "3.jpg.zuadr", and so on.

Once this process is complete, identical ransom-demanding messages are displayed/created in a pop-up window ("RESTORE_FILES_INFO.hta") and "RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt" text file.

What is the "UPS Rewards Scam"?

"UPS Rewards Scam" refers to a scheme run on various deceptive websites. It is presented as a prize giveaway from UPS (United Parcel Service), which users can enter by completing a short survey.

This scam is in no way associated with UPS - the American multinational package delivery and supply chain management company. The scheme aims to promote a variety of untrustworthy and dangerous sites.

The "UPS Rewards Scam" has been observed being spread via spam campaigns - large-scale operations during which thousands of deceptive emails are sent.

Alternatively, scam-promoting webpages can be accessed through mistyped URLs, redirects caused by intrusive advertisements, or force-opened by installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

What is USPS Rewards scam?

USPS Rewards scam is a scam created with the purpose to trick users into believing that they have a chance to get a reward in return for participation in a survey and entering personal information on a number of websites. It is known that one of the channels that scammers use to promote this scam is email.

They send emails pretending to be from USPS with a website link that opens a scam page, which leads to other different scams (pages asking to provide personal information).

Although, it is possible that the same website promoted through email may be promoted via deceptive advertisements, other shady pages, potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) as well.

What is pyiera[.]com?

Pyiera[.]com is but one of many rogue websites on the Web. Kpoila.com, topgirlsdating.com, wsoyourwi.fun, and ourbestnews.com are just some examples of other similar pages. Visitors to pyiera[.]com are presented with questionable content and/o redirected to untrustworthy or possibly malicious sites.

Users usually access such webpages unintentionally; most get redirected to them by intrusive ads or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). These apps do not require explicit user consent to infiltrate systems.

PUAs can have heinous functionalities, e.g., causing redirects, running intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collecting browsing-related information.