geekbuddy is a malicious box that serves as another way for cyber criminals to steal money from PC users. The GeekBuddy popup contains a fake warning message stating that your computer is infected with some kind of virus. To be able to solve it, you need to call a specific number that cost as its paid support service.
Please ignore or don't try him by phone technical support. You see, allowing them to fix your PC is not free. You will have to pay a certain amount before they fix the problem. In addition, this call will make you even bother because they confirm that you are with not a few but giant viruses you have. Be warned that this is just one of their strategies, so you will be charged for whatever amount they asked for.
To make matters worse, calling the hotline and paying the cost is not the key to stop the GeekBuddy pop-up. All you have to do is uninstall the add-on malicious browser and files where all issues come from.
You must be very careful when installing free software. GeekBuddy codes often come up when you download and install some free apps from the internet. It can be added to you Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome without knowing him. You can only implement it after watching the GeekBuddy popups.
Various ads like pop-ups, banners, in-text links, and more may also be displayed in web browsers. Ads and links from GeekBuddy can even lead you to malicious web pages where you can get real viruses. You must remove GeekBuddy as soon as possible before it can damage further.
GeekBuddy behavior
- Steals or uses your sensitive data
- GeekBuddy shows commercial ads
- Changes user Main page
- Shows fake security warnings, pop-ups and ads.
- GeekBuddy connects to the Internet without your permission
- Change desktop and browser settings.
GeekBuddy is implemented by Windows versions
- Windows 8 25%
- Windows 7 31%
- Windows Vista 9%
- Windows XP 35%
Warning, multiple virus scanners have detected possible malware in GeekBuddy.
| Antivirus software | Version | Detection |
|---|---|---|
| VIPRE Antivirus | 22702 | Wajam (fs) |
| McAfee-GW-Edition | 2013 | |
| McAfee | 5.600.0.1067 | Win32.Application.OptimizerPro.E |
| K7 AntiVirus | 9.179.12403 | Unwanted Program (00454f261) |
| Kingsoft AntiVirus | 2013.4.9.267 | Win32.Troj.Generic.a.(kcloud) |
| Malwarebytes | v2013.10.29.10 | PUP.Optional.MalSign.Generic |
| Qihoo-360 | 1.0.0.1015 | Win32/Virus.RiskTool.825 |
| NANO AntiVirus | 0.26.0.55366 | Trojan.Win32.Searcher.bpjlwd |
| Malwarebytes | 1.75.0.1 | PUP.Optional.Wajam.A |
| Dr. Web | Adware.Searcher.2467 |
Geography GeekBuddy
Remove GeekBuddy from Windows
Remove GeekBuddy from Windows XP:
Remove GeekBuddy from Windows Vista or Windows 7:
Remove GeekBuddy from Windows 8:
Remove GeekBuddy from your browsers
Remove GeekBuddy from Internet Explorer
Remove GeekBuddy from Mozilla Firefox
Stop GeekBuddy from Chrome
Sometimes geekbuddy.exe and other EXE system errors can be related to problems in the Windows registry. Several programs can use the geekbuddy.exe file, but when those programs are uninstalled or changed, sometimes "orphaned" (invalid) EXE registry entries are left behind.
Basically, this means that while the actual path to the file may have been changed, its incorrect former location is still recorded in the Windows registry. When Windows tries looking up these incorrect file references (file locations on your PC), geekbuddy.exe errors can occur. In addition, malware infection may have corrupted the registry entries associated with COMODO GeekBuddy. Thus, these invalid EXE registry entries need to be repaired in order to fix the root of the problem.
Manually editing the Windows registry to remove invalid geekbuddy.exe keys is not recommended unless you are PC service professional. Mistakes made while editing the registry can render your PC unusable and cause irreparable damage to your operating system. In fact, even a single comma in the wrong place can prevent your computer from booting up!
Because of this risk, we highly recommend using a trusted registry cleaner such as %%product%% (Developed by Microsoft Gold Certified Partner) to scan and repair any geekbuddy.exe-related registry problems. Using a registry cleaner automates the process of finding invalid registry entries, missing file references (like the one causing your geekbuddy.exe error), and broken links within the registry. A backup copy is automatically created before each scan, allowing you to undo any changes with a single click and protecting you from possible damage to your computer. The best part is that fixing registry errors can drastically improve system speed and performance.
Warning: Unless you are an advanced PC user, we do NOT recommend manually editing the Windows Registry. Incorrect use of the Registry Editor can lead to serious problems and require you to reinstall Windows. We do not guarantee that problems resulting from misuse of Registry Editor can be resolved. You use the Registry Editor at your own risk.
To manually repair your Windows registry, first you need to create a backup by exporting a part of the registry related to geekbuddy.exe (eg. COMODO GeekBuddy):
- Click on the button To begin.
- Enter " command" in search bar... DO NOT PRESS YET ENTER!
- Holding keys CTRL-Shift on the keyboard, press ENTER.
- An access dialog will be displayed.
- Click Yes.
- The black box opens with a blinking cursor.
- Enter " regedit" and press ENTER.
- In the Registry Editor, select the geekbuddy.exe-related key (eg. COMODO GeekBuddy) you want to back up.
- On the menu File select Export.
- Listed Save to select the folder where you want to save the backup copy of the COMODO GeekBuddy key.
- In field File name enter a name for the backup file, such as "COMODO GeekBuddy Backup".
- Make sure the field Export Range value selected Selected branch.
- Click Save.
- The file will be saved with .reg extension.
- You now have a backup of your geekbuddy.exe-related registry entry.
The next steps for manually editing the registry will not be covered in this article, as they are likely to damage your system. If you would like more information on editing the registry manually, please see the links below.
Not all users are satisfied with the result of the Comodo Internet Security antivirus, Firewall, GeekBuddy and Dragon browser, and after the experiment they want to remove it completely from their computer or laptop.
There are no obstacles to completely remove the Komodo antivirus, but there are some nuances. Using tools operating system(windows 7 or windows 8) you will most likely remove the komodo antivirus, but not completely - traces will remain in the system, which are commonly called “tails”.
It is possible to avoid this. For this you need to download special program or utility.
If you intend to use OS tools, then first disable Defense +, HIPS and Sandbox.
Utility to remove antivirus from your computer comodo-unlocker
If for some reason it didn’t work to remove Komodo, neither by the program above nor by the means of the OS - use the Russian utility - Unlocker.
After installation, you just need to find the folder with the antivirus and apply this utility. By clicking on the link you will find instructions on how to use it.
Utility to completely remove Komodo from your computer
But this utility was developed by the creators of the antivirus itself. With its help, there will be no traces left on the computer, which will favorably affect its performance.
After downloading, unpack. She is in rar archive. Who doesn't know how. There you will find not one utility, but several.
Determine what exactly you want to remove, more precisely which antivirus you have installed: Comodo Internet Security, Firewall, GeekBuddy or Dragon browser.
After that, select the appropriate tool and run it, however, you will also find instructions in the archive.
In this way, you will completely permanently remove all trusted applications from the computer, and not manually, but automatically.
Obstacles should not arise, and the comments below will help you. Write - we'll figure it out. Good luck.
If a Trojan or other virus prevents the installation of the antivirus or causes installation conflicts, there are several ways to solve this problem. Most vendors have remote technical support for this case. The remote helpdesk system is one of the main lines of defense against malware, and not the last resort in the event of an antivirus failure. GeekBuddy's 24/7 technical support includes unlimited support for any computer problem.
Click on image to view all (18) screenshots
When testing PC Magazine, GeekBuddy specialists were able to solve a huge range of issues, and only one infected system misled them.
The antivirus scanner and firewall in Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 is the same as in the free version of Comodo Internet Security Premium 2013.
The difference between the paid version and the free one is not only in the technical support service. The paid version includes a Virus-Free Guarantee. If after correct installation Comodo and the initial scan and removal of viruses your computer will be infected, the vendor is ready to compensate up to $ 500 for the costs associated with restoring the system and data.
But that's not all! Comodo is also willing to pay the costs associated with the misuse of your personal data. In this case, the amount of compensation can be up to $15,000 in total costs or up to $500 per week in lost profits in a row for up to 4 weeks. For more information, please read the user agreement (offer valid for US residents only). Be that as it may, this offer is very unusual and unique on the market.
When testing a free antivirus solution from Comodo by the editors of PC Magazine, the installation and operation of the product had problems. On this occasion, the magazine's specialists contacted technical support by e-mail. In most cases, the first tip was to install the Comodo Cleaning Essentials tool, which did the trick. Only in one case did it take a short intervention of a technical support employee.
When testing the paid Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013, when the slightest conflict arose, the magazine's employees turned to GeekBuddy. Even with a partial installation of the antivirus, you can contact the services using the built-in client. If the antivirus refuses to install, you can consult with a GeekBuddy specialist through the website, simply by providing the license number.
A malicious program on one of the systems disabled the operating system, booting was only possible in safe mode. Antivirus is not installed in safe mode. When contacting GeekBuddy, a technical support employee examined the system components in detail and found malicious nodes. It took some time, but the result was achieved.
On another system, Comodo crashed several times while performing a full system scan. It took a decent amount of time to fix the problem, and the user was also required to take action, such as booting into safe mode. On another system, freezes appeared during cleaning, the solution to the problem was quite lengthy, but successful.
On two systems malware blocked access to web resources of various vendors and security sites. The viruses used different algorithms, but the result was the same: Comodo did not start and was not updated. The technical support staff spent several hours, but the problems were eventually fixed on both computers.
PC Magazine staff were able to install Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 for five problems test systems with the support of GeekBuddy specialists. In some cases, the installation of the antivirus took several hours. Installing the free Comodo Internet Security Premium 2013 previously ran without GeekBuddy, but was also successful with Comodo Cleaning Essentials and took less time. On the other hand, with the assistance of GeekBuddy technicians and a manual system scan, more malware was found than when scanning with a Comodo scanner.
Failed virtual machine
GeekBuddy systematically managed to set up computers and install antivirus during PC Magazine's tests, but there were also serious problems. On one of the infected systems, when an attempt was made to remove it, the virus disabled a critical Windows component. Starting Internet Explorer or Firefox became unavailable, and the network connection was not established. This situation was repeated when installing products from different vendors.
With the internet down, it was not possible to contact GeekBuddy directly, so a chat with a tech support specialist was launched on a new clean system. Initially, the consultant advised to restore the OS using a Windows disk, but it was not available. He then advised me to use the System Restore tool. Unsuccessfully, the service did not start.
Then a GeekBuddy employee suggested contacting the PC manufacturer to restore the system to a previous state in working order. Since the system under test was a virtual environment, this measure would not solve the problem either. Comodo's technical consultant stated that it wasn't the antivirus itself that caused the problem, but a possible infection that already existed on the machine. He added that this problem after installing Comodo Internet Security may just be an accident, at which point the magazine's experts asked to go to another level of technical advice.
Correspondence history with GeekBuddy tech has been sent to Comodo VP for comment. He stated that the reaction of the consultants was not correct, because they have to work out various ways to solve the problem. For example, he showed a recording of a GeekBuddy session where a tech support specialist ordered a system recovery disk for a client. Comodo's vice president said: "We will review the technical support procedure and such misunderstandings will not happen again."
The implications of this story are clear. If you think that you have not received competent and full support from GeekBuddy, you need to inform the managers about this.
You can contact GeekBiddy even in case of problems not directly related to computer security. The Anti-Error tool just helps to identify such problems, it displays a list of potential problems and suggests solutions.
If your browser is cluttered with a large number of plugins and extensions, Anti-Error will ask you to remove unused add-ons in the list presented to increase speed. In the same way, Anti-Error suggests deleting unnecessary applications from autoload.
If Anti-Error cannot solve the problem on its own, it displays GeekBuddy technical support call buttons. When troubleshooting complex issues, such as cleaning the registry of old keys or clearing traces of visits in the browser, the help of GeekBuddy is recommended.
The general concept of the implementation of this feature was liked by the staff of PC Magazine. Competent expert control over challenging tasks makes the whole process of restoring the optimal performance of your computer simple and safe.
Cleaning your computer from viruses and rootkits
When testing, requests to GeekBuddy occurred only when there were real problems in the operation of the antivirus or the operating system. In fact, you can ask for help from technical consultants even if Comodo works without problems.
Not surprisingly, the paid version of Comodo scored the same number of points for virus scanner performance as the free version. GeekBuddy was not used in testing. However, having the help of experts in cleaning and detecting malware significantly changes the situation for the better. For virus removal, Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 gets 6.6 points, the same score as Norton Internet Security 2013 and . For rootkit removal, Comodo gets 9.8 points out of 10 - an unbeatable result! The previous leader in rootkit removal, Kaspersky Internet Security 2013, earned only 9.4 points.
Excellent malware blocking results
Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 scored the same score as the free version of the antivirus. So, Comodo was able to eliminate more than 80 percent of the threats. With behavioral analysis enabled, each malware was placed in an isolated virtual environment. None of the viruses could seriously harm the system.
But there is also the other side of the coin - false positives. During the operation of behavioral analysis, the installation of 20 old but safe utilities was blocked. 5 programs were not installed at all, the rest displayed error messages. In the end, only 7 programs were able to install. Thus, in large part due to too rough behavioral analysis, Comodo scores 9.1 points for blocking viruses and 8 points for blocking rootkits.
The best results were shown by Webroot, which scored 9.9 points and is not blocking safe programs. Webroot got 10 points for blocking rootkits. Comodo's result is still good enough.
Third Party Lab Results
Even if Comodo systematically provided antivirus solutions for testing by independent labs, there is no methodology for the best evaluation of GeekBuddy. Modern generally accepted tests of AV-Test and AV-Comparatives laboratories are as automated as possible and do not include the results of technical support work.
However, West Coast Labs and ICSA Labs have certified Comodo's detection technology, but not its virus removal method. In VirusBulletin tests, Comodo received the VB100 certification only once.
Other related features
Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 includes a whole host of features from the free version and from the Comodo firewall. All products come with Comodo Dragon, a Chrome-powered browser and the ability to secure your connection with Secure DNS.
Secure DNS was designed to block fraudulent and malicious web resources, however, when testing modern phishing attacks, the component was not extremely effective. This component's detection rate is 91 percent less than Norton and 47 percent less than built-in IE smartscreen filter. Comodo developers are already working on improving this module.
Using Dragon or any other browser that supports Comodo's virtual environment helps prevent web threats and web attacks that try to harm your system. The user can also run Virtual Kiosk, a fully virtualized environment available for complete secure cleaning.
The Comodo firewall protects against network attacks and controls the network access of individual applications. If the firewall encounters an unknown program, it asks the user for a solution through a dialog. It does not prevent exploit attacks, but can be configured to block viruses trying to take control of applications on the system.
Every Comodo user can get 5 gigabytes of cloud storage space for free backups. Subscribing to Comodo Internet Security increases the volume to 10 gigabytes, and for a fee, cloud storage can take up 250 or 1024 gigabytes.
Many vendors partner with online backup companies such as Mozy and iDrive. Comodo, like Webroot, has its own storage. But unlike Webroot, Comodo also provides tools for storing backups locally. Comodo users can store copies of important data on a portable hard drive, computer hard drive, FTP server or on disks. You can also send backup data by email.
Tool for Reserve copy offers many ready-made work scenarios, for example, create a backup copy of the documents folder, Email and folders with game save files. The user can set up backup according to his needs, select folders for backup, folders for saving the created copies and set the schedule of jobs. You can also choose the extension of copies: cbu, zip and iso. You can back up entire disk partitions and the entire hard disk, for example, when changing the hard drive to a more capacious one.
Other functions are used less frequently. The use of Volume Shadow Copy technology allows you to create backup copies of files that are this moment are used. You can adjust the compression level, choose from several encryption algorithms, and split copies into multiple files of the required size for subsequent recording to removable media. Thus, Comodo has a powerful comprehensive backup tool, and not a pathetic likeness, as in some products.
The TrustConnect VPN feature runs invisibly in the background when connected to wireless network. The essence of the technology is to process traffic using secure encryption algorithms so that attackers cannot intercept and use personal data.
The standalone TrustConnect app costs $3.99 and requires separate authorization. When working as part of an anti-virus package, authorization occurs automatically with previously entered data, and the operation of the utility is also invisible. A detailed check revealed by the IP address that the system initially connects to the Comodo server in London, through which all traffic passes. So another benefit is hiding the actual IP address. The TrustConnect feature is very easy to use and very useful.
Slight performance slowdown
Like the free version, Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 showed a significant impact on the system in performance tests. The results were almost identical and differed by no more than 1 percent.
On the other hand, real-time protection didn't practically slow down file operations. Cut, paste, and copy took only 8 percent longer with Comodo, while adding and retrieving from an archive increased by 7 percent. The latest tested antiviruses increased the time by 22 and 16 percent, respectively.
Installing Comodo increased computer boot time by 25 percent. This is twice as much as modern antiviruses, but nevertheless, a good result.
Website loading increased by 35 percent with Comodo Web Protection installed. PC Magazine tests used three machines with different antiviruses on board. When downloading the same resources, Comodo took the longest to complete the task. However, without the use of a synthetic test, the editors of PC Magazine did not notice a difference.
Great choice
Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 provides a huge set of PC security tools. It does not include only spam filter and parental control. On the other hand, not every user will need these features. The GeekBuddy service will cope with almost any trouble on your computer. In addition, the product features a powerful backup tool, an easy-to-use TrustConnect VPN feature that secures wireless connections.
Of course, false positives of heuristic analysis require improvement in technology, and Secure DNS also needs to be improved, because. unable to block the latest phishing threats. Be that as it may, in general, Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 is a good comprehensive protection.
Comodo takes your computer security very seriously by providing competent 24/7 support GeekBuddy, Virus-Free Guarantee and reimbursement for unauthorized use in case of theft. PC Magazine awarded Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 an Editors' Choice Award. It shares this title with Webroot SecureAnywhere Complete 2013 and Norton Internet Security 2013.
Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013:
Advantages
24/7 technical support service GeekBuddy allows you to solve a huge range of problems;
- Antivirus scanner together with GeekBuddy provides excellent protection against malware;
- Virus-Free Guarantee after performing a full scan and compensation for losses associated with unauthorized use of the device in case of theft;
- Anti-Error operating system configuration component, working in conjunction with GeekBuddy;
- Powerful and efficient tools: backup, secure virtual environment, Secure DNS, secure VPN connections;
- Acceptable cost.
Flaws
GeekBuddy specialists failed to install an antivirus on one of the test infected systems;
- Heuristic analysis blocks both potentially dangerous and absolutely safe applications;
- Mediocre protection against phishing.
Overall score
The most important advantage of Comodo Internet Security Complete 2013 is not built-in features, but competent technical support. With the help of the GeekBuddy service, you can solve almost any problem. In addition, you can contact remote technical support.
The Virus Guarantee covers the costs associated with the effects of a virus on a system with Comodo Antivirus installed. You can recover the losses associated with the use of information in case of theft. Having a system configuration tool with GeekBuddy support and a powerful backup and restore utility is a standout recipe.
Is a legitimate remote support service provided by COMODO, however this program may be sometimes bundled with other free software that you download off of the Internet.
Unfortunately, some free downloads do not adequately disclose that other software will also be installed and you may find that you have installed GeekBuddy without your knowledge. COMODO GeekBuddy is typically added when you install another free software that had bundled into their installation this web browse. Most commonly GeekBuddy is bundled within the installers from Cnet, Softonic or other similar custom third-party installers.
You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this COMODO GeekBuddy adware. Be very careful what you agree to install. Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place.
It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don't trust.
How to remove COMODO GeekBuddy adware (Uninstall Guide)
This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the amount of the steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy to understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubts at any point, STOP and.
To remove COMODO GeekBuddy from Windows, follow these steps:
STEP 1: Uninstall COMODO GeekBuddy from Windows
In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious program that might be installed on your computer.
- Go to the uninstall menu.
Windows 10 or Windows 8
Windows 7 or Windows Vista
- When the" Programs and Features” screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and uninstall ““.
To view the most recently installed programs, you can click on the Installed On” column to sort your program by the installation date. Scroll through the list, and uninstall any unwanted or unknown programs.
If you cannot find any unwanted or unknown programs on your machine, then you can proceed with the next step.
If you are having issues while trying to uninstall the COMODO GeekBuddy program, you can use to completely remove this unwanted program from your machine.
STEP 2: Use AdwCleaner to remove adware
Malwarebytes AdwCleaner is a free utility that will scan your computer for adware programs that may have been installed without your knowledge.
- You can download Malwarebytes AdwCleaner from the link below.
MALWAREBYTES ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will start the download of “Malwarebytes AdwCleaner” on your computer) - Before starting Malwarebytes AdwCleaner, close your web browser, then .
If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run Malwarebytes AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
- When the Malwarebytes AdwCleaner program will open, click on the “ Scan”button as shown below.
Malwarebytes AdwCleaner will now start to search for adware and other malicious programs. - To remove the malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the “ clean”button.
- Malwarebytes AdwCleaner will prompt you to save any open files or documents, as the program will need to reboot the computer to complete the cleaning process. Please do so, and then click on the “ OK”button.
When your computer reboots and you are logged in, Malwarebytes AdwCleaner will automatically open a log file that contains the files, registry keys, and programs that were removed from your computer. Please review this log file and then close the notepad window.
STEP 3: Scan and clean your computer with Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a powerful on-demand scanner which will remove the COMODO GeekBuddy Ads from your machine. It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.
- You can download download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from the link below.
(This link will open a new web page from where you can download “Malwarebytes Anti-Malware”) - Once downloaded, close all programs, then double-click on the icon on your desktop named “ mbam-setup" to start the installation of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click Yes” to continue with the installation.
- When the installation begins, you will see the which will guide you through the installation process.
To install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on your machine, keep following the prompts by clicking the" Next”button.
- Once installed, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and will update the antivirus database. To start a system scan you can click on the “ ScanNow”button.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for the COMODO GeekBuddy adware. When Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is scanning it will look like the image below.
- When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes Anti-malware has found, click on the “ Remove Selected”button.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now quarantine all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. When removing the files Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot your computer, please allow it to do so.
STEP 4: Double-check for malicious programs with HitmanPro
HitmanPro can find and remove malware, adware, bots, and other threats that even the best antivirus suite can oftentimes miss. HitmanPro is designed to run alongside your antivirus suite, firewall, and other security tools.
- You can download HitmanPro from the link below:
(This link will open a new web page from where you can download “HitmanPro”) - Double-click on the file named" HitmanPro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “ HitmanPro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows).
Click on the Next” button, to install Hitman Pro on your computer.
- HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malware.
- When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the Next” button, to remove malware.
- Click on the Activate free license”button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
