How to remove Security Essentials 2010 (Uninstall instructions)

Security Essentials 2010 is a new rogue antispyware program, clone of Internet Security 2010, which is also rogue antispyware program. The rogue is installed through the use of trojans. When the trojan is started, it will download and install Security Essentials 2010 onto your computer without your permission and knowledge.

During installation, Security Essentials 2010 configures itself to run automatically when you logon into Windows. Once started, it will simulate a system scan and report a variety of infections that will not be fixed unless you first purchase the software. Of course, this is a scam, because the rogue is unable to detect or remove any infections. Important to know, all of these infections do not actually exist on your computer, so you can safely ignore the false scan results.

While Security Essentials 2010 is running, you will be shown nag screens and fake security warnings from Windows task bar. Some of the warnings:

System warning!
Continue working in unprotected mode is very dangerous.
Viruses can damage your confidential data and work on your
computer. Click here to protect your computer.

System warning!
Intercepting programs that may compromise your privacy and
harm your system have been detected on your PC.
It`s highly recommended you scan your PC right now.

Security Essentials 2010
Proactive system found several active vulnerabilities on your computer.

However, all of these warnings are fake and like false scan results should be ignored! As you can see, Security Essentials 2010 is a scam, that created with one purpose to scare your into purchasing so-called “full” version of the program. Most importantly, do not purchase it!

If you find that your computer is infected with the rogue, then be quick and take effort to remove it immediately. Follow the removal guidelines below to remove Security Essentials 2010 and any associated malware from the system for free.

More screen shoots of Security Essentials 2010

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log

F2 – REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [Security essentials 2010] C:\Program Files\Securityessentials2010\SE2010.exe

Use the following instructions to remove Security Essentials 2010 (Uninstall instructions)

Step 1.

Download HijackThis from here and save it to your Desktop.
If you cannot run HijackThis, then re-download it, but before saving HijackThis.exe, rename it first to explorer.exe and click Save button to save it to desktop.

Run HijackThis. Click “Do a system scan only” button. Now select the following entries by placing a tick in the left hand check box, if present:

F2 – REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [Security essentials 2010] C:\Program Files\Securityessentials2010\SE2010.exe

Once you have selected all entries, you will see a screen similar to the one below.

HijackThis

Close all running programs then click once on the “fix checked” button. Close HijackThis.

Step 2.

Download LSPFix from here and unzip it to your Desktop.

Run LSPFix. Place a tick in the “I know what i`m doing”.

In the KEEP box select helper32.dll (if the file is not listed in KEEP box, then close LSPFix and go to step 3). Press “>>” button and you will see a window as shown below.

LSPFix

Press Finish>> button. When LSPFix is done removing the LSP you will see a summary box. Press OK.

Step 3.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Close all programs and Windows on your computer.

Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. 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.

If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

Once the program has loaded you will see window similar to the one below.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window

Select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan, it will start scanning your computer for Security Essentials 2010 infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.

When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the 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 that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected for start Security Essentials 2010 removal process. When disinfection is completed, 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.

Security Essentials 2010 creates the following files and folders

C:\Program Files\SecurityEssentials2010
C:\Program Files\SecurityEssentials2010\SE2010.exe

Security Essentials 2010 creates the following registry keys and values

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Security Essentials 2010