Should I remove Appstein?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
82% remove it18% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Reach 0.0004%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
Average installed length: 4.74 days
Versions
Version | Distribution |
2014.10.31.023103 |
12.50% |
|
2014.10.22.192647 |
12.50% |
|
2014.09.19.203252 |
12.50% |
|
2014.09.17.083239 |
12.50% |
|
2014.09.02.182803 |
12.50% |
|
2014.08.31.090456 |
12.50% |
|
2014.08.20.190658 |
25.00% |
|
Other programs by Yontoo Technology
Appstein
What is Appstein?
Appstein is an Internet toolbar/plugin (for Internet Explorer it runs as a BHO, in Chrome and Firefox it will run as an extension) that plugs into the user's default web browser and will modify a number of settings such as taking control of the browser's search and home pages, new tab functionality as well as DNS 'not found' redirection. Additionally this potentially unwanted program will change some security settings of the browser that might also lower the overall security of the user's PC. This is done in order to allow the program to run uninterrupted.
Should the user attempt to uninstall the Appstein software using the standard methods in Add/Remove Programs, only parts of this PUP will be uninstalled and some items such as the modified search and home pages may still point to an unwanted web page. Also to note as disclosed in the privacy policy, the program will track and report behaviors or the user while the plugin is installed including but not limited to the URLs and web pages the user visits as well as search terms and search results the user queries.
Overview
The most common release is 2014.08.20.190658, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. 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. The primary executable is named updateAppstein.exe. A majority of users end up uninstalling this less than a week of it being installed. The setup package generally installs about 4 files and is usually about 1.09 MB (1,146,664 bytes).
- Malware detected in the program
- Installs a Windows Service
- Typically distributed through a pay-per-install bundle
- Hijacks the web browser's home page
- This program has a poor reputation
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Appstein.
updateAppstein.exe (ac4eb2475fc9516c5c7855487ed2ff07) has been flagged by the following 10 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
Antiy-AVL |
1.0.0.1 |
GrayWare[AdWare:not-a-virus,HEUR]/MSIL.Kranet |
Baidu-International |
4.0.3.141120 |
Adware.Win32.BrowseFox.AtNK |
ESET-NOD32 |
8.10327 |
a variant of Win32/BrowseFox.H |
IKARUS anti.virus |
t3scan.1.7.5.0 |
PUA.BrowseFox |
Kaspersky |
14.0.0.2920 |
not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.MSIL.Kranet |
Kingsoft AntiVirus |
331020.49267 |
Win32.Troj.Generic.a.(kcloud) |
McAfee |
5600.6941 |
Artemis!AC4EB2475FC9 |
Panda Antivirus |
14.11.20.01 |
Trj/Chgt.D |
Qihoo-360 |
1.0.0.1015 |
Win32/Virus.Adware.e4c |
TrendMicro-HouseCall |
7.2.324 |
Suspicious_GEN.F47V0826 |
Appstein has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
Program details
Displayed publisher: Appstein
URL: appstein.info/support
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Appstein
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Appstein\Appsteinuninstall.exe
Estimated size: 1.09 MB
Files installed by Appstein
Program executable: | updateAppstein.exe (Malware detected) |
Path: | C:\Program Files\Appstein\updateAppstein.exe |
MD5: | ac4eb2475fc9516c5c7855487ed2ff07 |
Additional files:
-
AppsteinUninstall.exe
-
updateAppstein.exe
Behaviors exhibited
Service
- updateAppstein.exe runs as a service named 'Update Appstein' (Update Appstein).
How do I remove Appstein?
You can uninstall Appstein 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 Appstein, 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 Appstein.
- If for some reason uninstallation fails, please install Microsoft's uninstall fixer utility which will help fix problems with programs that can't be uninstalled at support.microsoft.com.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 50%
Win 10 50%
|
|
HOW IT RUNS
Windows Service? Yes
(Installs a service)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
|
Uninstall it 82%
Keep it 18%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
50.00% |
|
Windows 10 |
50.00% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Home Premium |
50.00% |
|
Windows 8.1 |
25.00% |
|
Windows 8 Single Language |
12.50% |
|
Windows 10 Home |
12.50% |
|
Geography
90.91% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
90.91% |
Saudi Arabia |
4.55% |
Malaysia |
4.55% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
42.86% |
|
Acer |
28.57% |
|
Samsung |
14.29% |
|
ASUS |
14.29% |
|
Common models |
HP 2000 Notebook PC |
25.00% |
|
Samsung RV411/RV511/E3511... |
12.50% |
|
Hewlett-Packard 500-310t |
12.50% |
|
HP-Pavilion NY604AA-ABA 3... |
12.50% |
|
Gateway ZX4970 |
12.50% |
|
ASUSTeK S550CB |
12.50% |
|
About Yontoo Technology
Yontoo, a subsidiary/alias of ad-hijacker Sambreel, is a publisher of ad-supported web browser extensions designed to inject and display advertisements within the browser.
Publisher URL: www.yontoo.com