SProtector

SProtector is a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) that may be associated with two unsafe files: SProtector.exe and SProtector.dll. SProtector is designed to protect other associated PUPs from removal. The main purpose of SProtector is to prevent the removal of various potentially unsafe components on the affected computer. SProtector is marketed as a Search Assistant and developed by the Search Assistant WebSearch, a software developer that has become known for creating PUPs and potentially threatening content. When SProtector is installed on your computer, the Windows Task Manager will typically show two running memory processes associated with SProtector. The SProtector PUP usually indicates that your Web browser has become infected with potentially harmful content, meaning that it is important to use a strong, reliable anti-malware application to disinfect your computer.

SProtector and Malicious Content Associated with this PUP

There are nine different versions of SProtector. The latest version of the SProtector infection is version 1.5.0.71. SProtector runs as a typical memory process on the Windows operating system and is granted the computer user's administrative privileges. SProtector may make harmful changes to the Windows Registry that allow SProtector to start up automatically when Windows is launched. The SProtector file averages at about 2.45MB and is designed to start up automatically as soon as the computer user logs into Windows. It uses an average of 0.0046% CPU resources, often using up from 18MB to 22MB of memory resources. Although SProtector may not take up many of your computer's resources, content associated with SProtector may cause significant performance problems on the affected computer.

Possible Sources of SProtector

Usually, SProtector enters a computer after the computer user downloads and installs free software from an unreliable source. These are often bundled with PUPs like SProtector. Although it is possible to opt out of installing SProtector on the affected computer, the option is often disguised or hidden from the computer users. It is important to note that SProtector may be bundled by a third party with legitimate, popular freeware programs and that SProtector may even be hosted on reputable software download websites. This is often due to the fact that, technically, SProtector is not malware but considered a PUP, a technical gray area that includes some software that is not as harmful as known threats and other that may be just as harmful as most malware infections.