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aproposfix.exe has since been removed from my server to the request of Swandog46; the creator of aproposfix.exe, but you can find download information and more below.

Details:

Apropos is a form of spyware that includes web browser hijacking, pop up advertisements, web tracking & reporting and more. When I had Apropos on a system in November of 2005 none of the big name security tools available would remove it including NAV 2005, MS AntiSpyware BETA, Lavasoft AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy, Webroot Spysweeper or even the Apropos removal utility from Symantec. Swandog46's removal tool is the only thing that worked.

Symptoms:

Removal:

1. Download aproposfix.exe from Swandog46's website saving the file to your Desktop.
   http://swandog46.geekstogo.com/aproposfix.exe

2. Restart your computer and enter Safe Mode by pressing F8 on the keyboard repeatedly AFTER your BIOS loads and BEFORE Windows starts to load.

3. Log into the account where the files you downloaded are on the Desktop. It should
   be an account with Administor privledges.

4. Double click on aproposfix.exe and extract the files to your Desktop. Open that folder
   and double click on Run This.bat and follow the instructions. Restart the computer
   once you are prompted.

5. Your problem should be solved. If it isn't then you may not have followed the instructions correctly or Apropos is not your problem.

Afterwards:

Once you are back in Windows running in normal mode with a working Device Manager,
etc. get yourself online and get protected!

Purchase yourself a good antivirus application such as ESET NOD32. Free antivirus applications are good for some protection but you get what you pay for. Almost all free antivirus applications provide moderate protection from keep things off your computer but when you system does become infected they are horrible at removing things. This is why you want to pay for an antivirus solution.
ESET NOD32 Antivirus - www.eset.com/products/nod32.php

Get rid of the insecure Internet Explorer web browser and go download the Firefox web browser.
Mozilla Firefox - www.getfirefox.com

If you find yourself having continous issues with malware infecting your system then you should really thinking about purchasing an antimalware application that has live protection; much like antivirus applications. Live protection means that there is always something running looking out for the bad guys that try to make it on your computer and stop them before they do. There are many solutions out there but you do need to be careful as there are many "fake" antimalware applications that really do more harm than good as well. Many antivirus applications will offer decent protection from malware these days but the antimalware applications generally handle it better because they are made specifically for it. Many of the options below are available for free but offer no live protection; however with many of them if you purchase the full version you will get live protection. Regardless you need to scan your system with something at least monthly.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
http://malwarebytes.org

SUPER AntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com

Spyware Terminator
http://www.spywareterminator.com

Sunbelt CounterSpy
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Home-Home-Office/Anti-Spyware/

SpyBot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org

PC Tools Spyware Doctor
http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/

Webroot Spysweeper
http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-spysweeper.html

Need to clean up temporary files and garbage sitting all around your computer? Give one of these a try.

Crap Cleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com

ATF Cleaner
http://www.atribune.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=25

Then of course for a second opinion of any antivirus:

ESET Online Scanner
http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/

Trend Micro Housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com

BitDefender Online Scanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/

Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-au/



Also two great tools for troubleshooting what is actually running on your system and one for removing stubborn files that are in use on system reboot (usually related to malware):

Windows SysInternals Process Explorer
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Windows SysInternals PendMoves & MoveFile
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

The best protection of all is to browse the internet SMART and SAFELY by not looking at things you shouldn't be and always READ things when you install them!!! If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

Last updated March 3, 2009 - 8:08PM