IDP.Generic virus (Simple Removal Guide) - 2021 update

IDP.Generic virus Removal Guide

What is IDP.Generic virus?

IDP.Generic is a heuristic detection term for data-stealing malware used by some anti-virus software providers

IDP.Generic virusIDP.Generic is a term used to describe a set of malware infections that are detected by Avast's and AVG's Protection detection component.

IDP.Generic is a term is that users can encounter on pop-up windows from anti-malware applications (mainly AVG and Avast), which discover something suspicious on the computer. The detection name is heuristic, which means that the AV found behavioral patterns rather unusual for a regular file that could be malicious. In other terms, it stands for Identity Detection Protection, which means that an attempt to steal your sensitive information was performed by malicious actors.

However, due to behavioral analysis mechanisms, IDP.Generic can also be a false-positive, which means that the file, a website, or a script that was detected is actually safe. This typically happens when the security software is outdated or partially broken. As a result, users noticed that legitimate tools, such as dialer software, manufacturer's diagnostic tools,[1] gaming platform Steam, communication app Discord, and other harmless apps are marked as malicious.

Nevertheless, it does not mean that the detected IDP.Generic files are always false-positive, as it can actually be some type of malware. As a result, victims can disclose sensitive details such as banking details, social security numbers, and other personal data to cybercriminals without knowing anything about it. Therefore, it is vital to make sure that nothing malicious is installed on your device. If it is not a false positive, it is crucial to remove IDP.Generic virus from your machine as soon as possible.

Name IDP.Generic
Type Data-stealing malware or false positive
Infiltration Spam emails, third-party sites, fake updates, cracks, exploits, pirated software installers, etc.
Risk factors Money loss, further malware infections, identity theft, sensitive data disclosure to malicious actors, etc.
Main executable names setup.exe
Detection engines AVG and Avast
Similar detection IDP.ALEXA.51, IDP.ares.generic, Trojan.Win32.Generic, Win32:Malware-gen, etc.
Termination You need to terminate the virus with the help of security software or update the AV software to fix the false positive
Recovery If your system was affected by IDP.Generic virus, you should delete it and then use FortectIntego to fix the damage done to system files

It is difficult to talk about symptoms of the IDP.Generic virus infection, as it can represent a variety of threats, including trojans, banking malware, info-stealers, malware droppers, rootkits, and other type of cyber threats. Although most viruses are generally stealthy, you might experience the following:

  • Slow operation of the device/high resource usage;
  • Random windows opening without user initiation;
  • Frequent BSoDs;
  • High network activity;
  • Crashing programs;
  • The infected machine is sending out spam;
  • Redirects to suspicious sites, etc.

To find out whether or not IDP.Generic is false positive, you have a few options, one of them is to scan the file with alternative security software. However, even then you might not be entirely sure, as the detection might be a new threat that was never previously detected in the wild.

Anti-malware engine databases might not have the particular heuristic name and cannot indicate the virus after a scan. Therefore, it is often worth trying performing other actions before performing IDP.Generic removal.

IDP.Generic heuristic detectionIDP.Generic virus is malware that can perform a variety of malicious activities.

Shady detection name may be related to fake updates, or applications downloaded from the internet

If you scanned the file with other security software and the detection is still low, it is worth updating Adobe Flash Player first. This plugin is known to have a variety of security holes and zero-days,[2] and is often exploited by cybercriminals.[3]

Various scam sites often use Flash Player's name to install bogus or even malicious software, bundle PUPs with fake software updates or shady applications. In fact, installing cracks might be one of the ways how you could infect your device with IDP.Generic or similar symptom-less malware.

Finally, if updating Adobe Flash did not change anything, you should contact AVG or Avast support and ask whether or not the detection is a false positive. The problem is that any type of executable might be named after anything (for example, Flashupdate.exe) and actually be malicious. Infected files in common formats like EXE can only be designed to get trojans or worms on the machine.

IDP.GenericIDP.Generic is the detection name possibly related with password-stealing malware, trojans or spyware. It is possible that the result is falsely positive.

Once you make sure that the file in question is malicious, you should remove IDP.Generic from your computer by using professional anti-virus software. After that, we suggest you scan your PC with FortectIntego to fix the system damage done by the malware, remove all the associated files or even PUPs luring in the background. The full check on the system allows to see all the suspicious programs and terminate them once and for all.

Protect yourself from malware by being attentive while browsing the internet

There are many ways of getting your computer infected with malware. One of the most popular malware distribution methods is sending the malicious file inside a spam email as an attachment. This method is one of the most reliable ones, although infection rates might not be as high.

Thus, when you receive an email from a questionable source, be meticulous when opening its attachments or clicking on links inside. DO NOT let macro-virus function to run if prompted, you can be suggested to do so by claiming that particular content needs to be enabled.

Another wide-spread malware distribution method is via unsafe or hacked sites. Bad actors can create spoofed sites, hijack legitimate ones, buy ad space and insert malicious code into it or simply host malicious files on shady third-party websites where security measures are inadequate.

Therefore, you need to make sure that your anti-virus is up to date. Additionally, make sure you scan any type of executable with tools like AV programs. Finally, do not download cracks or installers, as these are often infected with malware, and might be challenging to determine whether or not it is actually malicious.

Eliminate IDP.Generic virus if the detection is not a false positive

IDP.Generic virus removal should only be performed if you are sure that the file is actually malicious. Just to be positive, make sure you update your security software to the latest version, update your Flash player or even contact AV engines' customer support for the advice. Nevertheless, it is vital to act if IDP.Generic is actually malicious.

You can remove IDP.Generic by following instructions that highly depend on what type of malware you are dealing with. Nevertheless, experts[4] generally recommend accessing Safe Mode with Networking and perform the process from there, as it is a safe environment and is the best for troubleshooting. To enter this mode, follow our instructions below.

Once in Safe Mode, you should perform a full system scan with the help of security software, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or any other reputable application.

In case IDP.Generic is indeed false positive, you can always make an exclusion in your anti-virus engine (please refer to the official website of the vendor, as instructions for that differ).

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of IDP.Generic virus. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

To enter Safe Mode with Networking, perform the following steps:

Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.

Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking

Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment. 

Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes

Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

Step 4. Delete virus files

Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):

    %AppData%
    %LocalAppData%
    %ProgramData%
    %WinDir%

After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from IDP.Generic and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes

How to prevent from getting malware

Do not let government spy on you

The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet. 

You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.

Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.

Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack

Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.

When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.

About the author
Julie Splinters
Julie Splinters - Anti-malware specialist

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References
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