84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Settings Manager?

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 #10,190
United States Rank #12,649
Reach 0.0352%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 4.42 days
130.34 days >
Average installed length: 68.48 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
5.0.0.11471 95.24%
5.0.0.11111 3.17%
5.0.0.10572 1.59%

Other programs by Aztec Media

Settings Manager

What is Settings Manager?

This is a web browser search and home page modifier (hijacker) application that is designed to install a browser add-on and modify the browsers settings in order to direct search revenue. By default the program will change the search provider to default-search.net and is part of the Linkey add-on and extension via the Linkeyproject.com. The software will run in the background and attempt to protect (prevent) other software from modifying the browser's home and search pages.

The program which is bundled with Linkey is often installed through third-party distribution deals using download manager such as Softonic.

Overview

The most common release is 5.0.0.11471, 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 SystemkService.exe. A majority of users end up uninstalling this less than a week of it being installed. The setup package generally installs about 27 files and is usually about 20.58 MB (21,576,090 bytes).
  • Malware detected in the program
  • Adds a background Windows Service
  • Delivered through a thrid-party offer
  • 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 Settings Manager.
SystemkService.exe (c27e6e2683138b6018db33ed845783df) has been flagged by the following 27 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareVersionDetection
Lavasoft Ad-Aware 912 Adware.Agent.OGE
Agnitum Outpost 7.1.1 PUA.Toolbar.SearchSuite
Antiy-AVL 1.0.0.1 RiskWare[WebToolbar:not-a-virus]/Win64.SearchSuite
avast! 2014.9-140807 Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]
AVG 2015.0.3390 Toolbar.SearchSuite
Baidu-International 4.0.3.1487 Adware.Win32.SearchSuite.45
Bitdefender 1.0.20.1095 Adware.Agent.OGE
CAT-QuickHeal 8.14.14.00 WebToolbar.Win64.g6 (Not a Virus)
Emsisoft Anti-Malware 8.14.08.07.06 Adware.Agent.OGE
ESET-NOD32 8.10216 probably a variant of Win32/Toolbar.SearchSuite.D
Fortinet FortiGate 8/7/2014 Riskware/Win64_SearchSuite
F-Prot v6.4.7.1.166 W32/SearchSuite.A.gen
F-Secure 11.2014-07-08_5 Adware.Agent.OGE
G Data 14.8.24 Adware.Agent.OGE
IKARUS anti.virus t3scan.1.6.1.0 PUA.Toolbar.SearchSuite
K7 AntiVirus 13.182.12966 Trojan
K7GW 13.182.12966 Trojan ( 0049c77d1 )
Kaspersky 14.0.0.3444 not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win64.SearchSuite
Malwarebytes v2014.08.07.06 PUP.Optional.SystemK.A
McAfee 5600.7046 Artemis!C27E6E268313
McAfee-GW-Edition 7.7046 Artemis!C27E6E268313
MicroWorld-eScan 15.0.0.657 Adware.Agent.OGE
nProtect 14.08.06.01 Adware.Agent.OGE
Qihoo-360 1.0.0.1015 Win32/Virus.WebToolbar.d3d
Sophos 4.98 SearchSuite
Symantec 8/7/2014 rev. 5 Trojan.Semnager
TrendMicro-HouseCall 7.2.219 Suspicious_GEN.F47V0710
OldCoordinator_nsd5123.exe (2c8d11ecf064685ebc4d351fa4349c91) has been flagged by the following 26 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Lavasoft Ad-Aware 12.0.163.0 Adware.SearchSuite.A
Agnitum Outpost 5.5.1.3 PUA.Toolbar.SearchSuite!
AVG 14.0.0.3964 Toolbar.SearchSuite
Baidu-International 3.5.1.41473 Adware.Win32.SearchSuite.BD
Bitdefender 7.2 Adware.SearchSuite.A
CAT-QuickHeal 14.00 WebToolbar.Win64.g6 (Not a Virus)
Emsisoft Anti-Malware 3.0.0.599 Adware.SearchSuite.A (B)
ESET-NOD32 9957 a variant of Win32/Toolbar.SearchSuite.D
Fortinet FortiGate 5.1.152.0 Riskware/Toolbar_SearchSuite
F-Secure 11.0.19100.45 Adware.SearchSuite.A
G Data 24 Adware.SearchSuite.A
IKARUS anti.virus T3.1.6.1.0 PUA.Toolbar
Kaspersky 12.0.0.1225 not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win64.SearchSuite.e
Malwarebytes 1.75.0.1 PUP.Optional.SystemK.A
McAfee 6.0.4.564 Generic PUP.y
McAfee-GW-Edition 2013 Generic PUP.y
MicroWorld-eScan 12.0.250.0 Adware.SearchSuite.A
Panda Antivirus 10.0.3.5 Trj/OCJ.F
Qihoo-360 1.0.0.1015 Win32/Virus.WebToolbar.ed4
Sophos 4.98.0 SearchSuite
Symantec 20131.1.5.61 Trojan.ADH.2
Trend Micro 9.740.0.1012 ADW_SEARCHSUITE
TrendMicro-HouseCall 9.700.0.1001 ADW_SEARCHSUITE
Vba32 AntiVirus 3.12.26.0 AdWare.Agent
VIPRE Antivirus 30356 Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT
ViRobot 2011.4.7.4223 Adware.Agent.3543056
OldCoordinator_nshB58F.exe (13ccd876b367c0f7935d4894c5239e5c) has been flagged by the following 19 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Agnitum Outpost 5.5.1.3 PUA.Toolbar.SearchSuite!
Antiy-AVL 1.0.0.1 RiskWare[WebToolbar:not-a-virus]/Win64.SearchSuite
AVG 14.0.0.3986 Toolbar.SearchSuite
Baidu-International 3.5.1.41473 PUA.Win32.SearchSuite.BD
ESET-NOD32 10212 probably a variant of Win32/Toolbar.SearchSuite.D
Fortinet FortiGate 5.1.152.0 Riskware/Win64_SearchSuite
F-Prot 4.7.1.166 W32/SearchSuite.A.gen!Eldorado
G Data 24 Win32.Application.Searchsuite.C
IKARUS anti.virus T3.1.6.1.0 PUA.Toolbar.SearchSuite
K7 AntiVirus 9.182.12966 Trojan ( 0049c77d1 )
K7GW 9.182.12966 Trojan ( 0049c77d1 )
Kaspersky 12.0.0.1225 not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win64.SearchSuite.e
Kingsoft AntiVirus 2013.4.9.267 Win32.Troj.Generic.a.(kcloud)
Malwarebytes 1.75.0.1 PUP.Optional.SystemK.A
McAfee 6.0.4.564 Artemis!13CCD876B367
McAfee-GW-Edition 2013.2 Artemis!13CCD876B367
Qihoo-360 1.0.0.1015 Win32/Virus.WebToolbar.d3d
Sophos 4.98.0 SearchSuite
TrendMicro-HouseCall 9.700.0.1001 Suspicious_GEN.F47V0708
       View all 72 all detections
Settings Manager 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

URL: www.linkeyproject.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\settings manager\systemk
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Settings Manager\systemk\Uninstall.exe /browser=all
Estimated size: 20.58 MB

Program filesFiles installed by Settings Manager

Program executable:SystemkService.exe
Name:Systemk Service
Path:C:\Program Files\settings manager\systemk\SystemkService.exe
MD5:42dcd9fd6bf4fc8bddfbfb7630e560b3
Additional files:
  • del_IEBHO_nsrA5E8.dll - Systemkbho Module (systemkbho)
  • systemkbho.dll
  • (Malware detected) OldCoordinator_nsd5123.exe - Systemk Service
  • (Malware detected) OldCoordinator_nshB58F.exe
  • (Malware detected) SystemkService.exe
  • tbicon.exe - SettingsManager (Browse and Search the Internet)
  • Uninstall.exe - Settings Manager Uninstall
  • del_DM_DLL_nsrA5E8.dll - SystemK Module
  • del_DM_EXE_nsq12.exe
  • smdmf.dll
  • systemk.dll
  • systemku.exe
  • Helper.dll
  • Internet Explorer Settings.exe
  • sysapcrt.dll
  • syskldr.dll
  • syskldr_u.dll
  • systemkChrome.dll

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

2 Services
  • SystemkService.exe runs as a service named 'Systemk Service2' (SystemkService2) "Serving SystemK modules functionality".
  • OldCoordinator_nshB58F.exe runs as a service named 'Systemk Service' (SystemkService) "Serving SystemK modules functionality".

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

SystemkService.exe
Memory:2.45 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0026440899%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00172419%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00091990%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:5,202,223
8,062,084 average
Switches/sec:15
70 average
I/O reads/min:602 Bytes
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:403 Bytes
105.02 KB average
systemku.exe
Memory:1.87 MB
Total CPU:0.0052445506%
Kernel CPU:0.00242056%
User CPU:0.00282399%
CPU cycles/sec:228,284
I/O reads/min:15.83 KB
I/O writes/min:367 Bytes

How do I remove Settings Manager?

You can uninstall Settings Manager 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 Settings Manager, 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 Settings Manager.
  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.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 42%
Win 7 0%
  
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 52.09%
Windows 10 33.48%
Windows XP 10.53%
Windows Vista 3.90%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 19.48%
Windows 7 Ultimate 19.04%
Windows 8.1 12.94%
Microsoft Windows XP 10.47%
Windows 7 Professional 9.59%
Windows 8 6.25%

Distribution by countryGeography

34.54% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 34.54%
  MA 5.06%
  India 4.34%
  United Kingdom 3.61%
  Italy 3.47%
  Saudi Arabia 3.32%
  Egypt 2.60%
  Australia 2.17%
  Netherlands 2.17%
  Brazil 1.73%
  Romania 1.73%
  Belgium 1.45%
  Philippines 1.45%
  Mexico 1.30%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 29.16%
Dell 17.45%
Acer 15.81%
ASUS 10.06%
Toshiba 9.45%
GIGABYTE 5.75%
Samsung 3.90%
Lenovo 3.70%
Intel 2.26%
American Megatrends 1.23%
Sahara 1.23%
Common models
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... 4.72%
HP 2000 Notebook PC 4.25%
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 4.25%
Dell Inspiron 3521 3.77%
HP Pavilion 15 Notebook P... 3.77%
HP Pavilion DV7 Notebook ... 2.83%

comments4 comments

user comment
user comment
Greece•over a year ago
But how do we completely remove it? The files it installed are still on my program files? How do I erase them completely?
user comment
DidRemoveItHereandThanks•over a year ago
I USED: CCleaner by Piriform to uninstall SETTINGS MANAGER and that worked (I use Win7 Pro)....I use Piriform FREE installed programs to keep my systems under control - I then ran my anti-virus program again and it seems that ALL problems have been taken care of with no lingering effects. I also came back and used Microsoft Security Essentials and all is well. THANK YOU FOR THIS INFO PAGE.....
user comment
azm•over a year ago
Aztec Media Corp. is not responsible for this virus. We have received several complaints from users about this. IT'S NOT US! We don't write software, we build websites, produce videos, and do graphic design. Please spread the word that it is Aztec Media INC, not Aztec Media CORP. Thanks!
user comment
GFS•over a year ago
My Uninstall program (Windows 7) will not uninstall Settings Manager
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