Snap.do

[Mark Hennessy]

Col,

AVG is not very good. Currently, Avast is the best of the free virus scanners. I installed it on a messed-up machine that had been running AVG, and it found about a dozen viruses that had made it through AVG.

Next, use Firefox rather than Chrome. Firefox also has tabbed browsing. They all do these days. On a modern machine, there is no reason to use Chrome - yes, it's faster than the others (useful on older machines), but it takes up a lot more memory when running, and I can't help being slightly suspicious of Google at times

Needless to say, although it's much better than it used to be, Internet Explorer is best avoided.

I've not seen your particular virus before, so can't give specific advice. But, I've never had a virus before! I don't think that's luck - but it's not rocket science either. It's just about being careful about where I browse to - I read warnings and dialogue boxes very carefully, and don't download things unless I'm sure about them. Simple stuff (easy for me to say ).

It's worth downloading Malwarebytes - http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ - this will check for things that virus scanners miss (things that are often particularly nasty). The free version needs to be manually run from time to time, whereas the paid version is always checking in the background. If someone brings me an infected machine, this is the first thing to use - simply start the computer in "safe mode" and let it scan the hard drive. Very straightforward...

Good luck,

Mark

[Old Sparky]

I have a program called 'Advanced System Care 6', which, even in it's free version is quite comprehensive. Amongst other things, it removes malware, checks/de-fragments the hard drive, carries out a 'Privacy Sweep'(in the process this removes anytrace of your previous searches, bookmarked items, dropdowns, etc.)and quite a list of other things. If you uncheck box(es) on it's 'to do' list, ASC will skip those items, so it's quite versatile.
A 'pop-up' screen appears on your desktop at switch on showing the current 'state of play' of your system.
This screen includes a 'clean RAM' button, and an indication of 'system health'(a smiley face if O.K. - a frowning one if not). The program can be run in the background(it's running as I type this) and generally seems to be very good, although I also have AVG & AVG 'One-Click' maintenance.

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks once again everyone for your welcome suggestions.

I've been trying to eradicate this virus for the last couple of hours. First which I thought possibly easiest was to try Gary's welcome suggestion of using a previous restore point; once done then I had to install a number of updates then re-install Chrome and I thought this had sorted the problem. I could now open new tabs on Chrome OK so it all looked fine then I logged onto the forum and was about to reply when I saw the dreaded Snap.do laughing at me attached to Golborne right at the top left of the screen; as I closed the page I then noticed what looked like the Snap.do tool bar quickly disappearing; this had not been displayed so I can only assume it was in the background?

I then downloaded Mark's kind suggestion to use Malwarebytes; I ran the quick scan and this failed to locate the virus; at this point I pulled out the Win 7 CD's with the intention of wiping the lot. The computer failed to boot from disc; I had forgotten to set it to boot from disc as it's so long ago I did this. Anyway I then decided to use Malwarebytes but this time spending around twent minutes on a full scan and as the scan was running I thought great this has found the virus as four problems were being displayed? Unfortunately it added to the problem in not locating Snap.do but it found another problem which I've now deleted.

Snap.do only seems to be attached to Google Chrome where it keeps popping up in various places whilst using this browser? Is it possible to have a mobile virus?

Again using Mark's suggestion I've now downloaded Firefox which I'm currently using and at the moment there is no sign of Snap.do. Am I safe to carry on because I feel insecure just knowing this virus is lurking around somewhere and I simply don't trust it. I can usually wipe the hard drive and be up and running again in about four hours which I'm now seriously considering doing as it could well be the quickest and safest solution for me with my limited computer knowledge?

I've already backed up to the external hard drive but now I'm into dinner time; its amazing just how much time can be wasted on a computer and to cheer me up it's trying to snow.

I really do appreciate everyone's input but this virus is giving me the run around. After dinner I'll try the other suggestions to see if one will actually get rid of this virus. I'll not feel easy until I know for certain this virus is totally gone.

Kind regards, Col.

       

[Steve_P]

Don't use Google Chrome. It's not as bad as Internet Explorer but like Mark, I don't trust google. Firefox is a bit memory hungry too, so try Opera.

This tells you how to remove any bits of this from Google Chrome - and anything else too. Snap.do is a virus helper disguised as a free system in a way, but you don't get something for nothing in a windows environment. (Which is why I use Linux...)

http://forums.anvisoft.com/viewtopic-45-1208-0.html

Most, if not all viruses (virii?) are for Windows machines. There are so many different versions of Linux, which is based on Unix, that it isn't worthwhile for anyone to do outside the laboratory.

If you're not sure, run the free version of this...

http://www.anvisoft.com/product/smartdef...r=forums-s

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Radio Fixer]

Um! tough one. I run Internet Explorer 64bit with a Goggle Tool Bar and its been fine for me. Like Mark, I'm really careful about what I open and where I go. Only use W7 Security Essentials and touch wood have had no probs.

Gary

[Mark Hennessy]

Don't use Google Chrome. It's not as bad as Internet Explorer but like Mark, I don't trust google. Firefox is a bit memory hungry too, so try Opera.

Probably best not to throw any more browser suggestions at poor Col until he's back on an even keel

For what it's worth, on my Ubuntu machine at home (so this is from memory), Firefox with about 30 to 50 open tabs requires about half a GB of RAM. Chrome with about 15-20 tabs requires more than a GB. It has a very different operating model to Firefox, which partly explains the speed, but it is much, much more memory-hungry than FF. For an older machine with a slow CPU but plenty of RAM, Chrome might be OK - I have to use it because my CPU is "only" 3GHz (that's because of Ubuntu, but that's another "rant"!). There is 2GB RAM - both in RAM and CPU terms the motherboard is "max'd out" - and running an email program and the two browsers pretty much fills up the available RAM!

Col, just in case you're not aware, install something called AddBlockPlus (just Google it), which blocks adverts and offers some additional protection against certain types of web threats.

The instructions in the first link Steve provided so seem pretty clear, so do try to persevere. The key thing to understand is that programmes can install themselves on Windows as applications, or as browser "add-ins" - AddBlockPlus is an example of the latter. These add-ins are stored within the browser's "ecosystem", and don't generally appear in the Windows "Programs and Features" part of the Control Panel. Each browser has a different way of managing add-ins.

To be honest, I'd simply do a complete uninstall of Chrome, and never install it again - that's because when you uninstall Chrome, it leaves folders on the hard drive containing the various add-ins that you used - so that when you next install Chrome, it will find them and use them for you. That's why uninstalling/reinstalling Chrome earlier didn't help.

While the files are sitting on the hard drive, they are probably doing no harm whatsoever, but if you wanted to, you could simply delete the folder containing them (which would be something like C:\Users\Colin\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\) after you'd uninstalled Chrome, but do be very careful

There is some more advice here which might be worth reading (especially the comments from Snap.do themselves!): http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technolog...36299.html

And http://www.snapdoapp.com/faq/SnapDo/FAQ_ENG.html

For what it's worth, Snap.do isn't a virus or malware, which is why it's not been found by anything (I didn't check last night before posting as it was late). It's just a bit pointless and irritating, and perhaps not 100% trustworthy - hard to be sure. Either way, it does need to go - many of these browsers "enhancements" can be a source of vulnerability. In general, don't install any of the various toolbars that are offered, and when installing software that you do need (e.g. Flash), pay attention to all of the installation screens, because you normally have to remove a tick from a box to avoid having the latest Google or Ask Jeeves toolbar installed on your system. It's a jungle out there, so keep eyes and ears open

All the best,

Mark

[Steve_P]

Snap.do does not invade my privacy and is 100% free. Yeah, and I've got two arms that work. You don't get something for nothing, that's the first rule in life and windows.

Mind you, I'm not exactly a trusting soul...

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Retired]

Hi,

Many thanks guys for all your excellent suggestions and advice. I've tried my best to dump Snap.do but it suddenly appeared on Firefox which was the last straw. The computer is now up and running once again after a total hard drive wipe this afternoon. I still need to load programs and set up my mail.

Once I settle down I'll have a good look at the information thus kindly given and install the various programs which should help in future.

Normally I'm very careful and have suffered very few virus problems over the years; I don't browse iffy websites but I feel this Snap.do came in through a web link via email and I've trusted the sender an old school chum without any previous problems.

I do like Chrome and I've now got a much more powerful computer which will run Chrome easily enough but I'm open to suggestions as to best browser to use; I'm currently using Virgin media but I'm not keen on it.

This is the first time I've wiped Win7 then re-installed it and what fun it was to spend ages setting the Bios to boot from CD and after many attempts I finally realized just how stupid I can be as I was trying to boot from the mother board disc which I had marked up new computer on its cover.

Drat it my keyboard is now playing silly games but hopefully the Snap.do is now finally erased for good?

Thanks once again and I'll be playing around with the computer a lot more shortly.

Kind regards, Col.

[Retired]

Hi,

At last my computer is once again squeaky clean and hopefully will remain so.

Our friends Guy and Clare visited us yesterday and as Guy is a wiz on computers it didn't take long before Guy was teaching me a few tricks and one important thing Guy kindly did for me was to download a free anti-spyware program called "sophos" which he uses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophos

Sophos is now fully installed after Guy set it up for Win7 64bit and it declares my computer is clean which is expected after a full hard drive wipe but its good to know.

The hard drive wipe and re-install of Win7 only took about two hours but then another couple of hours were spent installing programs I use; it's amazing how many upgrades were installed and I don't mean the odd one or two; it had two sessions alone installing 100 upgrades plus other smaller batches but I think it must finally be up to date.

This morning I copied all the links you have kindly posted into a notebook for future reference because of the constant virus threat.

Snap.do caused me considerable frustration and refused to be eradicated even though I ran a number of programs including AVG and Malwarebytes; the only program which located it was Virgin Media Security and I was unable to erase it but at least Virgin blocked it warning me of a "Dangerous page". I'm just glad to be clear of it.

Thanks again for your splendid help.

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

That SnapDo. which is a browser add, on cropped up for me today. I wanted a video converter for Utube videos to make them into MPG for playing on my tablet without this being on line (not near a WiFi location). Downloaded several, and tried with a Create Restore Point first of course. Easy to get rid of as most didnt seem to work.

But eventually found an excellent one that does and in the small print was a tick box, already ticked, that said "I agree to the terms and conditions for inclusion of SnapDo." YOU GOTTA BE JOKING, so it got unticked. The prog got loaded OK and works very well, also its simple to use. Just shows dont load anything in a hurry and read the whole screen first before you hit the Install button.

I cant understand why Sys Restore didnt get rid of it for Colin ... maybe he didnt do it soon enough and it got embedded in some subtle way. Anyway I wasnt prepared to take the chance and load it.

The video converter is called Any Video Converter 5 if anyone needs one.

Gary