SpyHunter virus: false claims or malware?

Spyhunter virus Removal Guide

What is Spyhunter virus?

SpyHunter virus is a misleading term used by competitors of this AV tool to win users

SpyhunterSpyhunter virus is not the correct name for the tool that is designed to fight malware.

SpyHunter is the application capable of fixing errors, improving the performance, and even removing malware, NOT A VIRUS. However, people use this term to describe the anti-malware program because other tools have been detecting the software as PUP.

In fact, SpyHunter is a totally legit app developed by Enigma Software and dedicated to the Microsoft Windows operating system to remove trojans, worms, malicious software, and other cyber threats. This is a legitimate program that has more than one version available on its official website Enigmasoftware(.)com.

The only instance when Spyhunter virus term can be used is when talking about Spyhunter ransomware – a real threat affecting users' files and devices with malicious activities. This malware is not related to the software providers because it is a version of another cryptovirus[1] that only poses as a product from Enigma software company to create additional frustration.

Name Spyhunter virus
Type Ransomware/misleading advertising used by other security apps
Possible misconception Spyhunter ransomware or other malicious programs misusing the name of the legitimate software to look safe and prevent their removal
REAL PURPOSE A legit anti-spyware tool dedicated to find malware and remove it from the system
Versions
  • Spyhunter 4
  • Spyhunter 5
  • Spyhunter HelpDesk
Alternatives Use FortectIntego as a complementary tool for your anti-virus.

Spyhunter virus scanner starts working right after you download the app to the system. Note that there had been numerous misleading advertisers that used different advertising methods, sometimes illegal ones, to increase their profit. However, Enigma worked hard to eliminate from their advertiser list. The malware detection procedure and removal tool that can scan the computer for malware, vulnerabilities, and block threats to protect your machine in advance.

You might also find the Spyhunter virus term on the Internet because of the infamous lawsuit with a computer support website which downgraded Spyhunter to promote its own security software.[2] Because of that, Enigma Software, the developers of SpyHunter software, filed a lawsuit against Bleeping Computer.[3] During the so-called smear campaign, the tool was named a rogue software and malware and was included in many negative comments and articles. Later on, Engima Software also got sued by the Bleeping Computer for the alleged violation of trademarking.[4] Legal battles regarding Spyhunter virus name ended when both cases were dismissed.

Nevertheless, Enigma Software also sued another security software vendor when the program appeared to detect the tool as a potentially unwanted program.[5] This is the reason why the term Spyhunter virus became popular on the Internet among PC users. Such instances when one anti-malware engine detects the other tool of the same type are caused by counteracting databases and functionalities. The US District Court dismissed the particular lawsuit against Malwarebytes.

Spyhunter malwareSpyhunter virus is the term used by people infected with rogue which is using name of the legitimate tool illegally.

To sum up, Spyhunter is a useful malware removal tool that is easy-to-use for everyday PC users and cybersecurity experts. The program can be used for removing malware, like adware, ransomware, browser hijackers, and other types of viruses. If you choose the full version, it will also provide fulltime protection.

A free trial can be used with no fee, but a full version can be bought for 30-40$ per six months. Note that may try to misuse the program's name to distribute rogue versions of the tool or even create a malicious tool and spread it as a legal program. Nevertheless, Spyhunter malware is not the correct term for the program since these activities are not related to the official anti-spyware.

You don't need to remove Spyhunter from the system if you are fully happy with its work and services it provides. If the tool is causing suspicious symptoms, launching questionable processes on the system, and acting like malware, get rid of the fake version (usually crack). There are various possibilities to get a malicious version of the program if you are not relying on the official Enigma Software page or trustworthy software distributor.

Spyhunter virus: possible legitimate program misconception with malware

Unfortunately, Spyhunter virus has this name due to all the false articles, and the association with malicious actors. Also, the fact that two AV engines cannot work on the same system since their scans interrupt the work of another program, cause frustration and questions regarding the SpyHunter software.

Spyhunter virus can be used for the ransomware or other programs that get developed to pose as a real tool to gain more victims. Such tactics can work because people search for:

  • cracks,
  • free tools,
  • versions of the program,
  • duplicated variants.

This is how you can get Spyhunter virus instead of the legitimate malware scanner, so beware that malicious actors pose as software developers exactly for that purpose – to trick people into downloading their malware. Although the name of Enigma SpyHunter gets used in these campaigns, the software developer is not responsible for these activities.

SpyHunter virus can appear on your system when you download software or application cracks and non-legitimate programs. You need to note that various freeware downloads include the unwanted or even harmful programs in the installation setups. This is the most significant danger of free download sites, p2p services, or torrent pages – extra applications.

Spyhunter virusSpyhunter virus is a misleading term used to describe malware that is misusing the name of a legitimate anti-malware tool.

When it comes to Spyhunter virus removal, you need to get a legitimate anti-malware tool from the trustworthy provider or official developer and clean the machine thoroughly. If you have Spyhunter malware removal tool that was downloaded from the lawful source and your AV detects it as a potentially unwanted program or a suspicious application, disable the scanner while cleaning the machine.

Get rid of the Spyhunter virus if your anti-malware tool found any truly malicious programs and malware. This name of the software is misused on the crypto-demanding virus that mainly affects the reputation of the legitimate malware removal tool. Pay close attention to system scanning results and be aware of the programs you remove.

Pay attention to sources of the system tools to avoid false anti-spyware

Getting anti-malware tools or any other applications from the internet can be safe and useful if you choose reliable sources, the software provider, official website. Unfortunately, people tend to get such programs from freeware delivering services, download sites, or even search for illegal cracks and keys.

This behavior, other tactics used to get around paying for the legitimately licensed versions of such tools causes risks of getting even more malicious programs. You should rely on official sources and pay close attention to downloading processes by opting for Advanced or Custom installations.

The best way to avoid any potentially unwanted programs, malware, and more severe viruses is to get a tool that can block such threats in advance when the program has not entered on the PC yet. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner can help with such PUP infiltrations and avoid entering malicious sites or freeware providers' pages.

Possible ways to eliminate Spyhunter virus and uninstall questionable versions of the software

Users get eager to remove Spyhunter virus after reading false reviews and suspicious comments online which were posted by the program's competitors or even bots. While the software had dealt with some problems in the past, it has become a professional malware remover which blocks the latest malware and keeps the device at its best state.

However, if you decided to uninstall SpyHunter as it is not meeting your expectations, follow the guide below and this review which might make you change your mind: SpyHunter review.

If you downloaded a crack or other illegal version, take care of the so-called Spyhunter virus removal process by running a full system scan with the alternative software which will help you find its hidden components.

You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using SpyHunter 5 Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
SpyHunter 5 Intego has a free limited scanner. SpyHunter 5 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.
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Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with SpyHunter 5, try running Malwarebytes.
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 Spyhunter virus. Follow these steps

Uninstall from Windows

To uninstall SpyHunter, carefully follow the guide provided below.

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK. Uninstall from Windows 2

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Spyhunter registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.

How to prevent from getting system tools

Protect your privacy – employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals. 

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

About the author
Jake Doevan
Jake Doevan - Computer technology expert

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