Should I remove Linkey?

Lifespan of installation (until removal)

Versions

Version	Distribution
0.0.0.1753	2.69%
0.0.0.1651	0.35%
0.0.0.1487	0.70%
0.0.0.1207	0.58%
0.0.0.1166	0.74%
0.0.0.1113	0.80%
0.0.0.599	12.12%
0.0.0.517	19.20%
0.0.0.491	1.07%
0.0.0.480	11.52%
0.0.0.469	10.96%
0.0.0.449	3.78%
0.0.0.436	4.41%
0.0.0.431	11.25%
0.0.0.343	2.61%
0.0.0.333	15.81%
0.0.0.256	1.29%
0.0.0.90	0.12%

Other programs by Aztec Media

• Settings Manager
• Assets Manager

Rankings

• #2,404 ArcSoft MediaImpression 2
• #2,405 WOT for Internet Explorer by WOT Services
• #2,406 Garmin POI Loader
• #2,407 Configuration DivX
• #2,408 QuickSet by Dell
• #2,409 Linkey by Aztec Media
• #2,410 NVIDIA GeForce Experience 1.5
• #2,411 HP DVD Play 3.7 by Hewlett-Packard
• #2,412 Centre Souris et Claviers Microsoft
• #2,413 Move Media Player by Move Networks
• #2,414 Freemake Audio Converter version 1.1.0 by Ellora Assets

from Aztec Media Inc.

Remove Linkey by Aztec Media

Linkey is a potentially unwanted web browser search extension for the top browsers and designed to modify the user's search and home pages (www.default-search.com or www.linkeyproject.com/app/) in order to direct advertising via the linkeyproject.com portal. Linkey also displays links to popular sites in various categories in the browser.

Linkey is downloadable through its website or bundled and distributed through 3rd party download managers (which typically distributed a different version then the one available for direct download and may include the Settings Manager PUP).

The program will include the Linkey Deals (it drops the LinkeyDeals.exe installer in the folder) product in addition to the browser extensions. Linkey Deals is a potentially unwanted program.

What it does (standard version):
- Adds a shortcut quick launch icon to the Windows Taskbar.
- Adds an extension button to Chrome.
- Adds a shortcut to the user's desktop
- Changes the browser's default search provider and start page.
- Connects to the domains www.mlstat.com and service.linkeyproject.com to send statistics.

Settings Manager version (typically distributed through install managers):
- Adds a 'protected' directory called Settings Manager which includes various utilities to modify and manage the web browser settings (3p distributed version).
- Uses the Ask.com IE Settings hook executable designed to modify the standard Internet Explorer default search change waning dialog (3p distributed version).
- Distributes and runs a Kernel-mode driver (smdmfmgrc2.cfg) which protects the Settings Manager/Linkey distributed files from being killed, disabled and removed (3p distributed version).

Displayed publisher: Aztec Media Inc

URL: linkeyproject.com

Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Linkey

Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\Linkey\uninstall.exe"

Estimated size: 2.54 MB

1. 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.
2. When you find the program Linkey, 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).
3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Linkey.
4. 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.

1. Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
2. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
3. The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
2. To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
3. When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.

1. Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
2. Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
3. When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
4. Restart Google Chrome.

OS VERSIONS Win 7 (SP1) 42% Win 7 0%

USER ACTIONS Uninstall it 81% Keep it 19%

GLOBAL RANK #2,409

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?

United States	30.29%
MA	4.41%
India	3.78%
DZ	3.11%
United Kingdom	2.84%
Italy	2.84%
France	2.51%
Saudi Arabia	2.44%
Germany	2.20%
Philippines	2.17%
Canada	2.08%
Egypt	2.06%
Belgium	1.95%
Netherlands	1.75%

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?

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