Adware.FreeComm

SUMMARY

Behavior

Adware.FreeComm is a browser helper object that redirects your browser to URLs pulled from www.fdadfswr.com.

Symptoms

Files detected as Adware.FreeComm

Transmission

This adware component must be manually installed.

Protection

• Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate™ Weekly) January 7, 2004
• Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) January 5, 2004

TECHNICAL DETAILS

By default, the program installs itself to:

%Program Files%Submitsubmithook.dll

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Note: %ProgramFiles% is a variable that refers to the path to the program files folder. By default, this is C:Program Files.

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Submithook.dll is a Browser Helper Object that registers itself and causes Internet Explorer to visit URLs provided by www.fdadfswr.com.

REMOVAL

The following instructions pertain to all Symantec antivirus products that support Security Risk detection.

1. Update the definitions.
2. Uninstall Submit URL using the Add/Remove Programs utility.
3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.FreeComm.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. Updating the definitions
To obtain the most recent definitions, start your Symantec program and run LiveUpdate.

2. Uninstalling the Adware

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Windows 98 taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
   • On the Windows Me taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
        If you do not see the Add/Remove Programs icon, click "...view all Control Panel options."
   • On the Windows 2000 taskbar:
     By default, Windows 2000 is set up the same as Windows 98. In that case, follow the Windows 98 instructions. Otherwise, click Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
   • On the Windows XP taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
        
2. Click Submit URL
   

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   Note: You may need to use the scroll bar to view the whole list.

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3. Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts.

3. Scanning for and deleting the files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and run a full system scan.
2. If any files are detected as Adware.FreeComm, click Delete.
   
   

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   Notes:

• If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, write down the path and file name. Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
• If you ran the Add/Remove programs applet as described in the previous section, it is possible that all files were removed and therefore none will be detected.

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