Buzz adware (Virus removal guide)

A group of security researchers have discovered a new threat that has been spreading across computer systems worldwide. The threat, known as Buzz, is a malicious adware that can redirect searches, change browser settings, install unwanted toolbars, and display intrusive advertisements, including pop-ups, banners, and full-screen ads.

In this article, we will provide an in-depth analysis of Buzz, including its methods of infection, how it operates, and the potential harm it can cause to users’ privacy, computer performance, and security. We will also discuss the risks associated with adware in general, and provide recommendations for how users can protect themselves against these threats.

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• Buzz adware in detail
• How to remove Buzz
• Tips to Prevent Infection

Buzz adware in detail

Buzz is a harmful computer program that can infect a user’s device through several methods. One way it can infect a computer is through malicious files, such as “Your File is Ready to Download.exe” or “file.vhd.” These files can be downloaded through hacked software, freeware, and other similar software. It is essential to take precautions to avoid adware such as being cautious when downloading software from the internet, avoiding suspicious websites and email attachments, and regularly updating anti-malware software.

Once Buzz infects a computer, it can change browser settings, install unwanted toolbars, and display pop-ups or other types of online advertising. This can significantly slow down a user’s web browser and consume computer resources. Buzz can also act as a backdoor to deliver malware onto the user’s computer and steal data.

Buzz is a serious threat as it can infect a computer with other types of malware such as trojans, ransomware, and cryptominers. Trojans can download and run other dangerous malware, while ransomware can secretly encrypt the victim’s files and demand a ransom to decrypt them. Cryptominers use computer resources to secretly mine cryptocurrency, slowing down the speed of the computer and leading to overheating of the main components of the computer and their failure.

Adware programs like Buzz are commonly used by attackers to redirect users to harmful and deceptive websites. This malicious behavior can result in severe consequences such as system infections, privacy breaches, significant financial losses, and even identity theft. Below are some examples of harmful and deceptive websites:

In summary, Buzz is a malicious program that can cause harm to users by displaying unwanted advertisements, collecting user data, and infecting computers with other types of malware. It is important to take precautions to avoid adware, such as being cautious when downloading software from the internet, avoiding suspicious websites and email attachments, and regularly updating anti-malware software.

Buzz: Methods of Infection and Spread

Buzz can infect a computer in various ways. One of the most common methods is through software bundling. Buzz is included as an optional component alongside legitimate software installation. If the user fails to deselect Buzz during the installation process, it will be installed on their system along with the desired software.

Another way Buzz can infect a computer is through malicious advertising, where attackers use ad networks to distribute malicious ads that, when clicked on, download and install Buzz onto the victim’s computer. These ads can be found on various websites, including those that are normally considered safe and trustworthy.

Examples of scam pages that are designed to trick users into installing malicious software:

In some cases, Buzz can also be spread through spam email campaigns, where the email contains a link to a website that downloads and installs the adware when clicked on. This type of attack is less common, but it still poses a risk to unsuspecting users who may click on the link without realizing the potential consequences.

In conclusion, users must be cautious when downloading and installing software and clicking on links or ads from unknown sources. Regularly running anti-virus software and keeping it up-to-date can help prevent Buzz and other forms of malware from infecting your system.

Threat Summary

Name	Buzz, “Buzz.exe”, “Buzz virus”, “Buzz Technologies Copyright © All rights reserved”, “nwjs”, “nwjs (32 bit)”
Type	Adware
Related software	Your File Is Ready To Download.vhd, Download.vhd, Unknown.vhd, File.vhd, setup.zip, Your File Is Ready To Download.exe
Detection names	Adware.AdSearch.Script.1, Application.AdSearch, Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Script.AdSearch.gen, AdWare:Script/AdSearch.8799f417, PUP/Win.Adserch.R505613, Adware.Win64.AdSearch.dd!i, AdSearch (PUA), Trojan.Gen.MBT, AdWare.Script.gh, A Variant Of JS/Chromex.Agent.BM, W64/AdSearch.B.gen!Eldorado
Symptoms	Pop-up ads, browser redirects, slow computer performance
Damage	System infections, privacy issues, financial losses, identity theft
Prevention	Use ad-blockers, exercise caution when downloading software, avoid clicking on suspicious links and ads, keep browser and operating system up-to-date
Distribution	Software bundling, deceptive ads, fake software updates
Removal	Use reputable antivirus software, scan downloads before installation, keep software up-to-date

Malware examples

On the Internet, users can come across many malicious programs that perform various malicious actions. Among them there are such as Tidings adware, HackTool:Win32/Keygen malware, WhiskerSpy Backdoor Malware, Altruistics Virus, Your File Is Ready To Download.iso virus, although, of course, there are many more.

Some of the malware designed to collect user data, others install ransomware and trojans on computers, and still others add infected computers to botnets, and so on. In any case, each malicious program (adware, browser hijacker, trojan, worm, …) is a huge threat to both user privacy and computer security. Therefore, malicious programs must be removed immediately after detection; using an infected computer is very dangerous.

How to remove Buzz from computer (Malware removal guide)

Removing Buzz from your computer is important to ensure that your system is not vulnerable to further infections, and your privacy is not compromised. To remove Buzz, you can follow these steps: First, uninstall the adware from your Windows Control Panel. Then, remove any suspicious browser extensions and reset your browser settings to their default. It is also recommended to scan your system with a reliable anti-malware software to ensure that no traces of the adware remain. Finally, take preventive measures such as being cautious of downloading unfamiliar software and keeping your system and security software up to date to prevent future infections.

To remove Buzz, use the following steps:

1. Kill Buzz process
2. Disable Buzz start-up
3. Uninstall Buzz related software
4. Scan computer for malware
5. Reset Google Chrome
6. Reset Firefox

Kill Buzz process

Press CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together.

Click Task Manager. Select the “Processes” tab, look for “Buzz”, “Buzz Technologies Copyright © All rights reserved”, “nwjs” then right-click it and select “End Task” or “End Process” option. If your Task Manager does not open or the Windows reports “Task manager has been disabled by your administrator”, then follow the guide: How to Fix Task manager has been disabled by your administrator.

This malware masks itself to avoid detection by imitating legitimate Microsoft Windows processes. A process is particularly suspicious: it’s taking up a lot of memory (despite the fact that you closed all of your applications), its name is not familiar to you (if you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for its name in Google, Yahoo or Bing).

Disable Buzz start-up

Select the “Start-Up” tab, look for something suspicious that is the Buzz Adware, right click to it and select Disable.

Close Task Manager.

Uninstall Buzz related software

Check the list of installed apps on your computer and remove all unknown and recently installed apps. If you see an unknown program with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malware and you should clean it off first with a malware removal utility such as MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.

Windows 7	Windows 8
Click ‘Start’. In the Start menu select ‘Control Panel’. Find and select ‘Programs and Features’ or ‘Uninstall a program’. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows 10	Mac OS
Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	On the top menu select ‘Go’, then ‘Applications’. Drag an unwanted application to the Trash bin. Right-click on the ‘Trash’ and select ‘Empty Trash’.

Scan computer for malware

Antivirus software is a great method to remove Buzz because it’s designed to detect and remove malicious software, including trojans and spyware. The software uses a database of known threats and virus definitions to identify and remove any malicious software that is present on your computer.

Additionally, antivirus software has the ability to scan your entire computer, including all files and system areas, to detect and remove any hidden or persistent threats. This is important because browser hijackers can often hide themselves and change system settings to make them difficult to remove.

You can remove Buzz virus automatically with the help of MalwareBytes AntiMalware. We recommend this malware removal utility because it can easily remove spyware, trojans, browser hijackers, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries for free.

First, visit the page linked below, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of MalwareBytes.

Once the downloading process is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, MalwareBytes will try to update itself and when this procedure is done, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the Buzz Adware. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your personal computer. During the scan MalwareBytes will locate threats exist on your computer. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and click “Quarantine” button.

MalwareBytes is a free malware removal tool that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this software, we advise you to read the guide or follow the video guide below.

If the Buzz is still active on your device, we recommend using Kaspersky virus removal tool (KVRT). It can remove crypto malware, adware, spyware, trojans, worms, potentially unwanted programs, and other security threats from your computer. You can use this tool to search for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.

Download Kaspersky virus removal tool by clicking on the following link. Save it directly to your Windows Desktop.

After the downloading process is complete, double-click on the KVRT icon. Once initialization procedure is complete, you’ll see the KVRT screen as displayed below.

Click “Change Parameters” and set a check near all your drives. Click OK to close the Parameters window. Next click “Start scan” button to scan your computer for Buzz and other known infections. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.

As the scanning ends, Kaspersky virus removal tool will create a list of malware found, as displayed in the figure below.

All detected threats will be marked. You can delete them all by simply clicking Continue.

Reset Google Chrome

In this step we are going to show you how to reset Google Chrome settings. Malware can make changes to your web-browser settings, add toolbars and unwanted extensions. By resetting Chrome settings you will reset unwanted changes caused by malicious software. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.

Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (). It will display the drop-down menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. You can also type chrome://extensions into Chrome’s address bar.

Examine your list of installed extensions and find any that you don’t recognize, you know are malicious or simply want to remove. Click the “Remove” button below the extensions you want to remove. In the pop-up that comes up, click “Remove” once again. The extension box and icon should disappear from the screen.

If the “Remove” option is not available as the extension is being detected as “Installed by administrator” or “Managed by your organization” then the easiest way to fix this is to follow the instructions: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy, Chrome Managed by your organization malware removal guide.

To completely remove any changes made by the Buzz Adware, reset your browser settings to their default values. To do this, go to the Chrome main menu again, click “Settings”. Click Reset settings and then “Restore settings to their original defaults”.

Confirm your action, click the “Reset settings” button.

Reset Firefox

If your Firefox web browser is hijacked by Buzz, then it may be time to perform the browser reset. Keep in mind that resetting your web-browser will not remove your history, bookmarks, passwords, and other saved data.

Start the Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the internet browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will open the slide-out menu.

Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as displayed in the following example.

Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the Buzz virus. Once, it is finished, click the “Finish” button.

How to stay safe online

If you browse the Internet, you can’t avoid malicious ads and scam sites. But you can protect your internet browser against it. Download and use an ad blocking program. AdGuard is an ad-blocker which can filter out a huge number of of the malicious advertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.

1. First, visit the following page, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.
   
   

   Adguard download
   25674 downloads
   Version: 6.4
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: November 15, 2018
   
2. When the downloading process is complete, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” window. Follow the prompts.
3. After the installation is complete, press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block harmful and misleading webpages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, which can be found on your desktop.

Tips to Prevent Infection

Here are some steps you can take to prevent infection from Buzz:

• Only download software from official sources or trusted third-party websites. Avoid downloading from peer-to-peer (P2P) networks or free file hosting websites.
• Avoid using key generators or software cracks to activate software. These tools are often bundled with malware, including Buzz.
• Use reputable antivirus software and keep it up-to-date. Antivirus software can detect and remove malware before it can cause damage to your system.
• Keep your operating system and software up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. These updates often include security fixes that can prevent malware infections.
• Be cautious of suspicious emails or attachments. Hackers often use social engineering tactics to trick users into downloading malware. Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown senders.
• Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and consider using a password manager to help you generate and store strong passwords.
• Use a reputable ad blocker. Ad blockers allow you to browse sites without ads, thus eliminating the possibility of clicking on something malicious and preventing it from being downloaded to the machine.
• Pay for premium versions of popular services. The easiest way to avoid adware is to pay for the service you use. Many Internet services make it possible to use them without ads if you purchase a premium subscription. This helps ensure that malicious adware cannot reach you.

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of infection from Buzz and other types of malware.