Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu, Is It Virus and How to Remove?
Technical Analysis on Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu
The prefix “Not-a-virus” has stated clearly that the detected item it not a virus rather than a sham or distraction. “Adware” indicates that not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu would trigger pop-up ads. “Win32” means that the detection mainly appears on 32 bit Windows. “Agent” implies that the detection is considered to be dangerous by installed anti-virus programs while there’s no solution in virus reservoir yet.
Note: it should be widely informed that all security utilities catch and remove virus based on the malicious attribute code or behaviors recorded in virus reservoir. Supposed that a new infection with some typical malicious attribute code but with slight modifications is emerging, the new infection will be caught but not be removed successfully automatically.
Troubles Caused by Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu
- Random popup ads would be caught in sight to ruin surfing experience.
- More processes like explorer.exe or the ones concerning web browsers might occur to consume limited internal resources.
- The computer could be degraded in the overall performance and the page –loading speed would be considerably slowed down.
- Additional infections spreading through the Internet might be detected after getting harassed by not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu.
Remove Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu Quickly
It is better to remove not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu as soon as possible to prevent some unforeseeable troubles and problems. Though it is not a virus, being caught by security program indicates that not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu acts some how like a recorded virus.
In Most cases, pop ups like gnp.ciopt.net (read more) are not geared or supported by the items like not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu, they mostly hijack a machine with some web browser techniques such as BHO and JS.
Having not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu without being removed easily, something must have been modified deep in system configuration. As a consequence, incompactness could be triggered, making the machine to be the target by some infections affecting vulnerability.
Besides, as we all know that pop-up ads are created to promote products. More business can be driven by larger traffic and wider cooperative ties. That’s why web applications are introducing each other once getting into a machine. From this, it can be inferred that not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu aims at directing traffic. Once the ads supported by the adware are concluded in the radar of certain virus, it could be bad:
- not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu will be utilized to call internal processes to execute vicious tasks without being stopped by the system.
- the BHO and JS techniques will thus be taken advantage of by certain virus to ensure automatic start and record confidential information like log-in credentials.
To remove not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu and to make the machine stronger, it is recommended to remove not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu as soon as possible; otherwise, chances are that other infections worm into the same system to cause more complex troubles which need more time and steps. Below is the manual method to follow up. Should there be any difficulty, please do feel free to consult security assistance from VilmaTech Online Support for one-to-one help.
Experts Show How to Remove Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu
Step One – Bring up Task Manager to end the processes related to not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu.
1. bring up Task Manager.
- Press down Win key and R key together to get a Run box.
- Put in “cmd” and hit Enter key.
- See a flashing line/slash? Type “taskkill.exe /im msblast.exe” and hit Enter key and you will access Task Manager.
2. find out the processes related to not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu and end them.
- Browse to View tab to choose “Select Columns”.
- Check “Image Path Name” and PID.
- Then go for All Programs (All Apps for Windows8 users) from Start menu (Start Screen for Windows8 users) to select Accessories.
- Choose System Tools to double click open System Information.
- Please expand Software Environment and choose Running Tasks.
- You will now see the path for each service and program in the right pane.
- Check for the processes that consume many CPU and end any with the path directing to the place where not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu settles according to the installed anti-virus program.
3. replace explorer.exe
- Download or copy explorer.exe file from other properly working computer and paste it to the one that has not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu.
- Access Task manager there to end explorer.exe and uninstall it from C: \WINNT directory.
- Then implant explorer.exe by creating new task and copy explorer.exe file under C: \WINNT directory.
Step Two – Show hidden files and folders to remove the item generated on the day when the installed anti-virus program told not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu was found.
Windows 7/XP/Vista
- Access ‘Folder Options’ in ‘Control Panel’ window. user accounts and family safety
- Hit View tab to tick ‘Show hidden files and folders and non-tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)’ and conclude the session by pressing on ‘OK’ button.
Windows 8
- Open Windows Explorer on Start screen and browse to View tab.
- Tick ‘File name extensions’ and ‘Hidden items’ options and conclude the session by pressing n “OK” button.
Go to the following directories to remove the ones related to not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu (one should arrange files by day):
C:\Program Files\
C:\Users\[your username]\Documents\
C:\users\user\appdata\local\
C:\Users\AppData\Local\
C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\
C:\Windows
C:\Windows\System32
Step Three – Remove Temp files.
Access the following directories to remove all the Temp files.
C:\Windows\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution
Step Four – Reset browsers.
Internet Explorer
- Click on IE’s Tools menu to select Internet Options.
- Then hit on Advanced tab to press “Restore Defaults”.
Mozilla Firefox
- Click on the Firefox button to access Troubleshooting information under Help option.
- See ‘Reset Firefox’ button? Press on it to reset Firefox.
Google Chrome
- Click on ‘Customize and Control Google Chrome’ menu and select ‘Options’ from drop-down list.
- Navigate to ‘Under the Hood’ tab and press on ‘Reset to Defaults’ button.
How to Stop Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu’s Re-image
Some of the above steps have told PC users how to achieve a complete removal and stop its re-image. But to stop not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu from appearing in the long run, good PC practice is recommended to follow:
- Run scans by installed anti-virus programs regularly to check for vulnerability and any possible infections.
- Update installed programs as well as operating system regularly to guarantee that the machine stays strong.
- Install website monitor, Firewall to help filter junk sites and sites with sensitive content so as to decrease the possibility to be held hostage by not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu.
- Use extra cautions when surfing on the Internet.
Not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu Removal Tip – Defrag
It is obvious that the computer becomes slower day by day in receiving commands and executing tasks. After removing not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu, it could be better but still slow. It is because that some random files without suspicious codes are left in local disk to unreasonably take up limited resources. Therefore, a defrag after the removal is necessary to regain a perfectly running machine. Here’s the video to show how. If you encounter some unexpected issues caused by not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.Agent.aknu that are not listed in this article or you have problems in following the video, please do not hesitate to start a live chat with technicians from
VilmaTech Online Support and get quick fix according to your concrete situation.
Published & last updated on May 7, 2014 by Erik V. Miller
