MY granddaughter downloaded a Slender Mansion game and along with it I got some virus type files. They are data0001 and SPIdentifier, when I go on the internet I run into them and can't get my default home page to load without typing it in. I have Windows installed. Can anyone help.

Thanks, Marie

Have you tried a MalwareBytes scan?

Have you checked your browser preferences to see if the problem is simply that the homepage was changed?

Marie,

It might be this.

"The application spidentifier.exe, “Search Protect Identifier Stub by conduit” by Conduit has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 7 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) installer. This file is typically bundled and installed by the program Open Downloader Manager by opendownloadmanager.com which is a potentially unwanted software program. The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a uility that bundles and monitizes search toolbars and web browser extensions."

If so, it's not a virus, which is something anyway, but it is malware.
Do you have Open Download Manager on your computer?
If you do, start by getting rid of that.
Then if you have Malwarebytes, run it; if you don't, you can download a free version at http://www.malwarebytes.org.

It could be that when download manager or the game was installed, a default option which you have to UNcheck was that you wanted this 'spidentifier' to install.
Explain to your daughter that when she downloads something, she should be very careful not to agree to take things you may not want on your computer.

Good luck!

Gil.

Yes, Traveler and Jenny100 its the spidentiflier.exe, and I'm going to check out the malware and see if I can rid my computer of it.

Thanks, Marie

Just so you understand --
MalwareBytes is not malware.
MalwareBytes gets rid of malware.
spidentifier.exe is malware.

I'm finding this Conduit malware to be more and more invasive. The first couple of times I dealt with it, a simply uninstall did it. Now it's taking Malwarebytes at a minimum and sometimes SuperAntiSpyware to get rid of it. This last one found it lurking in one of the hidden Local files and had to be deleted manually. It is being stealth downloaded even if you UNCHECK everything in a download. At this point I'm telling people to take their downloading vigilance up several notches. Softonic and CNET have been two of the worst culprits.

Be careful out there...

Draclvr, thanks for the warning on CNET and Softonic. I thought they were pretty safe sites. Now I know better.

I used to think that too, Pokey... Learned the hard way on my own computer with CNET. Once could happen with any site, but twice means a pattern to me. Then it happened on two other computers I was called to come look at. Four times is just too many, CNET.

Thanks for the extra info, Draclvr.

:(

Just finished using the Malware program and got rid of problem. Everything is fine now and now I have my homepage back.
Fingers crossed that it doesn't reappear.

Keep Malwarebytes handy, marie. It is very good at this sort of thing. You should probably run a scan with your anti-virus software too just to be sure.

Drac, I'll be sure to do that.

Marie