Description

IGetNet is an Internet Explorer browser hijacker with a twist. When you enter a search into your address bar, the agent will check to see if your system includes a keyword that the agent's owner has sold to an advertiser. If there is a match, it will redirect you to that site. Otherwise, it will return the legitimate search site hits, so you won't notice the difference. The most common sources of infection are P2P applications and software downloaded from Blue Haven Media. It is also installed by adware such as vCatch and FavoriteMan.

How To Tell If IGetNet Is On Your PC

If IGetNet is running, you will be unable to contact either auto.search.msn.com or

search.netscape.com. If you enter either address or ieautosearch in the Address field, you will be

sent to www.igetnet.com. If you have the most recent variant, you'll also see the text "Enter Keyword or Web Address here" in the Address field.

How To Get Rid Of IGetNet

Several anti-spyware programs will detect and remove IGetNet, including CA's eTrust PestPatrol ($39.95).

1) Purchase and download PestPatrol here: www.pestpatrol.com.

2) After downloading, double-click on the installer to install the program on your hard drive.

3) Double-click the Pest Patrol icon to open the program. This brings you to the main screen.

4) Click Scan, select Standard Scan, then click the Scan Now button. PestPatrol will begin scanning the areas of your system in which malware agents most often reside.

5) When the scan has finished, the scan window will list all the pests detected. Look through the list to see if there are any cookies or other legitimate files that you don't want to quarantine or scan for in the future. If there are, put a check in the box next to them and click Exclude Checked Pests. Otherwise, click Quarantine All Pests. Once the process is complete, click Close.

6) Pest Patrol first quarantines the pest files it finds in case you discover that something the file thought was malware was instead something that you want to keep. You then have the option to delete the files completely.

7) To delete IGetNet, click Advanced Settings from the main PestPatrol screen. Under the Manage heading, select Quarantined Pests. Find IGetNet in the list and put a check in the box. Click Delete.

8) Exit PestPatrol and reboot your computer. Start IE and reset your Web settings by clicking Tools, Reset Web Settings.

WARNING: The following section includes step-by-step information on how to edit the Windows Registry, a large database containing system and program settings that are essential to how the OS (operating system) operates. Follow Registry-editing instructions to the letter and be sure to make a backup of your Registry before you begin. (Registry errors can render your computer inoperable if you don't have a backup.) This procedure differs depending on the OS you use. For more information on backing up and editing the Registry, see these articles: "Protect Yourself" and "Register Here."

Manual Removal:

For advanced users, CA also offers manual removal instructions. Because of their complexity and length, we'll refer you to CA's link at www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453066943.