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Guide for Removing SMSFromBrowser Malware

What is SMSFromBrowser

SMSFromBrowser is a Browser Extension developed by MindSpark. This extension usually comes bundled up with other software or via online advertising. Allegedly this extension allows you to send SMS messages from your computer, however, all it does is point you to other websites that offer this service.
While active this extension monitors your browsing behavior, it records your website visits, clicks, links, and sometimes even private information, in order to use this data to better serve additional ads. During your browsing sessions, you may encounter additional unwanted ads, sponsored links, and sometimes even pop-up ads.
Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a potentially unwanted extension / Browser Hijacker, and due to its privacy mining behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

Browser hijackers (sometimes referred to as hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that modifies web browser settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an astonishing rate around the world, and they could be actually nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijackers are capable of doing more than just modifying homepages. These are typically used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Though it might seem naive, these tools are made by vicious people who always try to take advantage of you, so that they can easily make money from your naive and distraction. As soon as the program attacks your laptop or computer, it starts to mess things up a whole lot that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worst-case scenario, you will be forced to deal with serious malware threats as well.

Indications of browser hijack

There are many signs of web browser hijacking:
1. home page is changed
2. your browser is constantly being redirected to porn sites
3. the default online search engine and the default browser settings are altered
4. discover new toolbars that you simply didn’t add
5. you notice numerous ads pop up on the browsers or computer screen
6. your browser gets sluggish, buggy crashes very often
7. you can’t go to specific sites such as homepages of anti-malware software.

How it infects your personal computer

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer or laptop when you visit an infected site, click on an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They can be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Some internet browser hijackers spread in user’s PC by using a deceptive software distribution technique known as “bundling” (often through freeware and shareware). A good example of a notorious browser hijacker is the most recent Chinese malware known as “Fireball”, which has attacked 250 million PCs worldwide. It acts as a hijacker but could be turned into a fully functioning malware downloader afterward.

Browser hijackers could interrupt the user’s web surfing experience greatly, keep track of the websites visited by users and steal financial information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability problems, making applications and computers freeze.

Removal

Some types of browser hijackers can be effortlessly removed from your PC by deleting malicious applications or any other recently added freeware. Many times, it could be a tough job to discover and get rid of the malicious program because the associated file will be running as part of the operating system process. And there’s no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal methods can be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. Also, there are several risks associated with fiddling around with the pc registry files.

Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing and running an anti-malware application on the affected computer. To remove any browser hijacker from your PC, you can download the following professional malware removal program – Safebytes Anti-Malware. And utilize a system optimizer, such as Safebytes Anti-Malware, to erase all associated files in the registry and repair browser problems. All malware is detrimental and the degree of the damage may vary greatly according to the type of infection. Certain malware types alter web browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit some or all internet sites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to eliminate the infection. If you’re reading this article, odds are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Follow the instructions below to get rid of the malware by alternative methods.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could very well block the attempt. Just bare minimum required programs and services are loaded whenever you boot your PC into Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below.

1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your PC boots, however, before the large Windows logo shows up. This would invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu.
2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER.
3) Once this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, get the malware removal application you need by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the installation wizard.
4) Right after the software is installed, let the diagnostic scan run to eliminate trojans and other malware automatically.

Use an alternate internet browser to download an antivirus application
Some malware only targets specific web browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another browser as it might circumvent the virus. The best way to avoid this problem is to opt for an internet browser that is known for its security measures. Firefox has built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you secure online.

Create a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another option is to store and run an antivirus software program completely from a Flash drive. To run anti-malware from a flash drive, follow these simple steps:
1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware.
2) Insert the pen drive on the same PC.
3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file extension.
4) Choose the USB flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow the directions to complete the installation process.
5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected computer system.
6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application.
7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

These days, an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from various types of internet threats. But wait, how to select the best one amongst plenty of malware protection applications that are available on the market? You may be aware, there are several anti-malware companies and products for you to consider. Some of them are good, some are ok types, and some will ruin your PC themselves! You need to be very careful not to select the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a premium application. When it comes to commercial antimalware tool options, many people opt for well-known brands, like SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it.

SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time anti-malware application that is created to assist the average computer end user in safeguarding their computer from malicious internet threats. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections caused by various kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).

SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to various other anti-malware programs. A few of them are given as below:

Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your personal computer limiting malware attacks instantly. They are extremely effective in screening and removing various threats because they’re continuously revised with new updates and alerts.

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is made on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines will detect and get rid of threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak.

Internet Security: SafeBytes inspects the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and informs you if the website is safe to visit or not, through its unique safety rating system.

Low CPU Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and anti-malware solution. Since it uses minimum computer resources, this application leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually.

24/7 Online Tech Support: You may get absolutely free 24/7 technical support from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security concerns.

SafeBytes will keep your personal computer safe from the latest malware threats automatically with almost no input needed from you again. Once you have downloaded and installed this software, you will no longer have to bother about malware or any other security concerns. You will get the best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes anti-malware subscription, there isn’t any doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SMSFromBrowser without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser.

To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.
The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by SMSFromBrowser

Files:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsSMSfromBrowser
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Start MenuProgramsSMSfromBrowser
%LOCALAPPDATA%SMSfromBrowserTooltab
%UserProfile%Local SettingsApplication DataSMSfromBrowserTooltab

Registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper ObjectsFFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper ObjectsFFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettingsFFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettingsB1D7EA4A-79CA-454E-897F-F5A052E467F6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: 3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: B1D7EA4A-79CA-454E-897F-F5A052E467F6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: FFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: B1D7EA4A-79CA-454E-897F-F5A052E467F6
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASMANCS
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASMANCS
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASAPI32
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASAPI32
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAppDataLowHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSMSfromBrowser_f7
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragesmsfrombrowser.dl.myway.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSMSfromBrowser
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware[APPLICATION]MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall..Uninstaller

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Solution for Case 1

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Note: If it happens that the Windows Update client is broken, you need to run the following command to repair it then restart your PC and click on Update once again.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess
Note: The Windows Upgrade error, with error code 80240020 is an expected error message that happens when the upgrade requires customer user action. Thus, you need to do the following steps to resolve this particular Windows Upgrade error.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • After that, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdate
  • Now right click on WindowsUpdate located in the left pane and then create a new key and name it as “OSUpgrade
  • Next, right-click in an empty space in the left pane and create a new DWORD and name it “AllowOSUpgrade” and enter “1” as its value.

Option 3 – Try running the Windows Update in a Clean Boot State.

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can also help you install Windows Updates or Upgrades without any trouble because, during this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.
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Microsoft Surface Dial fails to pair with PC
One of the most interesting innovations that were released by Microsoft is the Surface Dial. This only goes to show that Microsoft is very competent not just in hardware but in overall innovation. Although it’s quite a piece of technology and as far as the consensus is concerned, it works pretty well, there are still some issues encountered by users. One of the particular issues experienced by users is that the Surface Dial fails to pair with every Windows 10 PC. At a time of writing, it is still not clear what the cause of the problem really is. However, their possible solutions are provided in this post that might help you resolve the problem. Before you get started troubleshooting the problem, make sure that there are two AAA batteries fitted inside properly.

Option 1 – Check if your PC supports Bluetooth 4.0 LE

In case you don’t know, the Surface Dial only works with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update and later PCs that support Bluetooth 4.0 LE. Thus, you have to check if this is supported or not before you troubleshoot further.
  • Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
  • From there, click on Bluetooth and select “Microsoft Bluetooth LE Enumerator” from the drop-down menu. However, if it is not there, then it simply means that your computer does not support this standard which is most likely why you were unable to pair with other Windows 10 PCs. On the other hand, if you were able to see it, then proceed to the next troubleshooting steps below.

Option 2 – Check if Bluetooth is on

The next thing you have to do is to check if Bluetooth is turned on. As you know, the Surface Dial connects to your computer using Bluetooth and so you need to check if it’s really on or not. Aside from that, you also have to verify pairing.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Windows Settings.
  • Next, select Devices from the menu and click on Bluetooth.
  • After that, make sure that the toggle switch for Bluetooth is turned on.
  • Now all you have to do is to verify pairing by pressing and holding the pairing button located beside the batteries and then wait for a few seconds until the Bluetooth light begins to flash.
  • Then go back to the Bluetooth section and click on Bluetooth or other devices.
  • From there, click on Add Bluetooth and select Surface Dial.
  • Follow the next instructions on the screen and click on Done once everything is completed. That should fix the problem.

Option 3 – Check if Surface Dial is connected to another PC

If you think that connecting a Bluetooth device to two different PCs at the same time is wise, then think again as it does not really bode well for the overall user experience. Thus, you need to disconnect the Surface Dial from the system that you are currently using. On the other hand, if everything fails, then it’s most likely that the Bluetooth adapter is the one at fault. So you may have to get a third-party device that connects to your system via USB and then see if it works or not.
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Repairing or rebuilding the WMI Repository
There are times when the WMI Repository gets corrupted which results in the Provider Load Failure. To resolve this issue, you need to repair or rebuild the WMI Repository in your Windows 10 computer. In this post, you will be guided on how exactly you can do that. In case you don’t know, the WMI which stands for Windows Management Instrumentation is a set of specifications from Microsoft to consolidate the management of devices and applications in a network. The WMI is a database that stores meta-information and definitions for WMI classes. Using only these, the conditions of the systems can be known. You can find the WMI Repository in %windir%System32WbemRepository. It provides end-users with the status of the local or remote computer system. Keep in mind that you must not use this on the Server 2012 Cluster machine. Although there are command-line tools that can fix or restore the Windows Management Instrumentation repository. However, Microsoft suggests that it’s better if you verify if there is corruption. Here are a list of errors as well as permission issues you might encounter:
  • Unable to connect to root default or rootcimv2 namespaces. It fails with the error code “0x80041002” pointing to “WBEM_E_NOT_FOUND.”
  • 0x80041010 WBEM_E_INVALID_CLASS
  • When you open Computer Management and Right Click on Computer Management (Local) and select Properties, you get the following error: “ WMI: Not Found” or it hangs trying to connect
  • Trying to use wbemtest , and it hangs
  • Schemas/Objects missing
  • Strange connection/operation errors (0x8007054e)
To verify if there is corruption, you can try running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:
winmgmt /verifyrepository
 After you enter the command, if there is a response saying, “repository is not consistent”, then the repository has an issue. If not, then something else is causing the problem. Since you are certain that corruption exists in the WMI repository, then here are some suggestions you need to check out to repair or rebuild the WMI repository.

Option 1 – Try to reset WMI Repository

  • Type “command prompt” in the Start Search and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and then select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type and enter this command: winmmgmt /salvagerepository
The command you entered is used when the winmmgmt command performs a consistency check. So if an inconsistency is detected, it will rebuild the repository.
  • Next, execute this command to see if the WMI repository now comes back as consistent: winmgmt /verifyrepository
This command will perform a consistency check on the WMI repository.
  • If it states that the WMI repository is not consistent, then you need to type and enter this command: winmgmt /resetrepository
This command is used to reset the repository to its initial state when the operating system was first installed.

Option 2 – Try to force recover the WMI Repository

The WMI Repository comes with a built-in self-recovery process so when the WMI service restarts or detects any corruption, it will automatically trigger the self-recovery procedure. This can happen in two ways:
  • AutoRestore: This will use the backup images if the Volume Shadow copy or VSS backup is turned on.
  • AutoRecovery: The rebuilding process will generate fresh images of the WMI repository based on the registered MOFs. The MOFs are available in the registry located at HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWBEMCIMOM: Autorecover MOFs
Note: Autorecover MOFs is a key so double click on it to check its value. On the other hand, if the self-recovery procedure does not work, you can try to use the force-recovery process instead. How? Refer to these steps:
  • First, you need to check the reg key value is empty or not under this registry path: HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWBEMCIMOMAutorecover MOFs
  • If the reg key value is empty, you have to copy-paste the reg key value from another computer. Just make sure that it’s from the System which is equivalent to the computer in question.
  • Next, type and enter this command: Winmgmt /resetrepository
  • After you enter the command, if you get an error that says, “WMI repository reset failed. Error code:0x8007041B. Facility: Win32”, then you have to stop all the Dependency Services on the WMI service by running the following commands:
    • net stop winmgmt /y
    • Winmgmt /resetrepository
This should fix the problem.
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Windows can’t find one of the files in theme
Recently, a number of Windows 10 users getting an error on their computers that state, “Windows can’t find one of the files in this theme”. According to the affected users, this error occurs at random times even when they didn’t make any changes to their computer’s theme prior to getting the error. If you are one of these users, read on as this post will help you resolve this problem. If you click on the Yes button of the dialog box where the error is displayed, it won’t fix the problem as you will still get the same error from time to time. This kind of error could be caused by the executable file named “SettingSyncHost.exe”. It is possible that this executable file is unable to sync your theme all over your computer. On the other hand, it could also be due to some problems with the active theme. To resolve this issue, you can try to change the active theme, or disable the custom screensaver or disable theme syncing on your computer, as well as run a System File Checker or run the DISM tool. For more instructions, follow the options given below.

Option 1 – Try to change the active theme

The first thing you can do to fix the error is to change the active theme of your computer since the SettingSyncHost.exe file might not be able to properly sync the theme on the computer.
  • Go to Settings and click on Personalization.
  • Next, click on Themes and scroll down to apply a theme, and change the theme of the operating system.
  • After that, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “%windir%ResourcesThemes” in the field, and then tap Enter to open the folder where the theme files are located.
  • Once you’re done, right-click and select delete for the active theme to remove the theme and its resources. This should fix the root cause of the problem. If not you can try to create a new Windows 10 theme and save it.

Option 2 – Try to disable the custom screensaver

The custom screensaver is a part of the mechanism of the lock screen. Although they were needed in the earlier Windows versions to prevent the discoloration of CRT monitor screens, they are no longer needed in the current version of Windows. Thus, you can try to disable it as it could be the one that’s causing the problem.
  • Click on the Start button and go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
  • Here, scroll down and click on the Screen Saver settings.
  • After that, select the “Screen saver to (None)” option from the drop-down menu. This will disable the custom screensaver.

Option 3 – Try to disable theme syncing on your computer

You could also try to disable the theme sync feature to fix the problem. This has worked out for some users. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Click on the Start button and go to Settings > Account > Sync your settings.
  • From there, toggle off Themes in the individual sync settings column. This will disable the Theme syncing.
  • Restart your computer and see if the problem is now fixed.

Option 4 – Run the DISM tool

The next thing you can do is run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the “Windows can’t find one of the files in this theme” error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:
  • Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
  • After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the “Windows can’t find one of the files in this theme” error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
  • Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  • Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.
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