Zango Adware Removal

[Thurston Garden]

I discovered that my Mum has somehow got Zango installed deep within her machine. I have tried all the usual (and searched Google) remedies to no avail.

Does anyone know of a way to remove this withough shelling out any cash?

I don't think it's that dangerous, but I would be happier if she could get rid!

Ta.

[Green Aura]

OH sent me this for you (from the other room!!!)

http://www.pchell.com/support/zango.shtml

Scroll down to the "How do I remove..." section.

Hope it helps.

[Thurston Garden]

Thanks Maggie and OH! Sadly Zango does not appear in the add/remove programmes list, which is one of the reasons I am stuck.

[Green Aura]

Ok, OH says it may just be remnants left from a previous uninstall, but he suggests you download and run the uninstaller anyway, it'll do it for you without having to go to add/remove.

Then, if you feel confident, run the hijack this programme, which was above the bit you've just used. It scans everything at start up, but you need to know what to tick. So if you don't know, don't do it.

[Thurston Garden]

I can only seem to find the remnants when I do a PC Tools Spyware Doctor scan. Mum has not knowingly installed Zango. Can you ask OH if I should install it and then uninstalland see if this removes it?

(My Mum lives 40 miles away and I am thinking about running LogMeIn on her machine - I already have it on mine for the work IT bod - so I can dial in to hers when she needs help).

[Green Aura]

Right, I've spoken to the chap and he's said several things which I will now try to faithfully relay.

1) Your mum (or whoever else gets to play) will almost certainly have inadvertently installed the Zango with something else, without noticing. The license agreement will probably have mentioned it somewhere obscure.

2) It's not a virus, or malicious, it's there to enable certain ads to run

3) Don't install it again, you may get a different version, and then have remnants of two different versions lingering.

4) Do the uninstall as above and if anything is left after that, either rename the files or move them to the recycling bin, until you've checked they're not serving any constructive purpose, then delete them.

5) If you've got the logmein thing then it's fine to use that.

I think that's it. Good luck.

[Thurston Garden]

Excellent relaying - all makes sense. The problem is that the uninstall option does not work because neither of the programs are there to be uninstalled. Only Spyware Doctor picks it up in a scan and then wants £30 to upgrade so it can remove it.

[Green Aura]

Just rename them then and move them to the recycle bin. If there is anything still running it'll look for the original file name, so it may complain about not being able to find them. If you don't get any warnings/errors about missing files then proceed. And if you're happy there are no side effects from this then delete them

[Thurston Garden]

Thanks both. I shall give it a go on my next parental visit