keep your friends close but your enemies closer
Published on November 14, 2012 By Anthony R In Personal Computing

cnet (Download.com) has always been a trusted site, but this morning their download hit me with a nasty hijack called browsemngr.exe. It hijacked all my browsers and it took me like 20 minutes to clean it all up. Watchout.

 

C:\ProgramData\Browser Manager\2.3.796.11\{16cdff19-861d-48e3-a751-d99a27784753}\browsemngr.exe

O23 - Service: Browser Manager - Unknown owner - C:\ProgramData\Browser Manager\2.3.796.11\{16cdff19-861d-48e3-a751-d99a27784753}\browsemngr.exe


Comments (Page 3)
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on Nov 19, 2012

I always select the custom install or I don't install at all.

Yes, I selected the custom option and I was hit with Malware regardless, but even if I hypothetically, haphazardly installed Malware without unchecking the box or opting out, I was still hit with Malware by a site I once trusted. Thats the news.

on Nov 19, 2012

Turns out they have a Malware policy and it looks like there lots of wiggle room in it. One mans terrorist is actually a freedom fighter type stuff.

http://www.cnet.com/download-malware-policies/

on Nov 19, 2012

Better definition/term for this crap is 'Spamware'.

Malware would be key-loggers, trojans, virii etc...

on Nov 19, 2012

I've avoided Cnet since I attempted to download VLC player once from them. They threw in a lot of junk and then the site just has that fishy feel about it, like one of those virus spreading sites that masquerades as a site to download graphic design things from.  

on Nov 20, 2012

DrJBHL
The Internet has become a far less friendly and more 'business' oriented thoroughfare.

The Internet WORLD has become a far less friendly and more 'business' oriented thoroughfare.

on Nov 20, 2012

Better definition/term for this crap is 'Spamware'.

I disagree Jafo. I respect your opinion, but anything that takes control of my browsers and practically renders them unusable is Malware.

on Nov 20, 2012

Anthony R
but anything that takes control of my browsers and practically renders them unusable is Malware.

agreed....browser hijackers.....should be included with my virii, trojans, etc.....[I forgot 'em].... Spell checker

on Nov 20, 2012




Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 11
The Internet has become a far less friendly and more 'business' oriented thoroughfare.


The Internet WORLD has become a far less friendly and more 'business' oriented thoroughfare.

I'll accept that, Carl... the 'real world'-internet' isn't a valid distinction: They feed off each other, so they are equally real.

on Nov 20, 2012

Thanks so much for the cnet warnings. It is indeed disappointing. I had a browser hijack experience about 6 mths ago, and wasn't sure if it was due to the domain admin provider of a certain client I was consulting (located offshore - triggering IE security certificate alerts) or visiting a certain site (now forgotten, sorry) with chrome. (And no, it wasn't a "naughty" one...)

Usually I like to solve these issues myself. Obtained a "spyhunter" cleaner which repeatedly identified a file associated with WB as being the problem. Noooooo!! None of the recovery methods I preferred resolved it. Due to multiple schedule demands I reluctantly engaged the services of a certain ISP tech support service. They finally got rid of it (deleting Application data folders, and to their credit informed that certain cleaners erroneously attribute fault) but I also now have no system help files. I could reinstall a service pack but since XP is near EOL I've chosen to cope. The other valuable lesson is no matter what, "physician heal thyself!"  

on Nov 20, 2012

agreed....browser hijackers.....should be included with my virii, trojans, etc.....[I forgot 'em].... Spell checker

Wow, a Jafo self correction. This is historic.

on Nov 20, 2012

willistuder
Freeware Files is another excellent site. They test every file (and updates), and warn you if there are any toolbars, etc., in the file. Aside from freeware, many major companies like Microsoft and Norton submit files to the site. All files are free.

http://www.freewarefiles.com/[/quote]

Thank you Willistuder!  I will definitely try there first in the future.

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