SearchInfoBar Spyware Profile
Title: SearchInfoBar
Also Known as: Infomeca, Win-Adware/BHO.InfoMeca.58656
Severity scale:
SearchInfoBar is a spyware program that is disguised as a toolbar add-on for your Internet browser. It was first discovered on July 18 of 2007. It is of Korean origin.
Not all toolbar add-on programs are parasitic, but many of them are. Most of the time, the features they offer are redundant. Of the parasitic toolbars, not all of them have spyware capabilities, but SearchInfoBar does.
SearchInfoBar is a Data Miner; that is, it collects information about your browsing habits. This is typically done by keystroke logging and collecting URL information, often by taking a screen snapshot. It uploads this data to a remote server. The intent is supposedly limited to delivering targeted advertising. However, the potential for abuse is very high.
SearchInfoBar delivers its ads in the form of pop-ups. These are, at the very least, an annoyance. They also have the potential to deliver other spyware programs by drive-by downloads. They also tend to cause your system to slow down and lose stability. This can often involve your browser crashing.
SearchInfoBar offers no real benefit and is a hazard to your computer and privacy. You should remove it with SpyZooka.
Also Known As:
Infomeca, Win-Adware/BHO.InfoMeca.58656, Win32.SearchHelper.a
Spyware Type: Toolbar, Data Miner
Associated Files:
<$WINDIR>SearchHelper.dll, <$SYSDIR>SearchHelper.dll, (unknown location) SearchHelper.dll, <$WINDIR>SearchInfoBar.dll, <$SYSDIR>SearchInfoBar.dll, (unknown location) SearchInfoBar.dll
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats {C04BB70C-5F50-473B-8A57-34F452CB0D96}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID {C04BB70C-5F50-473B-8A57-34F452CB0D96}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface {8E136450-04AB-4009-BFB1-64C05731BDDC}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT SearchHelper.SearchHelp
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT SearchHelper.SearchHelp.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib {720DA8C8-617E-4B2B-9ED4-D8C194B4FA54}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects {C04BB70C-5F50-473B-8A57-34F452CB0D96}
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerURLSearchHooks {C04BB70C-5F50-473B-8A57-34F452CB0D96}
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats {F7363708-3CA4-4974-AFDA-9725A628FEFC}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID {F7363708-3CA4-4974-AFDA-9725A628FEFC}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface {F4ADAF71-36A5-4412-B8B8-9D30A8A12272}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT SearchInfoBar.SearchInfoBarBand
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT SearchInfoBar.SearchInfoBarBand.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib {162FE771-A34B-4062-A6FB-6939E81FFC31}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar {F7363708-3CA4-4974-AFDA-9725A628FEFC}
