System Adware Scanner 2010 is a rogue antispyware program that simulates a system scan and reports false infections to make you think your computer is infected with trojans, spyware, adware and worms as a method to trick you into purchasing “full” version of the software.
Once installed, it will register itself in the Windows registry to run automatically and begin to scan your computer. System Adware Scanner 2010 lists legitimate Windows files and not existing files as infections that will not be fixed unless you first purchase the program. Important to know, all of these infections are fake, so you can safely ignore them.
System Adware Scanner 2010 will also install a driver that disables the ability to run various programs, including MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware and other antivirus and antispyware software. The following alert will be shown when you try to run MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware:
Warning: your computer is infected
The program mbam.exe is infected!
While System Adware Scanner 2010 is running your computer will display nag screens and fake security alerts that stats:
System Adware Scanner 2010 Warning
Intercepting programs that may compromise your privacy and
harm your system have been detected on your PC.
Click here to remove them immediately with System Adware
Scanner 2010
Warning: Your computer is infected
Windows has detected infection!
Click this message to install the last update of Windows
Security Software!
However, all the above alerts are fake and like false scan results should be ignored! As you can see, System Adware Scanner 2010 is a scam and should be removed from the computer upon detection.
If your computer is infected with System Adware Scanner 2010, then use the removal instructions below to remove the rogue antispyware and any associated malware.
Symptoms in a HijackThis Log
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [
Spyware can do the following:
1. gather information about user habits of use of the Internet, what sites are visited most frequently (known as “tracking software”);
2. record keystrokes (keyloggers) and make a screenshots (screen scraper) and send collected data to the creator of the spyware;
3. remotely control user computer (remote control software) – backdoor, botnets, droneware;
4. download and run on user computer an additional malware;
5. analyze the state of security systems, scan an open ports, and look for vulnerabilities to crack passwords;
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [
Spyware can do the following:
1. gather information about user habits of use of the Internet, what sites are visited most frequently (known as “tracking software”);
2. record keystrokes (keyloggers) and make a screenshots (screen scraper) and send collected data to the creator of the spyware;
3. remotely control user computer (remote control software) – backdoor, botnets, droneware;
4. download and run on user computer an additional malware;
5. analyze the state of security systems, scan an open ports, and look for vulnerabilities to crack passwords;
Use the following instructions to remove System Adware Scanner 2010 (Uninstall instructions)
Download RKill by Grinler from here , but before saving rkill.com, rename it first to explorer.exe and click Save button to save it to desktop.
Double click the RKill desktop icon. If you are using Vista please right click and select Run as Administrator.
A black screen will briefly flash indicating a successful run. If the tool does not run and you will be shown a message that stats that rkill is infected, then without closing the message, try to run rkill once again.
Now you can continue with the next step.
Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Once downloaded, close all programs and windows on your computer.
Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MalwareBytes Anti-malware onto your computer. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to “Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware” and Launch “Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware”. Then click Finish.
MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
As MalwareBytes Anti-malware will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main menu. You will see window similar to the one below.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window
Make sure the “Perform quick scan” option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for System Adware Scanner 2010 infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
When the scan is finished a message box will appear that it has completed scanning successfully. Click OK. Now click “Show Results”. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below.
Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items
Make sure all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected” button to remove System Adware Scanner 2010. MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated System Adware Scanner 2010 files and registry keys and add them to the programs’ quarantine. When MalwareBytes Anti-malware has finished removing the infection, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.
Note: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.
System Adware Scanner 2010 creates the following files and folders
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\
Spyware can do the following:
1. gather information about user habits of use of the Internet, what sites are visited most frequently (known as “tracking software”);
2. record keystrokes (keyloggers) and make a screenshots (screen scraper) and send collected data to the creator of the spyware;
3. remotely control user computer (remote control software) – backdoor, botnets, droneware;
4. download and run on user computer an additional malware;
5. analyze the state of security systems, scan an open ports, and look for vulnerabilities to crack passwords;
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\
Spyware software are surreptitiously installed on user`s computer to collect information about computer’s configuration, user`s private information, user’s activity without his consent. Spyware may also change Windows settings, download and install other malicious programs without the user’s knowledge.
\Spyware can do the following:
1. gather information about user habits of use of the Internet, what sites are visited most frequently (known as “tracking software”);
2. record keystrokes (keyloggers) and make a screenshots (screen scraper) and send collected data to the creator of the spyware;
3. remotely control user computer (remote control software) – backdoor, botnets, droneware;
4. download and run on user computer an additional malware;
5. analyze the state of security systems, scan an open ports, and look for vulnerabilities to crack passwords;
%UserProfile%\Desktop\System Adware Scanner 2010.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\System Adware Scanner
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\System Adware Scanner\System Adware Scanner 2010.lnk
c:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\
Spyware can do the following:
1. gather information about user habits of use of the Internet, what sites are visited most frequently (known as “tracking software”);
2. record keystrokes (keyloggers) and make a screenshots (screen scraper) and send collected data to the creator of the spyware;
3. remotely control user computer (remote control software) – backdoor, botnets, droneware;
4. download and run on user computer an additional malware;
5. analyze the state of security systems, scan an open ports, and look for vulnerabilities to crack passwords;
System Adware Scanner 2010 creates the following registry keys and values
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SystemAdwareScanner2010
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\noterminate
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
