Adware.QueryExplorer
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Popularity Rank: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Threat Level: | 20 % (Normal) |
| Infected Computers: | 517 |
| First Seen: | December 7, 2010 |
| Last Seen: | February 25, 2024 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
The detection of Adware.QueryExplorer on your system indicates the presence of a potentially unwanted program that could be compromising your computer's security and performance. This type of software is designed to display unwanted advertisements, collect user data, and potentially lead to more severe security issues if not addressed promptly.
Table of Contents
What Is Adware.QueryExplorer?
Adware.QueryExplorer is identified as an adware program, which is a type of malware that focuses on displaying advertisements to the user, often in intrusive and disruptive ways. These advertisements can range from pop-ups and banners to sponsored search results and redirects to suspicious websites. The primary goal of adware is to generate revenue for its creators by forcing users to view or interact with these ads, often without their consent.
How Adware.QueryExplorer Operates
Adware programs like Adware.QueryExplorer typically operate by infiltrating a computer system through various means, such as bundled software downloads, infected email attachments, or exploited vulnerabilities in web browsers or operating systems. Once installed, they can modify browser settings, registry entries, and system files to ensure their persistence and ability to display advertisements. They may also collect user data, such as browsing history and search queries, to tailor the advertisements to the user's interests, making them more likely to be clicked.
Symptoms of Infection
Symptoms of an Adware.QueryExplorer infection can vary but commonly include an increase in unwanted advertisements appearing on your computer or browser, unexpected changes in your browser's homepage or search engine, and potentially a slowdown in your computer's performance due to the resource-intensive nature of adware. You might also notice that your browser is being redirected to suspicious websites or that pop-ups appear even when you're not browsing the internet.
- Increased number of advertisements on your computer or browser.
- Changes in your browser's settings without your consent.
- Slowdown in computer performance.
- Redirects to suspicious or unwanted websites.
- Pop-ups appearing outside of your browser.
How to Remove Adware.QueryExplorer
- Boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking to prevent Adware.QueryExplorer from loading and to give you a clean environment to work in.
- Perform a full scan of your computer using a reputable anti-malware tool, such as SpyHunter, to detect and remove all components of the adware.
- Uninstall any recently installed programs that you do not recognize or that were installed around the time the symptoms started appearing.
- Reset your web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.) to their default settings to remove any changes made by the adware.
- Reboot your computer and perform another scan with your anti-malware tool to ensure that all remnants of Adware.QueryExplorer have been removed.
Conclusion
Removing Adware.QueryExplorer from your system is crucial to restoring your computer's security and performance. By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively eliminate this adware and prevent future infections by being cautious with downloads, keeping your software up to date, and using reputable security software. Remember, vigilance and proactive measures are key to maintaining a secure computing environment.
Aliases
15 security vendors flagged this file as malicious.
| Antivirus Vendor | Detection |
|---|---|
| Sunbelt | MyWebSearch Toolbar |
| McAfee-GW-Edition | Artemis!E072AE544ACF |
| AntiVir | APPL/Agent.53366 |
| F-Secure | Toolbar:W32/MyWebSearch.B |
| NOD32 | Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch |
| Panda | Application/MyWebSearch |
| Ikarus | not-a-virus |
| a-squared | Riskware.WebToolbar!IK |
| Antiy-AVL | AdTool/Win32.MyWebSearch.gen |
| F-Secure | WebToolbar.Win32.MyWebSearch.bd |
| Comodo | Unclassified Malware |
| BitDefender | Adware.Generic.17156 |
| Kaspersky | not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win32.MyWebSearch.bd |
| NOD32 | probably a variant of Win32/Adware.SearchAid |
| K7AntiVirus | not-a-virus:AdTool.Win32.MyWebSearch.bd |
SpyHunter Detects & Remove Adware.QueryExplorer
File System Details
| # | File Name | MD5 |
Detections
Detections: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on
infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | newupdate1142C.exe | e17ae612622e908134806bcb0ddec0d1 | 96 |
| 2. | My Web Search Installer.exe | 53bb0236e7cad61bf63d3e8dd95ae410 | 24 |
| 3. | M3PLUGIN.DLL | e072ae544acfa7c42ca99fc8da9057f6 | 19 |
| 4. | mswin32.exe | 344184381358a93e8034111227179a8d | 12 |
| 5. | InternetToday.exe | 6b77e84d67a0f102308d2ced2194a89f | 7 |
| 6. | cryptnet32.dll | 1860e9a50c75e8ff75628318f5b8cc22 | 6 |
| 7. | AviPlayerSetup.exe | aa95fb9c179d2a2a1d473df6f99befb9 | 5 |
| 8. | digext.dll | 40282c1009ed3c13463dce3ef5bc5d8a | 5 |
| 9. | MPK.exe | 587a3ea950a455b75bab4babf7637258 | 3 |
| 10. | opeD3AB.exe | 5ad5b6dcb3061868adfe27412879a270 | 3 |
| 11. | MWSBAR.DLL | b42030f0149c4e83c46434075b9a6c63 | 2 |
| 12. | ieUndiag.dll | 451f48891cb3d1f699f68bd06c44e960 | 2 |
| 13. | GoogleUpdateBeta.exe | 547798ce9f45134cd6ec75fdf78a4899 | 2 |
| 14. | BtwSvc.dll | cd915f855228ac0da854183385f247b5 | 2 |
| 15. | avg.exe | dadaa2ac7bf3201099f261c248692656 | 2 |
| 16. | queryexplorer115.exe | e86f22c7a335d242969fd27626298a14 | 2 |
| 17. | clusapi32.dll | 31bf41ccac30181692749d3e1c2bc930 | 1 |
| 18. | gbiehs.exe | b277238755eac6127a847537e66487bc | 1 |
| 19. | antivirus7.exe | 8ad6b77a8fdd9cbd59908f416f6bc2cc | 1 |
| 20. | MDServ.exe | 2a78529988e75dfce2b2f9c0c76c8cc0 | 1 |
| 21. | m.213.tmp.exe | 5f4160bc7645cb68ed4f936c05bd87a3 | 1 |
| 22. | 3C.tmp | 90e3d166c5df88744a1d525a67a6022d | 1 |
| 23. | nvdisp.exe | 9cd25cf2b691a13be4fbefecf6d5313a | 1 |
| 24. | hticons32.dll | 103eaae4044e621dffffb56e9a1bfe8e | 1 |
| 25. | dxtmsft32.dll | 750f8c57d8f7a71f6760a844edcae3d8 | 1 |
| 26. | queryexplorer117.exe | a580ac78b97cc4d6dfa059532ffdb8ad | 1 |
| 27. | queryexplorer116.exe | 3a5b4ffedb90ab3d690ccaa1e9ca0a9c | 1 |
| 28. | queryexplorer119.exe | 4ce894a86605a8f7c08c89e3af527eed | 1 |
| 29. | QUERYEXPLORER.DLL | 4D42EBCECAC1FA082C0D35CFB563F359 | 0 |
| 30. | queryexplorer.dll | 9a4efa666f732bfbed2a018e5773681e | 0 |
Directories
Adware.QueryExplorer may create the following directory or directories:
| %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\QueryExplorer |
| %ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\extensions\{27E679CC-6AAB-4B2A-BB87-096FE4178464} |
| %ProgramFiles%\QueryExplorer |
