A fairly common and annoying about:blank virus haunts many PC users. Finding out that your computer is infected is quite simple - all you need to do is log into your Internet browser and see that your start page is now there - an "empty form". The virus brings a lot of inconvenience with its presence.
How dangerous is about:blank?
You might think that a virus cannot do anything supernatural - it costs itself in the browser and costs. It would seem that just the start page is now simply a "blank form", but in reality everything is somewhat different.
About:blank is also a so-called browser hijacker. It can cause great harm to the computer as it attacks the security system. Thus, the Windows recovery system may fail to work. In addition, about:blank is also a Trojan. Is it worth mentioning what such viruses do with a computer and data? It is easy to catch them, but it is very, very difficult to rid yourself of attacks and consequences.
The action of infection is trite - about:blank copies its files to the hard drive of the infected computer, and then registers in the registryautoloading of this virus. You can distinguish it by the autorun file called svhost.exe. With all this, as already mentioned, during the launch of the browser, a new tab about:blank appears. Since the virus is registered in autorun, changing the address of the start page will not help. That's why it's important to know how to get rid of about:blank.
Deletion methods
Where is the "blank form" written? It affects about:blank "Yandex", "Google", "Amigo" and other browsers. You can remove it in several ways. How effective they will be depends only on how well you understand computers and programs.
To begin with, let's consider the most common method - removal using specialized utilities. They are very likely to be able to both remove about:blank and clean the system of other "sticky" programs.
Now we will look at some useful utilities that are quite easy to use.
SpyHunter4
This is the development of the American company EnigmaSoftware. It is able to solve the problem and get rid of the about:blank virus. You will learn how to remove the pest automatically if you use this utility. It works on all Windows systems. The kit includes anti-virus protection. In addition, SpyHunter4 protects files and settings from malicious codes, fixes various browser issues, removes malicious registry entries and all files created by about:blank. The program is easy to use. To youjust run it, then click the "Scan" button and wait for the scan to finish. After that, information about the found malicious files and the operations performed with them will be released.
Security Stronghold
This is a convenient utility, using which you will no longer nervously ask your friends: "About:blank appeared, how to remove it?" It should be used when you are not quite sure whether to delete certain infected files. Conventional software is not able to detect all Trojans and other malicious files that infect your computer. Security Stronghold will solve this problem. Like SpyHunter4, the program searches and removes all registry files and regular files created by about:blank, but gives you the freedom to choose what to touch and what not. This is a fairly fast and lightweight utility. By analogy with many programs, you just need to run a scan, and then choose which files and what to do with. After that, the computer will be cleaned of annoying Trojans.
Manual deletion
If the computer was attacked by about:blank, how do I remove it manually? This is quite an adequate question for those who do not trust a variety of programs. Of course, if you have already somehow caught a virus when downloading software, then it is logical that you do not want to step on the same rake again and ruin the life of your computer in the end. How to get rid of about:blank yourself and manually without using software? This is fairly easy to do, but there are several options. We will now consider the mosta common, albeit longer, method.
Method 1: Processes and Settings
This method of removing about:blank is quite convenient and simple, but requires vigilance. This is due to the fact that you will have to terminate so many system processes. Any mistake can lead to data loss and ineffective "treatment".
1. End processes and close agent-ac.dll, svhost.exe, phafxfa.exe, xea2108l.9zt, cbme.dll, wdm.dll, achpjba.dll, message.
Note: You can find the dll files in the folder: С/Windows/system32.
2. Reset the settings of the browser in which about:blank appeared ("Yandex", "Google Chrome", "Mozilla" or any other). Different browsers have different virus removal algorithms. Don't try to reinstall them - it won't solve the problem anyway.
Internet Explorer
Go to the command search (in Windows XP the path is "Start"/"Open", in Windows 7 and others - "Start"/"Search") and find inetcpl.cpl. After that, select the "Advanced" tab, find the line "Reset browser settings" and double-click on it. Next, delete your personal history settings and wait for the process to complete.
Google Chrome
Go to: C:\Users\"username"\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\UserData (browser installation folder). Find the Default file there and rename it to DefaultBackup. Launch Google Chrome - the settings will be reset.
MozillaFirefox
In the "Help" menu section, select "Troubleshooting Information" and then "Reset Firefox". Wait for the process to finish and click Finish.
Method 2: System Restore
Sometimes clearing the browser doesn't help. Then you need to restore the system. This can also help if about:blank occurs. Now we will see how to rollback the system.
1. Open the Start menu.
2. Find "Utilities" there.
3. Select System Restore. It is important that the computer creates restore points during operation, which will help you roll back the system to the moment when the PC was working properly. When choosing a date, you need to choose the one that was before the about:blank infection. Click "Next" and follow the instructions.
4. Wait for completion. The computer will restart. After restoration, the virus should not appear.
In conclusion
Now you know what about:blank is. How to remove it, we also told. The main thing is to take care of some points in advance:
- create Windows restore points periodically;
- save all important files and data;
- check your computer for viruses from time to time;
- store data in the cloud with passwords;
- Do not download suspicious software to your computer.
Following a simple step-by-step instruction and using our tips, you can provide your computerlong and high-quality life, your files will remain safe and sound, and the new about:blank tab will no longer loot before your eyes.
If none of the described methods help (which happens in extremely advanced cases), you must resort to the last resort: reinstalling the system. You can do it yourself or take the computer to specialists. Remember that the safety of your PC and the safety of files on your hard drive is only in your hands. Solve the problems that have arisen in a timely manner so as not to see the deplorable result.
Good luck!
