WinHound loaded itself and I can't get completely rid of it

[aggravated]

Somehow, WinHound loaded itself.  I was able to locate and remove all directories and files associated with it.  Two problems remain (that I'm aware of).  1) Can't remove it from the registry  2) Desktop wallpaper is solid white - cannot change.

I'm on Windows XP SP2.  How can I get rid of it?

[GTO]

Hi, aggravated. Welcome to 2-Spyware.com forums!

Please read the following excerpt from the WinHound review. It should give you the idea how WinHound made into your system.

WinHound is being promoted through aggressive and deceptive advertisements. Some insecure web sites and certain parasites illegally install WinHound to numerous computers without user knowledge and explicit consent by exploiting certain system vulnerabilities. Furthermore, WinHound is dropped by several hijackers and trojans that change the web browser's default settings, redirect the user to undesirable web sites and continuously serve unsolicited commercial advertisements and pop-ups. Although we are not sure who actually is responsible for such WinHound distribution and installation methods, we surmise that the application's vendor or its affiliates are trying to promote and sell the product that way.

To remove this crap from the Windows registry you should install a reliable anti-spyware program and scan your system using it. I recommend Spyware Doctor, Spy Sweeper, CounterSpy and Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta. If those programs will not get rid of WinHound entries, please download the HijackThis tool, perform a scan and post a fresh log here. Your log will be analyzed by experts, and you should receive exact removal instructions.

To restore the desktop wallpaper please do the following:
1. Right-clik on the desktop and select the Properties option. This should open the Display Properties window.
2. Click on the Desktop tab and within the appeared screen click on Customize Desktop.
3. Another window should appear. Within it select the Web tab.
4. Now you should see the list of web pages. UNCHECK THEM ALL and delete everything except for My Current Home Page.
5. Apply changes. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Thanks GTO.

The fix on the desktop wallpaper worked.

My spyware is SpyBot.  I have all the latest updates but it did not remove it.  I guess I will have to try the HijackThis tool.  It is awfully busy right now...any harm in leaving til after Christmas?

Thanks for the help!

[admin13]

You should get rid of WinHound as soon as possible! This trojan is very dangerous, as it can silently download and install loads of harmful parasites including spyware and adware threats, browser hijackers, trojans, rooktis, etc. to your system without your knowledge and consent. Leaving it till Christmas may result in a badly infected computer.

Please follow WinHound latest manual removal instructions or post a HijackThis log as quickly as you can.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Admin13,

I downloaded the free version and it caught 29 infections!  Of course, it said in order to delete them I would have to purchase the better version.

I have SpyBot now - it did not catch anything.  And I use TrendMicro for catching and cleaning viruses - it caught one.  Will using the pay-for version of Spyware Doctor cause a conflict with either of those two programs?

[Anonymous]

Thanks Admin13,

I downloaded the free version <of SPYWARE DOCTOR> and it caught 29 infections! Of course, it said in order to delete them I would have to purchase the better version.

I have SpyBot now - it did not catch anything. And I use TrendMicro for catching and cleaning viruses - it caught one. Will using the pay-for version of Spyware Doctor cause a conflict with either of those two programs?

[GTO]

Using the pay-for version of Spyware Doctor will NOT cause a conflict with TrendMicro software and Spybot - Search & Destroy unless you want to enable all three real-time monitors provided by each program. In this case you should turn on only two of them - the first one would be a monitor of TrendMicro antivirus and another one - of either Spybot - Search & Destroy or Spyware Doctor. Just don't enable both Spybot's and Spyware Doctor's real-time monitors at the same time, and no compatibility problems will ever arise. On-demand scanners will not conflict.

[Anonymous]

I downloaded and ran the pay-for version of Spyware Doctor.  It found 31 infections and DID clean them all off.  However, WinHound is still in the registry and I cannot delete it.

I am also now getting the 'Micrsoft Internet Explorer - For Your Instant Access Please Click Yes' message - even after the clean above.

[GTO]

Please revisit this thread. There is a solution that should help you to get rid of WinHound.

[Anonymous]

Thank you GTO!

This took care of the problem.