Brave Sentry works as scareware in order to sell program’s license
Brave Sentry is a fake anti-spyware that has been known for security experts since 2005. The main purpose of the program is to scare people[1] that their computers have been infected and they need to obtain the license to clean their PCs.
BraveSentry might be spread in freeware packages and might be installed to the system silently. Once inside, it starts delivering fake alerts warning about detected computer viruses.[2] Our team has tested the program on clean computers that have never been infected with any cyber threats. However, the application managed to find some malicious components that might cause security or privacy issues.
| Name | BraveSentry |
| Type | Rogue antispyware |
| Distribution | Fake online scanners, already installed Trojans, etc. |
| Operation | Shows false positives in order to trick people into buying its full license |
| Removal | Follow the guide we provide below or perform a full system scan with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner |
| System fix | If you PC starts working poorly after you get rid of the fake security program, you can use FortectIntego to fix possibly damaged system files |
The analysis of the program revealed that this fake security tool is the same as SpySheriff, SpywareNo!, SpyDemolisher, Spyware-Stop, and Pest Trap. All these programs not only share a similar user interface but also has the same spyware, Trojan, adware, and other viruses database. The comparison of these tools also revealed that they produce similar scan results on different devices.
Other negative features of the Brave Sentry virus:
- Changed desktop picture with alert about detected “Spyware infection” that resembles a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD);
- Inability to access Internet due to blocked web browsers;
- Prevents from System Restore by disabling restore points;
- Disabled legit anti-virus or anti-malware installed on the computer to block its removal;
- Disabled taskmgr and regedit tools;
Even though the program is hard to find to download manually, users are advised to be careful with freeware downloads. If you have accidentally installed the program, it’s important to get rid of it immediately. Due to the complex functionality, it might not be easy to remove Brave Sentry. However, security tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner might help to get rid of it.
It is also important to note that cleaning web browsers is just as important. Therefore, either follow the instructions below or use FortectIntego to automatically clean web data and cookies.
Scareware might be spread via P2P networks, torrents, and other file sharing sources
Brave Sentry was available on the official website bravesentry.com from 2005 and 2008. However, the website is inactive for a long time. However, the program has also been spread on typosquatted sites or malicious sites that ask to install software in order to leave the page.
Additionally, various file-sharing sites might still offer to download this useless application. Security experts also warn that rough anti-spyware might also be advertised in software bundles. Thus, you should be careful when installing freeware or shareware.
Security experts from No Virus[3] remind always to opt for Advanced/Custom settings and follow each of the steps carefully. Once you the list of “optional downloads,” unmark the ticks to reject installation of SpySheriff or other suspicious programs.
Remove fake security programs from your PC
It might be hard to remove Brave Sentry because the application might make various changes to the system. Thus, you may not be able to simply uninstall it from the Control Panel. The program might re-install itself once you reboot the PC.
However, users can uninstall it with legit and reputable malware removal software. As we have mentioned at the beginning, the application might block security programs. Thus, you have to reboot the PC to Safe Mode with Networking:
- Restart the computer.
- Once you the beep sound during the startup, press F8 (you have to do it before Windows icon appears).
In the appeared menu choose the first option which allows starting and running Windows in Safe Mode. - Log in to your account.
- Install and update legit security software and run automatic Brave Sentry removal with the help of it. Also, it is important to clear your web browsers as explained below.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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