Remove IBuddy Adware (Chrome/FF/IE)

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IBuddy is an adware program. That’s horrible news, for these tools are hazardous, and harmful. Adware tools are ad-supported. In case, you’re unfamiliar with the terms, it’s rather simple. If the adware is to continue its operations, it has to prove profitable. It has to make money for the third parties that published it. To do that, the adware generates web traffic, and pay-per-click revenue. It redirects you to suspicious sites, and floods your screen with ads. Every time, you press anything it throws at you, it makes money off of you. It’s a pretty straightforward scheme. And, a lucrative one, as well. Pres nothing the tool displays on your screen! If you do, it’s great news for the cyber criminals, behind the infection. But for you, that click only furthers your grievances. You risk ending up with more unwanted malware. And, that’s hardly desirable. Avoiding these continuous intrusions may prove difficult, though. That’s because, the adware goes the extra mile to make them enticing. It doesn’t flood you with random ads and links. Oh, no. That leaves too much to chance. Before the interference begins, it spies on you. It studies your browsing habits to learn what you like. Once it does, it makes sure to display only what you’ll find appealing. Discard its disruptions! If you don’t, you’ll regret it. Do what’s best for you, and your system, and get rid of the adware ASAP. After you first become aware of the infection’s presence, take action! Find where its exact hiding place is, and delete it. The sooner it leaves your system, the better.

How did I get infected with?

Freeware. That’s the most likely culprit for the adware’s invasion. It’s, arguably, the easiest way into your system. Let’s explain. Tools, like IBuddy, need user’s permission to access a PC. Your permission. They have to ask if you agree to install them. And, only if you do, can they proceed with the process. That’s why, these infections make sure to get your approval. They do seek your consent on their entry. But they do it in the sneakiest way, they can. For example, they pose as fake system or program updates. Like, Java or Adobe Flash Player. Or, lurk behind corrupted links. Or, spam emails. And, as stated of course, freeware. It’s the most common invasive method, because users are most careless during it. They don’t bother reading terms and conditions, but say YES to everything in haste. They skip doing any due diligence, and hope for the best. To leave your fate to chance is a horrendous mistake. One, with consequences. Don’t discard the importance of due diligence! Do NOT choose carelessness over caution One leads to programs, like IBuddy, invading. The other helps to avoid that. Keep your PC infection-free. Choose caution!

Why is this dangerous?

IBuddy doesn’t only mess with your system’s well-being. It also takes aim at your security The nasty tools tries to get a hold of your private information. Let’s elaborate. Adware applications jeopardize your personal and financial details. Thy have instructions to steal your information, and expose it. To whom? Well, to the unknown third parties that unleashed them onto the web. Make no mistake! As soon as the tool invades, it gets to work. IBuddy is no exception. After it slithered into your PC, its espionage begins. The tool keeps track of your browsing activities, and records them. When it determines it has gathered enough information, it proceeds to send it. That means, cyber criminals get a hold of your sensitive details. That will NOT end well! Don’t allow the scenario to unfold. Protect your private data from getting stolen and exposed. Don’t put up with the plethora of interference, the adware puts you through. Find and delete it the first chance you get. Its prompt removal ensures your system’s well-being. Not to mention, earns the gratitude of your future self.

How to Remove IBuddy virus

The IBuddy infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the IBuddy infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down IBuddy in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate IBuddy startup location

STEP 3: Delete IBuddy traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down IBuddy in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate IBuddy startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean IBuddy virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean IBuddy traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the IBuddy by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by IBuddy

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for IBuddy, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove IBuddy argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove IBuddy Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.