Should I remove Consumer Input?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
61% remove it39% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #4,540
United States Rank #2,005
Reach 0.1160%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 6.68 days
196.96 days >
Average installed length: 103.48 days
Other programs by Compete
Rankings
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- #4,537 RTC Client API v1.2 by Microsoft
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- #4,539 Lexware online banking by Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co.KG
- #4,540 Consumer Input by Compete
- #4,541 Nero OEM by Nero AG
- #4,542 Inkjet Printer/Scanner Extended Survey Program by Canon
- #4,543 Call of Duty: Black Ops II by TreyArch
- #4,544 PC Data App by Adware.BitCoinMiner
- #4,545 Microsoft Default Manager
Consumer Input
What is Consumer Input?
Consumer Input is the collection and analytics software for Compete.com statistics for Microsoft Internet Explorer. Compete.com is a web traffic analysis service that publishes the approximate number of global visitors to the top web sites in the world. This number is computed from sources including internet service providers, opt-in panels, application providers, and users of the Compete toolbar. The software is typically bundled with various 3rd party software as an extra offer. It installed an extension in the user's web browser to track the user's habits. Such inadvertently collected information may have been transmitted to Compete, however, Compete did not knowingly use any such inadvertently collected information in its services. Since that time Compete has made significant improvements to our software and has removed all such inadvertently collected information from our database that our algorithms have identified.
Overview
Upon installation, it defines an auto-start registry entry which allows the program run on each boot for the user which installed it. 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 main program executable is dca-monitoring.exe. A vast majority of those who have this installed end up removing it just after a couple weeks. The software installer includes 55 files and is usually about 8.58 MB (8,992,007 bytes). ConsumerInputUpdate.exe is the automatic update component of the software designed to download and apply new updates should new versions be released.
- Possible malware installed by this program
- Starts automatically
- Loads into the web browser
- Adds a background Windows Service
- Many experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Consumer Input.
| ConsumerInputUpdate.exe (96b43a7bddeee7df98983b886de56dc7) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
| Malwarebytes |
v2014.04.23.12 |
PUP.Optional.ConsumerInput.A |
| Rising Antivirus |
23.00.65.14421 |
PE:Trojan.GenericKDV!6.B5C |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
7.2.113 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0312 |
| dca-monitoring.exe (ec4025f6b4b73e6a4d8bea6c5fec6101) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| AVware |
1.5.0.21 |
Compete (fs) |
| Symantec |
20141.1.0.330 |
Infostealer.Consmiper |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
34514 |
Compete (fs) |
Program details
URL: www.consumerinput.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Consumer Input
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\Consumer Input\CIuninstall.exe"
Estimated size: 8.58 MB
Files installed by Consumer Input
| Program executable: | dca-monitoring.exe |
| Name: | Compete DCA Monitoring Tool |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\Consumer Input\Monitoring\dca-monitoring.exe |
| MD5: | 3e6655207834e0e7f6099510909d9294 |
Additional files:
-
CIuninstall.exe
-
uninstall.exe
-
dca-bho.dll - Compete DCA (Compete DCA Browser Helper Object)
-
cpturlpassthru.dll - Compete CptUrlPassthru.dll
-
cinm-host.exe - Compete DCA Monitoring Tool
-
cookie-retriever.exe - Compete Cookie Retriever
-
dca-host.exe - Compete DCA Host
-
logger.dll - Compete DCA SDK DLL
-
ConsumerInputDiagnosticTool.exe - Consumer Input Diagnostic Tool
-
dca-api.dll - Compete DCA API DLL
-
dca-ua.exe
-
(Malware detected) ConsumerInputUpdate.exe (by ConsumerInput) - ConsumerInput Update
-
cicr-3.1.1-1094.exe
-
cicr-3.2.0-649.exe
-
cicr-3.2.0-714.exe
-
ciff-3.1.0-309.exe
-
ciff-3.2.0-651.exe
-
ciff-3.2.0-695.exe
-
ciff-3.2.0-713.exe
-
ciff-3.2.0-749.exe
-
ciie-2.7.2-9012.exe
-
ciie-2.7.2-9014.exe
-
ciie-3.2.0-11956.exe
-
ciie-3.2.0-12007.exe
-
ciie-3.2.0-12082.exe
-
ConsumerInputUpdateBroker.exe (by ConsumerInput)
-
ConsumerInputUpdateOnDemand.exe
-
ConsumerInputUpdateSetup.exe - ConsumerInput Update Setup
-
goopdate.dll
-
goopdateres_de.dll - ConsumerInput Update Resource DLL
-
goopdateres_en.dll
-
goopdateres_es.dll
-
goopdateres_es-419.dll
-
goopdateres_fr.dll
-
goopdateres_ja.dll
-
goopdateres_zh-CN.dll
-
log4cxx.dll (by Apache Software Foundation) - Apache log4cxx
-
MockCIIE.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-348.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-361.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-401.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-572.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-606.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-607.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-651.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-665.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-712.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-820.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-888.exe
-
MonitoringTool-3.2.1-951.exe
-
mozjs185-1.0.dll
-
psmachine.dll
-
psuser.dll
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- dca-bho.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Consumer Input DCA BHO' with the class of {B49699FC-1665-4414-A1CB-C4A2A4A13EEC} (DCA).
3 Scheduled Tasks
- dca-monitoring.exe is scheduled as a task named 'CIMT_S-1-5-21-2730867797-2835857218-3356867553-1001' (runs daily at 9:34 AM).
- ConsumerInputUpdate.exe is scheduled as a task named 'ConsumerInputUpdateTaskMachineUA' (runs daily at 2:59 PM).
- dca-ua.exe is scheduled as a task named 'CI_DCA_UA{C3717BD3-6AC2-4dcd-83DE-F865C33AC5D9}' (runs daily at 17:28).
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
- ConsumerInputUpdate.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named ConsumerInputUpdateTaskMachineCore.
Service
- ConsumerInputUpdate.exe runs as a service named 'ConsumerInput Update Service (consumerinput_updatem)' (consumerinput_updatem) "Keeps your ConsumerInput software up to date. If this service is disabled or stopped, your ConsumerInput software will not be kept up to date, meaning security vulnerabilities that may arise cannot be fixed and features may not work. This service uninstalls itself when there is no ConsumerInput software using it.".
Startup File (User Run)
- dca-ua.exe is loaded in the current user (HKCU) registry as an auto-starting executable named 'Consumer Input Update' and executes as C:\Program Files\Consumer Input\InternetExplorer\dca-ua.exe.
How do I remove Consumer Input?
You can uninstall Consumer Input 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 Consumer Input (remove only), 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 Consumer Input.
- 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 Consumer Input 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) 45%
Win 10 0%
|
|
WHEN IT STARTS
Auto-starting? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 61%
Keep it 39%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
47.29% |
|
| Windows 10 |
45.33% |
|
| Windows Vista |
5.50% |
|
| Windows XP |
1.88% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
34.04% |
|
| Windows 8.1 |
24.90% |
|
| Windows 8 |
8.43% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
6.76% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
5.14% |
|
| Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
4.48% |
|
Geography
98.38% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
98.38% |
| Iran |
0.29% |
| United Kingdom |
0.18% |
| Canada |
0.13% |
| Saudi Arabia |
0.13% |
| Germany |
0.08% |
| Egypt |
0.08% |
| Italy |
0.08% |
| Brazil |
0.05% |
| France |
0.05% |
| PR |
0.05% |
| AF |
0.03% |
| Argentina |
0.03% |
| BD |
0.03% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Hewlett-Packard |
39.34% |
|
| Dell |
26.12% |
|
| Toshiba |
11.08% |
|
| Acer |
10.23% |
|
| ASUS |
5.94% |
|
| Lenovo |
3.79% |
|
| Samsung |
1.53% |
|
| GIGABYTE |
0.90% |
|
| Intel |
0.68% |
|
| Alienware |
0.40% |
|
Common models |
| HP 2000 Notebook PC |
8.37% |
|
| HP 15 Notebook PC |
5.58% |
|
| HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... |
3.79% |
|
| HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... |
3.46% |
|
| HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... |
3.01% |
|
| HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... |
2.79% |
|
About Compete
Compete is a web traffic analytics service which operates in the US and publishes the approximate number of visitors to the top web sites in the United States and the world.
Publisher URL: www.compete.com