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Also known by numerous other names, including BraveSentry, Pest Trap, SpyTrooper, Adware
Sheriff, SpywareNo, SpyLocked, SpywareQuake, SpyDawn, AntiVirGear, SpyDemolisher, System Security, SpywareStrike, SpyShredder, Alpha Cleaner, SpyMarshal, Adware Alert, Malware Stopper, Mr. Antispy, Spycrush,
484:, it prompts the user to pay to remove them. The software is particularly difficult to remove, since it nests its components in System Restore folders, and also blocks some system management tools. However, SpySheriff can be removed by an experienced user,
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SpySheriff was hosted at both www.spysheriff.com and www.spy-sheriff.com, which operated from 2005 until their shutdown in 2008. Both domains are now parked. Several other similarly-named websites also hosted the program but have all been shut down.
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SpySheriff can detect certain antispyware and antivirus programs running on the machine, and disable them by ending their processes as soon as it detects them. This may prevent its detection and removal by legitimate antivirus
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SpyAxe, MalwareAlarm, VirusBurst, VirusBursters, DIARemover, AntiVirus Gold, Antivirus Golden, SpyFalcon, and TheSpyBot/SpywareBot. The name
SpywareBot is used to confuse them with the legitimate SpyBot anti-spyware software.
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and restore points from loading. Users can overcome this by undoing the previous restore operation, after which the system will restore itself, allowing for easier removal of SpySheriff.
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software. It attempts to mislead the user with false security alerts, threatening them into buying the program. Like other rogue antiviruses, after producing a list of false
564:, preventing the user from ending its active process or removing its registry entries from Windows. Renaming the 'regedit' and 'taskmgr' executables will solve this problem.
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and counts allegedly found threats, but its scan results are deliberately false, with cryptic names such as "Trojan VX …" to mislead and scare the user.
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868: (archive index)(note, the online installer does not work due to the payload of the installer being taken down when the website was)
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is blocked by SpySheriff. Spy-Sheriff.com becomes the only accessible website, and can be opened through the program's control panel.
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SpySheriff is designed to behave like genuine antispyware software. Its user interface features a
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in
Control Panel either fails or causes the computer to restart unexpectedly.
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Removal attempts may be unsuccessful and SpySheriff may reinstall itself.
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203:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
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The desktop background may be replaced with an image resembling a
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727:. Suze Turner, ZDNet, December 19, 2005. Archived from
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http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic22402.html
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19:"SpywareBot" redirects here. Not to be confused with
97:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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706:. Joris Evers, CNET News.com, February 6, 2006
887:Encyclopedia entry: Program:Win32/SpySheriff
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60:Learn how and when to remove these messages
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237:Learn how and when to remove this message
219:Learn how and when to remove this message
157:Learn how and when to remove this message
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95:adding citations to reliable sources
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801:"spysheriff.exe in SpyWareLoop.com"
704:"Spyware tunnels in on Winamp flaw"
646:"Rogue:W32/BraveSentry Description"
404:Trojan:Win32/Spybouncer (Microsoft)
305:FREELOADER_SPYSHERIFF (Trend Micro)
302:DOWNLOADER_SPYSHERIFF (Trend Micro)
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752:. Sunbelt Security. Archived from
541:Attempts to remove SpySheriff via
523:Attempts to remove SpySheriff via
501:Features of a SpySheriff infection
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41:This article has multiple issues.
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685:from the original on 2021-08-28
656:from the original on 2023-05-21
627:from the original on 2022-08-19
545:are blocked as it prevents the
82:needs additional citations for
49:or discuss these issues on the
775:"SpySheriff Technical Details"
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1:
872:Spy Sheriff Alternate Website
799:Vincentas (18 October 2012).
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488:, or by using a rescue disk.
21:Spybot – Search & Destroy
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725:"Top 10 rogue anti-spyware"
675:"SpyDawn - Adware and PUAs"
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530:Attempts to connect to the
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390:Program:Win32/AlfaCleaner (
376:FraudTool.Win32.SpyHeal.a (
325:ADW_BRAVESEN. (Trend Micro)
199:the claims made and adding
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322:VBS_SENTRY. (Trend Micro)
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580:Trojan horse (computing)
912:Rogue security software
750:"SunBelt Security Blog"
575:Rogue security software
556:SpySheriff can disable
315:Rogue:W32/BraveSentry (
525:Add or Remove Programs
468:among other names) is
386:Alpha Cleaner Variant
274:Rogue:W32/SpySheriff(
878: (archive index)
836:. CA. Archived from
518:Blue Screen of Death
357:SpySheriff interface
91:improve this article
862:Spy Sheriff Website
311:BraveSentry Variant
281:Adware/SpySheriff.(
267:Adware.SpySheriff (
731:on 19 January 2006
486:antivirus software
400:SpyBouncer Variant
288:Adware-SpySheriff(
263:SpySheriff Variant
184:possibly contains
834:"SpySheriff – CA"
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437:Technical details
331:Pest Trap Variant
295:ADW_SPYSHERIFF. (
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466:BraveSentry 2.0
464:(also known as
432:Innovagest 2000
372:SpyDawn Variant
335:ADW_PESTTRAP. (
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102:Find sources:
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842:. Retrieved
838:the original
813:. Retrieved
809:the original
805:Spyware Loop
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783:. Retrieved
779:the original
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758:. Retrieved
754:the original
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733:. Retrieved
729:the original
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708:. Retrieved
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629:. Retrieved
621:"Fortiguard"
615:
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558:Task Manager
508:progress bar
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478:anti-spyware
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452:Discontinued
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106:"SpySheriff"
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89:Please help
84:verification
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43:Please help
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536:Web browser
337:Trend Micro
297:Trend Micro
147:August 2023
901:Categories
844:2009-11-01
785:2009-11-01
760:2009-11-01
735:2009-11-01
710:2009-11-01
689:2023-08-17
679:sophos.com
660:2023-08-17
631:2023-08-17
607:References
462:SpySheriff
283:Fortiguard
252:SpySheriff
193:improve it
117:newspapers
46:improve it
553:programs.
392:Microsoft
197:verifying
52:talk page
683:Archived
654:Archived
625:Archived
569:See also
547:calendar
532:Internet
492:Websites
442:Platform
317:F-Secure
276:F-Secure
269:Symantec
889:at the
874:at the
864:at the
815:27 July
534:in any
482:threats
470:malware
446:Windows
429:Authors
421:Subtype
416:Malware
191:Please
131:scholar
16:Spyware
378:Sophos
290:McAfee
133:
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586:Notes
472:that
366:Alias
138:JSTOR
124:books
817:2013
560:and
455:2008
413:Type
110:news
476:as
195:by
93:by
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