84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Web Assistant?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
80% remove it20% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Bad
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #22,066
United States Rank #23,064
Reach 0.0090%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 195.51 days
1176.87 days >
Average installed length: 618.35 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
2.0.0.485 100.00%

Other programs by Perion Network

Web Assistant 2.0.0.485

What is Web Assistant?

Web Assistant installs into the IE and Firefox web browsers and provides advertisier supported searchs that changes and redircts default search results as well as DNS errors. Web Assistant becomes the browser's default search provider which changes all search requests as well as tracks your Internet surfing behavior in order display targeted advertising.

About  (from Perion Network)

Connect with YouTube in a click and watch popular videos anytime and from anywhere on the web. Wondering whether to wear galoshes or flip-flops? Get current weather reports and forecasts in just a click. Find what you need in just a click. Just type the word in the handy Search box and find exactly what you want. "Even...  Read more

Overview

During setup, the program registers itself to launch on boot through a Windows Schedule Task in order to automatically start-up (this is typically done to avoid any UAC prompts). 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. It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. 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 primary executable is named Extension32.dll. A majority of users end up uninstalling this less than a week of it being installed. The setup package generally installs about 6 files and is usually about 2.13 MB (2,231,992 bytes). The installed file ExtensionUpdaterService.exe is the auto-update component of the program which is designed to check for software updates and notify and apply them when new versions are discovered.
  • Malware detected in the program
  • Automatically starts with Windows
  • Integrates into the web browser
  • Installs a Windows Service
  • Known to reinstall itself
  • Typically distributed through a pay-per-install bundle
  • Hijacks the browser's default search provider
  • The experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Web Assistant.
ExtensionUpdaterService.exe (2e61503cbfec0d6c81dfaf1337930d22) has been flagged by the following 8 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareVersionDetection
Antiy-AVL 2.0.3.7 Trojan/Win32.Agent
Bkav FE 1.3.0.4613 W32.Clodad7.Trojan
ESET-NOD32 8.9249 a variant of Win32/Toolbar.BitCocktail.B
K7 AntiVirus 13.175.10735 Unwanted-Program
K7GW 13.175.10735 Unwanted-Program ( 00454f261 )
Malwarebytes v2014.01.09.03 PUP.Optional.SweetPacks.A
Sophos 4.96 BitCocktail
ViRobot 2011.4.7.4223 Trojan.Win32.A.Agent.188760
DGChrome.exe (b742c116da61626fdee975b78d3b4a60) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
AVware 1.5.0.21 BitCocktail
ESET-NOD32 11462 a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Perion.J potentially unwanted
TrendMicro-HouseCall 9.700.0.1001 Suspicious_GEN.F47V0305
VIPRE Antivirus 39276 BitCocktail (not malicious)
Extension32.dll (45987e9d47bfc3775681041f7b048178) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
ESET-NOD32 8943 a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Perion.A
Kingsoft AntiVirus 2013.4.9.267 Win32.Troj.Generic.a.(kcloud)
Sophos 4.93.0 BitCocktail
       View all 15 all detections
Web Assistant has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.

Program detailsProgram details

Displayed publisher: IncrediBar
URL: www.incredibar.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Web Assistant\
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\Web Assistant\unins000.exe"
Estimated size: 2.13 MB

Program filesFiles installed by Web Assistant 2.0.0.485

Program module:Extension32.dll
Signed by:Bit Cocktail Ltd.
Path:C:\Program Files\Web Assistant\Extension32.dll
MD5:b9e9070e1006c43f7aa5989c3ee37ff5
extension32.dll is a web browser extension that is installed with all Bit Cocktail toolbar products.
Additional files:
  • Extension32.dll
  • Extension64.dll
  • (Malware detected) ExtensionUpdaterService.exe
  • InstallerHelper.dll
  • (Malware detected) DGChrome.exe - dgchrome
  • unins000.exe - Setup/Uninstall

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

2 Internet Explorer BHOs
  • Extension64.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Web Assistant' with the class of {336D0C35-8A85-403a-B9D2-65C292C39087} (Web Assistant Helper).
  • Extension32.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Web Assistant' with the class of {336D0C35-8A85-403a-B9D2-65C292C39087} (Web Assistant Helper).
2 Scheduled Tasks
  • unins000.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{83F493FF-E35C-4B6F-B50E-A8464A53EAD7}' (runs on registration).
  • DGChrome.exe is scheduled as a task named 'DGChrome27902 Watcher'.
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
  • DGChrome.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named DGChrome27750 Watcher.
Service
  • ExtensionUpdaterService.exe runs as a service named 'IB Updater Updater' (IB Updater Updater).

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

ExtensionUpdaterService.exe
Memory:9.14 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0013190738%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00090722%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00041186%
0.015104% average
Switches/sec:8
70 average

How do I remove Web Assistant?

You can uninstall Web Assistant from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
  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 Web Assistant 2.0.0.485, 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 Web Assistant.
  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.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Web Assistant 2.0.0.485 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 64%
Win Vista 1%
 
HOW IT RUNS
Windows Service? Yes
(Installs a service)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 80%
Keep it 20%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 73.45%
Windows Vista 16.38%
Windows XP 7.34%
Windows 10 2.82%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 43.18%
Windows 7 Ultimate 16.48%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 14.20%
Windows 7 Professional 7.95%
Microsoft Windows XP 7.39%
Windows 7 Starter 1.70%

Distribution by countryGeography

37.02% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 37.02%
  Germany 11.06%
  France 4.81%
  Iran 3.85%
  United Kingdom 3.85%
  Spain 3.37%
  Italy 3.37%
  Brazil 2.88%
  Canada 2.88%
  Sweden 2.40%
  India 2.40%
  Belgium 1.92%
  Netherlands 1.44%
  Hungary 1.44%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 27.59%
Acer 24.14%
Dell 19.83%
Toshiba 6.03%
GIGABYTE 5.17%
Samsung 4.31%
ASUS 3.45%
Sony 3.45%
American Megatrends 2.59%
Lenovo 2.59%
MSI 0.86%
Common models
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 4.13%
HP ProBook 4530s 2.48%
HP Pavilion dv5 Notebook ... 2.48%
Dell Inspiron N5110 2.48%
Acer Aspire 5315 1.65%
Dell Inspiron 580 1.65%

About Perion Network

Perion Network, formerly IncrediMail, is a consumer software company that develops programs to "make people's online experience simple, safe and enjoyable".
Publisher URL: www.perion.com

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