Fear Setup Malware Removal

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Fear Setup is yet another adware parasite. This menace sneaks into your computer and makes a mess out of your web browsers. Chrome, Firefox, Edge – there is no immune program. The adware alters their settings and turns them into ad-displaying platforms. Brace yourself! Once the parasite gets your browser under control, it wastes no time and floods you with unreliable ads. The adware inserts various banners on every website you load, opens pop-ups, plays commercials. And it doesn’t stop here! The parasite also pushes annoying notifications that urge you to “Accept” unwanted modifications, as well as loads third-party websites in new tabs. Click nothing, of course! The adware has no filters nor security mechanisms. Its ads often redirect traffic to deceptive and corrupted websites. Many crooks use such parasites to lure people into online traps. They employ adware to spread deceptive ads that arise unwarranted expectations at best. At worst, they trick you into infecting your computer with malware. Do not test your luck! Fear Setup is a hazardous parasite that has no place on your computer. Remove it before it gets a chance to cause you harm!

How did I get infected with?

Corrupted links, fake updates, malvertising, spam messages, pirated software – there are myriads of adware distribution methods. And Fear Setup uses all known tricks. Don’t, however, overestimate the parasite. Its tricks are not flawless. They rely on your negligence. The thing about the adware parasites is that these intruders can’t get installed without the user’s permission. They need you to approve their access. No permission, no admission! The rule is simple, yet, there is a catch. Having to seek approval is not the same as having to do so outright. The adware is a trickster that steals your “yes” in the sneakiest way possible. This menace hides in print and infects your computer when you “forget” to deny it access. Don’t make that mistake! No anti-virus app can protect you if you throw caution to the wind. Only your diligence can prevent infections. So, don’t be lazy! Make the right decision – choose caution over carelessness. Don’t visit questionable websites. Download software and updates from reliable (preferably official) sources only. And, of course, don’t skip installation steps. Forget about the “Next-Next-Finish” strategy. Opt for the advanced/custom setup wizard. Deselect the bonus apps and go through the terms and conditions. Don’t hesitate to abort an installation process if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

Fear Setup is a complete and utter menace. It sneaks into your computer and ruins your browsing experience. The adware floods you with ads and redirects your web traffic. It uses every opportunity to interfere with your activities. Don’t, however, mistake it for a mere annoyance. This intruder is not a full-fledged virus, but it can help malware sneak into your computer. And as if that’s not dangerous enough, but it also jeopardizes your privacy! Confused? Just take a close look at its ads and you’ll realize that the corruption is worse than you’ve originally imagined. Fear Setup doesn’t display random ads. Its banners, hyperlinks, and pop-ups are related to your recent online activities. That’s how this parasite operates. It studies your browsing habits and uses your preferences against you! Do you think that ends well? Fear Setup spies on you from day one. When it gathers enough data, it wastes no time and sells everything! Any crook out there can buy your information. If you run out of luck, some pieces of data, your search queries, for example, may provide them with personal and financial details! Do not risk it! Remove the adware now! That’s your best course of action. So, don’t waste time in debates – remove the parasite!

How to Remove Fear Setup virus

The Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Fear Setup startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup

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 Fear Setup, 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 Fear Setup 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 Fear Setup 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.