| What is
SurfSideKick? SurfSideKick is an adware program that displays ads in a popup windows as you surf the Internet. Its "features" include 404 Assistance, Sponsored Search Results, Relevant Websites, and other offes. The Title Bar of these popup ads will read "This ad is brought to you by www.surfsidekick.com. Please visit to remove our ads or learn more" It appears SurfsideKick has mutated into another company, or at least the software has, since Deluxe Communications is showing ads very similar to SurfsideKick that read "This offer is brought to you by your personal Deluxe Communications. For more info visit www.dxcdirect.com" Both of these adware products use same methods and techniques. |
How
Do I Remove SurfSideKick or DxcDirect (Deluxe Communications)?
Before attempting this removal procedure, download the following removal tool to your desktop.
- HijackThis 1.99.1 - Essential tool for finding spyware, virus, trojan, and other problems
Removal Procedure (you will want to print these out)
1) Download the programs above to your desktop, extract and install them.
2) Close all open Internet Explorer and other browser windows
4) Open Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and uninstall the following programs
- Surf Sidekick
- Surf Sidekick 2
- Surf Sidekick 3
- Deluxe
Communications
5) If none of the above programs are found in the Add/Remove Programs section, follow these steps:
- Close Control Panel
- Click on Start, Run
- In the
Open line, type the following command and click Ok
C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\Ssk.exe /u
for Deluxe Communications, type the following command and click Ok
C:\Program Files\DeluxeCommunications\Dxc.exe /u
- An uninstall window should open asking for a code shown. Type in the code and continue with the uninstall. Then it will ask you to reboot. After rebooting continue with these instructions.
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {000AB005-FF12-42C2-8DF5-39E12E5F9C91} - (no file)
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {000AB005-FF12-42C2-8DF5-39E12E5F9C91} - C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\SskBho.dll
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {A8BD6820-6ED7-423E-9558-2D1486B0FEEA} - C:\Program Files\DeluxeCommunications\DxcBho.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\Ssk.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SurfSideKick] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick\Ssk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SurfSideKick 3] C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\Ssk.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DeluxeCommunications] C:\Program Files\DeluxeCommunications\Dxc.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeluxeCommunications] C:\Program Files\DeluxeCommunications\Dxc.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CU1] C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\VCClient.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CU2] C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\VCMain.exe
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: repairs.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: repairs302972943.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: dxclib303562752.dll
7) Reboot your computer
8) Search for and delete the following files and directories if they still exist
C:\Program Files\SurfSideKick 3\
C:\Program Files\Deluxe Communications\
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient\
Dxcknwrd.dll
Dxccwrd.dll
Sskknwrd.dll
Ssk.log
SskUpdater.exe
Ssk.exe
The key to the whole uninstall is the file repairs.dll or repairs*randomnumber*.dll that loads as an AppInit_DLL. Trying to delete SurfsideKick without uninstalling it wont work because the repairs.dll file will reinstall it on the next reboot. If you are trying to remove this pest simply by deleting the files, then I would suggest using the procedure in my Look2Me removal instructions for using a Windows XP boot CD to delete the files. You may also want to review my page on how to delete an undeletable file.
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