What is ScanGuard and how do I remove it?
ScanGuard
Learn what ScanGuard is and how to remove ScanGuard, viruses, malware, PUPs, and other malicious threats from your computer.
What is ScanGuard?
ScanGuard is recognized as a potentially unwanted program (or PUP) by top security programs such as Malwarebytes. The detection for ScanGuard is PUP.Optional.ScanGuard. It will be detected and listed as a threat by the security program. The user has the choice to quarantine and remove the potential threat after a scan of the computer system is complete. Computer security software will real-time protection will stop this program from installing, remove the program, or prompt a message to automatically remove it.
The ScanGuard program is usually advertised on websites that also advertise malware, adware, spyware, computer viruses, and other malicious threats. Websites that contain prohibited content such as video streams, torrents, and pornography will utilize unethical adverting networks that will bolster this program and other threats at the same time. This means that if you found ScanGuard installed on your computer without your knowledge it is likely that your computer is also infected with other unwanted programs, malware, and major security threats.
ScanGuard is promoted as an Antivirus program that will detect and remove threats from your computer. The program is not free to use; However, it is not promoted in advertisements as free or a full product which can be misleading to those who manually install it from various sources. In addition, the website scanguard.com is essentially an advertisement for the full program and does not contain much information about features or anything else.
The program interface itself does promote itself as a “Free Copy.” Before you use the program it says “Register Your Free Copy Now” and asks for your full name, email address, and a password. It also says “Enter your details to instantly activate Scanguard Security Suite.” It is unknown what will be done with your information. You might expect unwanted emails from the publisher and third-parties. The policy is not exactly clear about what it will do with your email address and full name.
When we tested the product’s scanning feature it did find 2 threats compared to Malwarebytes which found 2,956 threats. This means that the program is not great and will not detect and remove much from your computer if you ever find yourself in trouble. I would not recommend that you use this program if your computer is infected with malware and other malicious files.
Once the ScanGuard scan is complete it will provide you with a button to fix issues that it found. If you click the button it will open a new browser window with options to purchase the program for around $50 USD. The program will not remove anything it has detected unless you pay the price. Compared to Malwarebytes which cost much less this sounds like a total rip off since this program only detected 2 malicious files compared to Malwarebytes 2,956 files.
The program will also show various pop-up messages once installed if it detects a threat on your computer. The message is the same for every threat even if it is mild or severe (malware or not malware).
High Risk Located
Malware Threat Located
We recommend you block this threat now to prevent it from harming your computer or personal information.
Google’s virustotal.com website also shows that the executable ScanGuard.exe file used to install the program is detected by Malwarebytes as PUP.Optional.ScanGuard. The ScanGuard program is relatively new and I assume other Antivirus and Antimalware programs will add it to their database shortly.
Follow the ScanGuard removal instructions on this page to remove ScanGuard, viruses, malware, and other threats from your computer.
How do I remove ScanGuard?
STEP 1: Remove malware from your computer
1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software to scan your computer and remove malicious files and potentially unwanted programs.
2. To install the program, click the file you just downloaded. It can usually be located in the Download folder.
3. A window that says “Welcome to the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard” will appear. Click Agree and Install to begin the installation. Once complete, click Finish.
4. Now the Malwarebytes is installed, open the program and click the Scan Now button – or go to the Scan tab and click the Start Scan button.
3. When the scan is complete click the Quarantine Selected button.
4. If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.
5. Next, Download HitmanPro to perform a second-opinion scan and remove any remaining malicious trace files.
6. Once installed, open HitmanPro and click Next to start scanning your computer. *If you are using the free version you may chose to create a copy or perform a one-time scan.
7. When the HitmanPro scan is complete click the Next button.
8. To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
9. Click the Reboot button.
Your computer should now be completely free of ScanGuard Extension and other malicious files; However, you can still use the manual repair and uninstall instructions below if your browser settings have not been repaired or if you think an unwanted program is still installed on your machine.
STEP 2: Uninstall potentially unwanted programs
If you are infected with potentially unwanted programs you might be able to uninstall the PUP and other programs that might have installed with it from your computer. Use these instructions to uninstall unwanted programs that may have installed on your machine. If you do not find a program installed on your machine make sure to scan your computer for malware using the instructions above.
1. Right-click Windows start menu and select Programs and Features (or open the start menu and go to the Control Panel and click Uninstall a program).
2. Find the program you want to uninstall in the list of installed programs and double-click it to begin the uninstall process (or click the program with your mouse and then click the Uninstall button that appears).
STEP 3: Remove malicious browser extensions
In many cases, rogue and malicious browser extensions may have been installed by a third-party program.
Chrome
1. Open the Customize and control Google Chrome menu and go to More tools > Extensions.
2. Find the ScanGuard extension in the list and click the Remove button to remove it.
- How to change your Google Chrome homepage
- How to change your Google Chrome search engine
- How to remove extensions from Chrome
Firefox
- How to change your Mozilla Firefox homepage
- How to change your Mozilla Firefox search engine
- How to remove add-ons from Firefox
Internet Explorer
- How to change your Microsoft Internet Explorer homepage
- How to change your Microsoft Internet Explorer search engine
- How to remove add-ons from Internet Explorer
Safari
