Should I remove Software Protocol?

Lifespan of installation (until removal)

Versions

Version	Distribution
1.0.0.0	100.00%

Remove Software Protocol

Identified as a version of the CMI/ConvertAd family of malware ad-injectors, this adware which is typically bundled with third-party applications in unwanted software bundles will hijack the user's browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox) and display unwanted ads. When running, the process will monitor and capture internet traffic and insert advertisements over existing ads or by placing new ads in white space. In either case, these ads are low in quality and even dangerous in many cases as they might be infected with malware javascript (malvertising). In addition to displaying these unwanted ads, the software runs as startup in the local application data via a registry run key and sends commands to the controlling server to request new ads based on the context of what the user is doing. This action will also report back to the server what domains the user visits, what URLs they enter as well as in some cases might send back cookies. If the sites visited are not SSL encrypted passwords and usernames might be sent to the server compromising the privacy and security of the user.

The primary executable is named pnse22bd.exe. A majority of users end up uninstalling this less than a week of it being installed. The setup package generally installs about 5 files and is usually about 1.01 MB (1,054,464 bytes).

Installation folder: C:\users\user\appdata\local\e40044ac-1431280269-b261-ce91-c88c9f59eb1b

Uninstaller: C:\users\user\appdata\Local\E40044AC-1431280269-B261-CE91-C88C9F59EB1B\Uninstall.exe

Estimated size: 1.01 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 Software Protocol, 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 Software Protocol.
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 10 57% Win 7 7%

USER ACTIONS Uninstall it 75% Keep it 25%

AVERAGE INSTALL LIFESPAN 51.78 Days

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?

United States	50.00%
France	11.11%
Russia	11.11%
Brazil	5.56%
Indonesia	5.56%
Germany	5.56%
Canada	5.56%
Italy	5.56%

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?

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