How to Remove KNCTR (Itibiti Inc Virus)

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The KNCTR application is supposed to be a useful tool. In theory, you can use this app to make free phone calls to the US and Canada. Yet, in reality, this program is useless and hazardous for your security. Security experts have classified the KNCTR app as adware and potentially unwanted program (PUP). This tool is highly intrusive. If you haven’t installed it, it is still possible that it has managed to sneak its way into your computer. Now, it is installed and has full control over your web browsers. This app will bombard you with commercials. You will start seeing ad banners on websites that used to be ad-free. Pop-up windows will appear at the most unexpected times. This app will turn your browsing experience into a nightmare. You will see coupons and discounts for items that you actually need. This is not a coincidence. The furtive app is monitoring your online habits. If you read the terms and conditions, you will see that they state exactly this. The program can and will record personal and non-personal information. The EULA also states that this information will be shared with third parties. There is only one condition. The data must be essential for some services to be successfully provided. The advertising is a type of service you have given your permission to receive. Hence, to provide the right kinds of ads for you, the KNCTR utility will share your information with advertisers. No one can tell you who these advertisers will be. Hackers often get an advantage of such adware applications. The KNCTR app has no verifying mechanism. Anyone willing to spend some money can use it to promote. Hence, you will be exposed to an unsafe content. Keeping this app on board is not a good idea. We recommend its immediate removal. The sooner you clean your machine, the better!

Remove KNCTR

How did I get infected with?

The KNCTR app has an official website. You can download the program from there. Yet, this is not the only way this tool can use to travel the web. It also employs some stealthy techniques to reach its victims. No one will infect their PC on purpose. Therefore, developers have found a way to lure the user into installing malicious programs. The bundling method is probably the most commonly used technique. When installing a program, be always vigilant. Opt for an advanced/custom installation option. Be prepared. This method may be presented as a suitable choice for IT experts only. Don’t trust a word you read. This option is not complicated. The crooks don’t want you to use it. Under the custom setup, you will be presented with a list of all additional programs that are about to be installed. Be doubting. Install only the tools you trust. This is your computer. You are responsible for its security. Therefore, do your due diligence. Read the terms and conditions/EULA. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, abort the installation immediately.

Why is this dangerous?

The KNCTR adware is definitely not the program you would like to keep on your machine. This tool has turned your web browser into a spying device. Everything you do online is monitored. Thus, if you use your PC to pay the bills or to make an online purchase, your billing address and credit card details will be recorded. This data will be used for aggressive marketing. The adware will also make the information available for sale to third parties. No one can tell you who these third parties may be. The potential buyers range from desperate marketing agents to dangerous hackers. Obviously, a hacker can do numerous dangerous operations with your data. Yet, the marketing agents are not to be ignored either. They will drown you in a sea of ads. You will not like it. You will get redirected to shady websites. Every time you follow a link, additional tabs will be opened in your web browser. Pop-up windows will appear at the most unexpected times. This can be extremely annoying and dangerous. A corrupted ad can download a virus directly on your device. Dodgy websites also use adware services. You will be surprised to find that most of the ads displayed by such applications are leading to shady websites. The KNCTR utility brings only troubles. Do yourself a favor. Remove this intruder immediately!

How to Remove KNCTR virus

The KNCTR 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 KNCTR 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.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
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Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the KNCTR infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down KNCTR in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate KNCTR startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down KNCTR in the computer memory

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

end-malicious-process

  • Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate KNCTR 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 KNCTR virus from the windows registry

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

win-plus-r

  • A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

regedit

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]

delete backgroundcontainer

  • 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:

hosts-redirect-virus

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

  • Open Google Chrome

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

disable KNCTR from chrome

  • Open Mozilla Firefox

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

remove KNCTR from 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

remove KNCTR from ie

  • Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by KNCTR

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 KNCTR, 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.

safebrowsing-biz-shortcut-removal

  • in the target field remove KNCTR 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 KNCTR 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.

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