Should I remove Linkey?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
81% remove it19% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #2,409
United States Rank #3,667
Reach 0.2603%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 22.25 days
656.38 days >
Average installed length: 344.88 days
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
Rankings
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- #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
Linkey
from Aztec Media Inc.
What is Linkey?
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).
About (from Aztec Media)
Linkey is compatible with all the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox. Linkey is a simple browser extension that allows you to get the best sites in one click in visualized & friendly interface. You'll easily find top sites from your country or in various popular categories. Linkey is a simple but ... Read more
Overview
- Possible malware installed by this program
- Loads into the web browser
- Typically distributed through a pay-per-install bundle
- Hijacks the web browser's home page
- Hijacks the browser's default search provider
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Linkey.
iedll.dll (ef59c03f16e925814492429833337c7a) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
Baidu-International |
4.0.3.14530 |
Adware.Win32.SearchSuite.BQ |
G Data |
14.5.24 |
Win32.Application.AztecSystemK |
Malwarebytes |
v2014.05.30.04 |
PUP.Optional.Linkey.A |
Uninstall.exe (433a2bad78e085ec37e406abfc337fef) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
Baidu-International |
3.5.1.41473 |
Adware.Win32.SearchSuite.BQ |
G Data |
24 |
Win32.Application.AztecSystemK.A |
Malwarebytes |
1.75.0001 |
PUP.Optional.Linkey.A |
Linkey 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: Aztec Media Inc
URL: linkeyproject.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Linkey
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\Linkey\uninstall.exe"
Estimated size: 2.54 MB
Files installed by Linkey
Program module: | iedll.dll (Malware detected) |
Name: | Linkey |
Path: | C:\Program Files\Linkey\IEExtension\iedll.dll |
MD5: | ef59c03f16e925814492429833337c7a |
Additional files:
-
(Malware detected) Uninstall.exe - Linkey (Linkey - Uninstall)
-
iedll64.dll
-
Helper.dll
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- iedll.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Linkey' with the class of {4D9101D6-5BA0-4048-BDDE-7E2DF54C8C47}.
Scheduled Task
- Uninstall.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{E6AA7D94-C1F4-4458-92CF-D0418A0E8E34}' (runs on registration).
How do I remove Linkey?
You can uninstall Linkey 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 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).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Linkey.
- 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.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Linkey you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- 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.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- 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.
- 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.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 42%
Win 7 0%
|
|
USER ACTIONS
|
Uninstall it 81%
Keep it 19%
|
|
|
GLOBAL RANK
#2,409
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
51.70% |
|
Windows 10 |
35.95% |
|
Windows XP |
8.55% |
|
Windows Vista |
3.78% |
|
Windows Server 2003 |
0.02% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Ultimate |
19.79% |
|
Windows 7 Home Premium |
16.74% |
|
Windows 8.1 |
14.45% |
|
Windows 7 Professional |
10.87% |
|
Microsoft Windows XP |
8.44% |
|
Windows 8.1 Pro |
5.42% |
|
Geography
30.29% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
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% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
30.52% |
|
Dell |
18.38% |
|
Acer |
18.04% |
|
ASUS |
8.89% |
|
Toshiba |
7.83% |
|
Lenovo |
4.52% |
|
Samsung |
4.17% |
|
GIGABYTE |
3.65% |
|
Intel |
2.07% |
|
American Megatrends |
1.27% |
|
Sahara |
0.66% |
|
Common models |
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... |
7.01% |
|
Dell Inspiron 3521 |
4.19% |
|
HP Pavilion 15 Notebook P... |
3.95% |
|
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... |
3.87% |
|
HP 2000 Notebook PC |
3.79% |
|
HP 15 Notebook PC |
3.46% |
|