AOL Spyware Protection
What is AOL Spyware Protection? (from AOL)
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Overview
AOL Spyware Protection is a software program developed by AOL. The most common release is 1.0.66, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. Upon being installed, the software adds a Windows Service which is designed to run continuously in the background. Manually stopping the service has been seen to cause the program to stop functing properly. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The primary executable is named asp.exe. The setup package generally installs about 8 files and is usually about 3.3 MB (3,464,398 bytes). Relative to the overall usage of users who have this installed on their PCs, most are running Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows XP. While about 92% of users of AOL Spyware Protection come from the United States, it is also popular in United Kingdom and Spain.
Program details
Displayed publisher: AOL Spyware Protection
URL: daol.aol.com/security
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\AOL Spyware Protection
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\UNWISE.EXE C:\Program Files1\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\INSTALL.LOG
(Wise Installer is used for installing and uninstalling this software.)
Estimated size: 3.3 MB
Files installed by AOL Spyware Protection
| Program executable: | asp.exe |
| Name: | AOL Spyware Protection |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\AOL Spyware Protection\asp.exe |
| MD5: | 8b1baed7b5a3fd7b73f1ffdf9991bcb4 |
Additional files:
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AOLSP Scheduler.exe - AOL Spyware Protection
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PlayGifo.ocx (by THU-404) - PlayGif ActiveX Control Module
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AOL_SP_GEN.DLL (by America Online) - AOL Spyware Protector
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aol_sp_reg.dll (by America Online)
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UNWISE.EXE
Behaviors exhibited
Scheduled Task
- UNWISE.EXE is scheduled as a task with the class '{F71A9918-1861-4EFE-AE94-530BDDE46DD4}' (runs on registration).
Service
- UNWISE.EXE runs as a service named 'Browser System Enahncer' (671c50b0).
Startup File (All Users Run)
- AOLSP Scheduler.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'AOL Spyware Protection' which loads as "C:\Program Files2\COMMON~1\AOL\AOLSPY~1\AOLSP Scheduler.exe".
3 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
- asp.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\aol\AOL Spyware Protection\asp.exe'.
- AOLSP Scheduler.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\aol\AOL Spyware Protection\AOLSP Scheduler.exe'.
- UNWISE.EXE is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\UNWISE.EXE'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| AOLSP Scheduler.exe |
| Memory: | 1.6 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0001096154% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00007355% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00003606% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 14,319 | |
How do I remove AOL Spyware Protection?
You can uninstall AOL Spyware Protection from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program AOL Spyware Protection, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove AOL Spyware Protection.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 40%
Win Vista (SP1) 1%
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
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USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 51%
Keep it 49%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
42.24% |
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| Windows XP |
38.51% |
|
| Windows Vista |
14.91% |
|
| Windows 10 |
4.35% |
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Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Microsoft Windows XP |
37.42% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
32.90% |
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| Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
12.90% |
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| Windows 7 Professional |
7.10% |
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| Windows 7 Ultimate |
2.58% |
|
| Windows 10 Home |
2.58% |
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Geography
91.92% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
91.92% |
| United Kingdom |
5.77% |
| Spain |
0.77% |
| Singapore |
0.38% |
| Colombia |
0.38% |
| France |
0.38% |
| Russia |
0.38% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Dell |
39.09% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard |
22.73% |
|
| Toshiba |
15.45% |
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| Acer |
5.45% |
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| Sahara |
4.55% |
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| ASUS |
3.64% |
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| Lenovo |
3.64% |
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| Gateway |
3.64% |
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| American Megatrends |
1.82% |
|
Common models |
| Dell Inspiron 530 |
2.59% |
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| Dell Inspiron 2200 |
1.72% |
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| Hewlett-Packard 700-215xt |
1.72% |
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| LENOVO 4334 |
1.72% |
|
| Dell XPS 8300 |
1.72% |
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| TOSHIBA Satellite P105 |
1.72% |
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About AOL
America Online develops, grows, and invests in brands and sites.
Publisher URL: corp.aol.com