Remove "IMAGE-SCOUT" virus (Removal Guide)

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What is IMAGE-SCOUT?

IMAGE-SCOUT is classified as Win32:PUP-gen (potentially unwanted program).

IMAGE-SCOUT detected as image-scout.
What is PUP? PUP is crapware.
IMAGE-SCOUT have several types of unwanted behaviour:

  1. Displaying popup ads.
  2. Hijacking your browser.
  3. Infecting your desktop shortcuts, etc.
  4. Inserting ads to the web pages.
 

IMAGE-SCOUT can redirect your browser search, collect your personal information and sell it for advertising.
IMAGE-SCOUT is usually hard in removing. Some people could not find uninstall program for IMAGE-SCOUT in the Control Panel.
Sometimes IMAGE-SCOUT uninstaller does not work.

 

How IMAGE-SCOUT got on your computer?

Usually you got IMAGE-SCOUT with as part of a bundle with another tool you downloaded from the Internet. Since IMAGE-SCOUT manufacturer pays software developers for distributing IMAGE-SCOUT within their applications, IMAGE-SCOUT is often included as part of the installer.
Usually, you have not only one IMAGE-SCOUT problem, but a bunch of similar WIN32:PUPs.

You have 2 ways to remove IMAGE-SCOUT:

You have 2 ways

Remove it automatically1. Remove Automatically.
Remove it manually2. Remove Manually.

Why I recommend you to use an automatic way?

  1. You know only one virus name: "IMAGE-SCOUT", but usually you have infected by a bunch of viruses.
    The UnHackMe program detects this threat and all others.
  2. UnHackMe is quite fast! You need only 5 minutes to check your PC.
  3. UnHackMe uses the special features to remove hard in removal viruses. If you remove a virus manually, it can prevent deleting using a self-protecting module. If you even delete the virus, it may recreate himself by a stealthy module.
  4. UnHackMe is small and compatible with any antivirus.
  5. UnHackMe is fully free for 30-days!

Here’s how to remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus automatically:

STEP 1: Install UnHackMe (1 minute)

STEP 2: Scan for malware using UnHackMe (1 minute)

STEP 3: Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus (3 minutes)

So it was much easier to fix such problem automatically, wasn't it?
That is why I strongly advise you to use UnHackMe for remove IMAGE-SCOUT redirect or other unwanted software.

How to remove IMAGE-SCOUT manually:

STEP 1: Check all shortcuts of your browsers on your desktop, taskbar and in the Start menu. Right click on your shortcut and change it's properties.

http://…

You can see IMAGE-SCOUT or another web site at the end of shortcut target (command line). Remove it and save changes.

In addition, check this command line for fake browser's trick.
For example, if a shortcut points to Google Chrome, it must have the path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe.
Fake browser may be: …\Appdata\Roaming\HPReyos\ReyosStarter3.exe.
Also the file name may be: “chromium.exe” instead of chrome.exe.

STEP 2: Investigate the list of installed programs and uninstall all unknown recently installed programs.

check installed programs to uninstall

STEP 3: Open Task Manager and close all processes, related to IMAGE-SCOUT in their description. Discover the directories where such processes start. Search for random or strange file names.

Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus from running processes

Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus from running processes

STEP 4: Inspect the Windows services. Press Win+R, type in: services.msc and press OK.

Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus from Windows services

Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus from Windows services

Disable the services with random names or contains IMAGE-SCOUT in it's name or description.

STEP 5: After that press Win+R, type in: taskschd.msc and press OK to open Windows Task Scheduler.
Remove IMAGE-SCOUT from scheduled task list.

Delete any task related to IMAGE-SCOUT. Disable unknown tasks with random names.

STEP 6: Clear the Windows registry from IMAGE-SCOUT virus.
Press Win+R, type in: regedit.exe and press OK.

Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus from Windows registry

Remove IMAGE-SCOUT virus from Windows registry

Find and delete all keys/values contains IMAGE-SCOUT.

STEP 7: Remove IMAGE-SCOUT from Google Chrome.
Remove IMAGE-SCOUT Virus from Chrome Extensions

STEP 8: Remove IMAGE-SCOUT from Internet Explorer.

Set Internet Explorer Homepage

Set Internet Explorer Homepage

STEP 9: Remove IMAGE-SCOUT from Mozilla Firefox.

Change Firefox Home Page

Change Firefox Home Page

STEP 10: And at the end, clear your basket, temporal files, browser's cache.

But if you miss any of these steps and only one part of virus remains – it will come back again immediately or after reboot.

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