Stealth Keylogger

I recently purchased a new laptop and would like to keep it as clean and as safe as possible. So I've downloaded Spybot Search & Destroy and other programs. I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium.

Having run Spybot Search & Destroy, I came across something called "Stealth Keylogger". Strange thing is that you can actually download this from cnet willingly. Is it a case that the keylogger came preinstalled on my laptop?

For some reason, Spybot won't fix it because it is currently running in the Windows Registry, and won't remove it on restart (like it said it would). So how can I remove it manually and how much of a risk is it?

Verres

How much a a risk depends on a) if it's actually working to collect data and b) what it's doing with the data it's capturing.

As a rule of thumb I always wipe & rebuild a new computer when I get it. That way I know what's on it and why. As well as the obvious security benefits, it also gets rid of the tons of bloatware and allows you to get your PC just the way you want it.

Edit - the main problem with the manual removal of any malware is that you can never be 100% sure that it's gone. If you want to manually uninstall the program in question, (although I am not familiar with this particular package) the best bet would be to download and install the full "Stealth Keylogger" from cnet, and then run the uninstaller. Then run Spybot S&D to make sure it's gone. Then run Ccleaner to tidy up your registry. But as per the above - if you've ever been infected with malware, a wipe & rebuild is the quickest, easiest and most secure option.

kerash

I got Stealth Keylogger reported when I ran spybot, I chose to fix the issue - how did this get on my laptop? and what's the best thing to do now?
Spybot has frozen on me now too....

Verres

What happens when you reboot & rescan? Is it still there? If it is, you have two choices - the quick option, and the good option.

The quick option is to try to download the full package and uninstall it. However, I'm starting to think that this is probably just another key logger called Stealth Keylogger, and not the legit version from cnet.

If you use your laptop for anything personal (think - email, online banking etc), I'd probably re-install the OS. Once you've been infected with malware, you can never be 100% that it's gone.

xprepairs

I would try Hitman Pro, it is a 30 day trial that is fully functional:
http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro
Remove all it finds. Select the right version for your operating system.

As far as reformatting, that should always be a LAST resort.
Good Luck

JimmyCrackCorn

Heres how to get rid of it.


Download a Linux live cd. (puppy linux works for me)

1.Burn to a cd and boot off the cd.

2. configure your network using the settings tool in puppy.

3. browse to f-prot.com downloads and download the linux version/

4. extract the tar file using (tar -xvf extract the file)

5. launch the fp-install.pl (it will install and update the definitions)

6. using fpscan scan your hard-drive it will be in /mnt/

7. post me a pint.


cost: a pint + 1cd