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how to remove smitfraud zlob virus

This year alone, a lot of friends have asked for my help on how to remove the smitfraud zlob virus. 

SmitFraud or W32/SmitFraud.A is a type of spyware that installs itself into a computer via adware, without the user's knowledge. Most of the time, it installs itself after the computer user installs a fake codec, such as BrainCodec, PCodec or VideoKeyCodec. These seemingly innocent files came from peer to peer download sites/softwares like limewire, dc++, and torrent downloads.  Best thing to do is if after downloading such multimedia file that does not play properly as the audio music or movie that you were expecting is not to click "download codec needed to play file", or something like that.

You may be on a completely safe site, and suddenly there will be a pop-up and it will alter your registry, disable regedit, and task manager. It is also embedded in certain programs, such as iVideo, and many downloadable music files off music sharing programs and torrents. SmitFraud infects a Windows DLL with a computer virus, and sometimes changes the infected computer's desktop background into a Blue Screen of Death.

For prevention, users are already expected to have Winxp sp 2, or service pack 2 installed by now.  Its built in Firewall function is much more lightweight and effective than zone alarm or ad-aware or spybot remover ever were.  The winxp sp2 firewall works in such a way that any external program that will attempt to get installed into your pc will be automatically blocked and would need your YES TO CONTINUE permission to proceed.

But if you were already infected like my friends, no choice but to download SmitFraudFix.zip into your computer.   Before running this, it is important that one should go to your taskbar, click start/program/accessories/system tools and select system restore.  Recall when was the last time your computer functioned properly without the nasty popup virus and click that date on the calendar layout of system restore.  After some time, your computer should restart and you will be ready to remove the still remaining zlob files.

A more detailed step by step from bleepingcomputer instructs us:

Removal Instructions:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.

2. Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop:

   SmitFraudFix.exe

   Confirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below:

   

3. Next, please reboot your computer into Safe Mode by doing the following:
   1. Restart your computer

   2. After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
   3. Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
   4. Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.
   5. When you are at the logon prompt, log in as the same user which you had done the previous steps.
4. When your computer has started in safe mode and you see the desktop.
   
   
5. Close all open Windows.
6. Now, double-click on the SmitFraudfix icon that should be residing on your desktop.The icon will look like the one below:

   

7. When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen.
8. You will now see a menu as shown in the image below. Press the number 2 on your keyboard and the press the enter key to choose the option Clean (safe mode recommended).

   

9. The program will start cleaning your computer and go through a series of cleanup processes. When it is done, it will automatically start the Disk Cleanup program as shown by the image below.

   

   This program will remove all Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and other files that may be leftover files from this infection. This process can take up to a few hours depending on your computer, so please be patient. When it is complete, it will close automatically and you will should continue with step 11.

10. When Disk Cleanup is finished, you will be presented with an option asking Do you want to clean the registry ? (y/n). At this screen you should press the Y button on your keyboard and then press the enter key.
11. When this last routine is finished, you will be presented with a red screen stating Computer will reboot now. Close all applications. You should now press the spacebar on your computer. A counter will appear stating that the computer will reboot in 15 seconds. Do not cancel this countdown and allow your computer to reboot.
12. Once the computer has rebooted, you will be presented with a Notepad screen containing a log of all the files removed from your computer. Examine this log, and when you are done, close the Notepad screen.

Your computer should now be free of the SmitFraud infection.

Additionally, performing a full memory and file scan of your computer after this using my favorite lightweight but super effective antivirus AVAST should be done. 

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