How to Remove Search.sweetim.com Redirect (Virus Removal Guide)

If searches from your browser’s address bar or from search engines are being redirected through the site Search.sweetim.com, then you most likely have a unwanted browser extension or add on installed.

SweetIM redirect

The Search.sweetim.com redirect is caused by a browser hijacker which is installed by the users, whether that is knowingly or not. Often, this type of program is offered through advertisements or bundled with other software, leaving the user puzzled where this software came from. Browser hijackers are a type of malware created for the purpose of modifying Internet browser settings without the user’s knowledge or consent.

The Search.sweetim.com browser hijacker will change your browser search provider to http://Search.sweetim.com/?q=, which will redirect to search result pages from http://search.yahoo.com. This is most likely done to generate advertising revenue by using Yahoo Search for its search results.
While redirecting, your browser may show the “Connecting to Search.sweetim.com”, “Waiting for Search.sweetim.com”, or “Transferring from Search.sweetim.com” messages in the status bar.

When the Search.sweetim.com browser hijacker is installed on a PC, common symptoms include:

  • Changing the web browser’s default homepage to home.sweetim.com
  • Changing the browser’s search provider, built-in search box to http://search.sweetim.com/search?q=
  • Ability to modify the ‘new tab’ functionality to launch the modified search portal page
  • Loads into the web browser via an extension or add-on
You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this Search.sweetim.com redirectbrowser hijacker. Be very careful what you agree to install.
Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.
The below instructions are for Windows users, however we also have an Android guide and a Mac OS guide which should help clean up your device.

How to remove Search.sweetim.com redirect (Virus Removal Guide)

This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the amount of the steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy to understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
To remove the Search.sweetim.com redirect, follow these steps:

STEP 1 : Uninstall the malicious programs from Windows

In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious program that might be installed on your computer.

Windows 10

To uninstall a program on Windows 10, follow the below steps.

  1. Go to “Apps and Features”.

    Right-click on the Start Windows Start button button in the lower-left corner and select “Apps and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
    Go to Apps and Features in Windows 10

    If you can’t find the “Apps and Features” option in the Start menu, click on the Start Windows Start button button, then go to “Settings” > “Apps”
  2. Find the malicious program and uninstall it.

    The “App and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your PC. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious program, click it, and then click “Uninstall”.

    Known malicious programs: SweetIM, OtherSearches, YeaDesktop, Wajam, 1.0.0.1, DNS Unlocker, Cinema Plus, Price Minus, SalesPlus, New Player, MediaVideosPlayers, Browsers_Apps_Pro, PriceLEess, Pic Enhance, Sm23mS, Salus, Network System Driver, SS8, Save Daily Deals, Word Proser, Desktop Temperature Monitor, CloudScout Parental Control, Savefier, Savepass, HostSecurePlugin, CheckMeUp or HD-V2.2.

    The malicious program may have a different name on your computer. If you cannot find any malicious programs on your PC, you can proceed with the next step

    Click on the malicious program than click on the Uninstall button - Windows 10

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the program.

    You will now see a pop-up window informing you that the program and its related info will be uninstalled. Click on the “Uninstall” button to complete the process (you may also see a pop-up asking if you want to let this program make changes to your computer, hit “Yes” to proceed).

    Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.

    Click again on the Uninstall button to remove the malicious program - Windows 10

Windows 8

To uninstall a program on Windows 8, follow the below steps.

  1. Go to “Program and Features”.

    Right-click on the Start Windows Start button button in the lower-left corner and select “Programs and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
    Right click on Start and select Programs and Features - Windows 8.1 Help

    • If you can’t find the Programs and Features in the Start menu, type “programs and features” into the search bar at the bottom of the Start window, then click the “Programs and Features” result.
    • If you don’t have a Start button, you are likely running Windows 8 instead of Windows 8.1. Press the Windows key + X to open the menu instead and select “Programs and Features”.
  2. Find the malicious program and uninstall it.

    The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your PC. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button that appears on the top toolbar.

    Known malicious programs: SweetIM, OtherSearches, YeaDesktop, Wajam, 1.0.0.1, DNS Unlocker, Cinema Plus, Price Minus, SalesPlus, New Player, MediaVideosPlayers, Browsers_Apps_Pro, PriceLEess, Pic Enhance, Sm23mS, Salus, Network System Driver, SS8, Save Daily Deals, Word Proser, Desktop Temperature Monitor, CloudScout Parental Control, Savefier, Savepass, HostSecurePlugin, CheckMeUp or HD-V2.2.

    The malicious program may have a different name on your computer. If you cannot find any malicious programs on your PC, you can proceed with the next step.

    Uninstall malicious programs from Windows 8

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the program.

    In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall the program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.

Windows 7

  1. Click on Start, then select “Control Panel”.

    Start by clicking on the Start Windows Start button button, then click on “Control Panel”.
    Click on the Windows Start button and select Control Panel - Windows 7 Help

    If you don’t see “Control Panel” here, type control panel into the search bar at the bottom of the Start window, then click the “Control Panel” result.
  2. Click on “Uninstall a Program”.

    When the “Control Panel” appears, click on “Uninstall a Program” from the Programs category.
    Select Uninstall a program from Control Panel menu Windows 7 Help

  3. Find the malicious program and uninstall it.

    The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your PC. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button that appears on the top toolbar.

    Known malicious programs: SweetIM, OtherSearches, YeaDesktop, Wajam, 1.0.0.1, DNS Unlocker, Cinema Plus, Price Minus, SalesPlus, New Player, MediaVideosPlayers, Browsers_Apps_Pro, PriceLEess, Pic Enhance, Sm23mS, Salus, Network System Driver, SS8, Save Daily Deals, Word Proser, Desktop Temperature Monitor, CloudScout Parental Control, Savefier, Savepass, HostSecurePlugin, CheckMeUp or HD-V2.2.

    The malicious program may have a different name on your computer. If you cannot find any malicious programs on your PC, you can proceed with the next step.

    Uninstall malicious programs from Windows 7 - Help Guide

  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the program.

    In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall the program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.

If you are having issues while trying to uninstall a program, you can use Revo Uninstaller Free to completely remove an unwanted program from your PC.

STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes to remove the Search.sweetim.com redirect

Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and most used anti-malware software for Windows, and for good reasons. It is able to destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss, without costing you absolutely nothing. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.

The first time you install Malwarebytes, you’re given a free 14-day trial of the premium edition, which includes preventative tools like real-time scanning and specific protection from ransomware. After two weeks, it automatically reverts to the basic free version that will detect and clean up malware infections only when you run a scan. It is important to note that Malwarebytes will run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.

  1. Download Malwarebytes.

    You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.

    MALWAREBYTES DOWNLOAD LINK
    (The above link open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
  2. Double-click on the Malwarebytes setup file.

    When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the mb3-setup-consumer-x.x.x.xxxx.exe file to install Malwarebytes on your PC. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.

    Double-click on mb3-setup to install Malwarebytes Help
    You may be presented with an User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow Malwarebytes to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
    Windows asking for permission to run the Malwarebytes installer - Help Guide

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.

    When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation process. To install Malwarebytes on your PC, click on the “Agree and Install” button.
    Malwarebytes Setup Screen - Help Guide
    Malwarebytes is installed on your PC - Help Guide

  4. Click on “Scan Now”.

    Once installed, Malwarebytes will automatically start and update the antivirus database. To perform a system scan, click on the “Scan Now” button.
    Start a scan with Malwarebytes

  5. Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.

    Malwarebytes will now start scanning your computer for adware and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
    Malwarebytes scanning PC for malware - Help Guide

  6. Click on “Quarantine Selected”.

    When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine Selected” button.
    Click on the Quarantine Selected button to remove malware

  7. Reboot your computer.

    Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
    Malwarebytes requesting to restart computer to complete malware removal process - Help Guide
    When the malware removal process is complete, you can close Malwarebytes and continue with the rest of the instructions.


STEP 3: Use HitmanPro to scan for malware and unwanted programs

HitmanPro is a second opinion scanner that takes a unique cloud-based approach to malware scanning. HitmanPro scans the behavior of active files and also files in locations where malware normally resides for suspicious activity. If it finds a suspicious file that’s not already known, HitmanPro sends it to their clouds to be scanned by two of the best antivirus engines today, which are Bitdefender and Kaspersky.

Although HitmanPro is shareware and costs $24.95 for 1 year on 1 PC, there is actually no limit in scanning. The limitation only kicks in when there is a need to remove or quarantine detected malware by HitmanPro on your system and by then, you can activate the one time 30 day trial to enable the clean up.

  1. Download HitmanPro.

    You can download HitmanPro by clicking the link below.

    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK
    (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
  2. Install HitmanPro.

    When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on “hitmanpro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows) to install this program on your PC. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
    Double-click on the HitmanPro setup file - Help Guide
    You may be presented with an User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow HitmanPro to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.Windows asking for permissions to run the HitmanPro setup file - Help Guide

  3. Follow the on-screen prompts.

    When HitmanPro starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Click on the “Next” button to perform a system scan.
    Click Next to install HitmanProHitmanPro final installer screen

  4. Wait for the HitmanPro scan to complete.

    HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malicious programs. This process will take a few minutes.
    HitmanPro while scanning for malware - Help Guide

  5. Click on “Next”.

    When HitmanPro has finished the scan, it will display a list of all the malware that the program has found. Click on the “Next” button to remove the malicious programs.
    HitmanPro scan summary. Click Next to remove malware - Help Guide

  6. Click on “Activate free license”.

    Click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your PC.
    Activate the free HitmanPro license keyEnter your email to complete the HitmanPro activation - Help Guide
    When the process is complete, you can close HitmanPro and continue with the rest of the instructions.


(OPTIONAL) STEP 4: Reset the browser settings to their original defaults

If your PC is being redirected to the Search.sweetim.com site, we will need to reset the web browser settings to their original defaults. This step should be performed only if your issues have not been solved by the previous steps.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome has an option that will reset itself to its default settings. Resetting your browser settings will reset the unwanted changes caused by installing other programs. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be cleared or changed.

  1. Click on the three dots at the top right and click “Settings”.

    Click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three dots at the top right corner. Now click on the menu option labeled Settings as shown by the arrow in the picture below, which will open the basic settings screen.
    Google Chrome Settings Menu

  2. At the bottom, click “Advanced”.

    Chrome’s “Settings” should now be displayed in a new tab or window, depending on your configuration. Next, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link (as seen in the below example).
    Click on the Advanced button - Google Chrome Help

  3. Under the section “Reset,” click “Reset”.

    Chrome’s advanced settings should now be displayed. Scroll down until the “Reset and clean up” section is visible, as shown in the example below. Next, click on the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
    Google Chrome Reset button

  4. Confirm by clicking “Reset”.

    A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue on with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset Settings” button.
    Click on Reset to restore Google Chrome to its default settings

Mozilla Firefox

If you’re having problems with Firefox, resetting it can help. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history and open tabs.

  1. Go to the “Help” menu.

    Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
    Click on the Firefox Menu button then select Help - Firefox Guide

  2. Click “Troubleshooting Information”.

    From the Help menu, click on “Troubleshooting Information“.

    If you’re unable to access the “Help” menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting information page.

    Troubleshooting Information option in Firefox

  3. Click on “Refresh Firefox”

    Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
    Refresh Firefox button

  4. Confirm.

    To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
    Confirm Reset Firefox

  5. Click on “Finish”.

    Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.

Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.

Internet Explorer

You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your PC.

  1. Go to “Internet Options”.

    Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
    Click on the Gear Icon then select Internet Options - Help Guide

  2. Select the “Advanced” tab, then click “Reset”

    In the “Internet Options” dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
    In the Advanced tab click on the Reset button - Help Guide

  3. Click on “Reset”.

    In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
    Click on the Reset button to revert IE to its default settings - Help Guide

  4. Click on “Close”.

    When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box.
    You will now  need to close your browser, and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
    Click on the Close button - Help Guide

Microsoft Edge

Starting with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709), users can repair or reset the Microsoft Edge settings.

  1. Go to “Apps and Features”.

    Right-click on the Start Windows Start button button in the lower-left corner and select “Apps and Features“. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
    Go to Apps and Features in Windows 10

  2. Find Microsoft Edge, then select “Advanced Options”.

    The “App and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your PC. Scroll through the list until you find “Microsoft Edge”, click it, and then click on the “Advanced options” link.
    Microsoft Edge Advanced Options

  3. Click on “Reset”.

    The “Advanced Options” screen will now be displayed. Scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown in the example below. Next, click on the “Reset” button.
    Microsoft Edge Reset Settings


(OPTIONAL) STEP 5: Double-check for malicious programs with Zemana AntiMalware Free

Zemana AntiMalware is a free popular on-demand antivirus scanner which can detect and remove malware that even the most well-known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to find.
While the Malwarebytes and HitmanPro scans are more than enough, we’re recommending Zemana AntiMalware to users who still have malware related issues or just want make sure their PC is 100% clean.

This step should be performed only if your issues have not been solved by the previous steps.

  1. Download Zemana AntiMalware.

    You can download Zemana AntiMalware Free by clicking the link below.

    Zemana LogoZEMANA ANTIMALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK
    (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download Zemana AntiMalware)
  2. Double-click on the setup file.

    Double-click on the file named “Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.exe” to start the installation of Zemana AntiMalware. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
    Double-click on the Zemana AntiMalware to instal it
    You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
    Zemana AntiMalware UAC

  3. Install Zemana AntiMalware Free.

    Click on the “Next” button to install Zemana AntiMalware on your PC. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the install process.
    Click Next then follow the on-screen prompts - Help Guide

    When you reach the “Select Additional Tasks” screen, you need to opt-out the “Enable Real Time Protection” option, then click on the “Next” button.
    Opt-out the Real-Time protection Zemana Antimalware

  4. Click on “Scan”.

    When Zemana AntiMalware will start, click on the “Scan” button to perform a system scan.
    Click on Scan to perform a system scan - Help Guide

  5. Wait for the Zemana AntiMalware scan to complete.

    Zemana AntiMalware will now scan your PC for malicious files. This process can take a few minutes.
    Zemana AntiMalware scanning for malware - Help Guide

  6. Click on “Next”.

    When Zemana AntiMalware has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found. Click on the “Next” button to remove the malicious files from your computer.
    Click Next to remove malware found by Zemana AntiMalware - Help Guide

  7. Restart your PC.

    When the malware removal process is complete, Zemana AntiMalware may need to restart your computer. Click on the “Reebot” button to reset your PC.
    Zemana asking to restart PC - Help Guide


Your computer should now be free of the Search.sweetim.com redirect. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove Search.sweetim.com redirect adware from your PC, please do one of the following:

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

    lock sign

    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

    cursor sign

    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.

84 thoughts on “How to Remove Search.sweetim.com Redirect (Virus Removal Guide)”

  1. Hey man not only did it get rid of sweetpaks, it also picked up a routekit. So thank you very much it was very helpful

  2. FYI, I followed the Control Panel Program Uninstall path. Apparently, SweetIESetup.msi has been placed in a non-standard location and my Explorer Search function did not find the file.

    So, I’m using MalWare to remove the 96 offending files/folders/registry keys

  3. Hello Natalie,
    Lets try to remove this infection:
    STEP 1: Run a scan with AdwCleaner
    1. Download AdwCleaner from here: http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr/downloads/finish/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner

    2.Close all open programs and internet browsers.

    3.Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.

    4.Click on Delete, then confirm each time with Ok.

    STEP 2: Run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool

    1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:

    JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/download

    2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.

    3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications

    Next, please run a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro as see in this guide.
    Stay safe!

  4. Hi there! So i uninstalled the sweetim program however, sweetim is still my homepage and even if i try to change homepages, it will not work. I also reseted the internet explorer but when i click on the home icon or open up internet explorer it is still there. Please help!

  5. You, sir, are awesome! THis not only removed the SweetIM thing but also removed Incredibar from my browser (Y) two malwares dead. sweet!

  6. Hello,
    Lets try to remove this infection:
    STEP 1: Run a scan with AdwCleaner
    1. Download AdwCleaner from here: http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr/downloads/finish/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner

    2.Close all open programs and internet browsers.

    3.Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.

    4.Click on Delete, then confirm each time with Ok.

    STEP 2: Run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool

    1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:

    JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/download

    2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.

    3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications

    Stay safe!

  7. Hello Andrew,
    Did you run AdwCleaner? If no, please run AdwCleaner (as seen on STEP 3) to remove this infection!

    Next please run Junkware Removal Tool:

    1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:

    JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/downloads/JRT.exe

    2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.

    3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications.

  8. In XP Control Panel – Add/Remove Programs there is no uninstall option for Update Manager for SweetPacks 1.1 Everything else has gone, I uninstalled Chrome first.

  9. Hello Steve,

    Did you run AdwCleaner?

    Please run Adwcleaner to remove this infection!

    Next please run Junkware Removal Tool:

    1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:

    JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL DOWNLOAD LINK: http://thisisudax.org/downloads/JRT.exe

    2. Double-click on the JRT icon. For Windows Vista, 7 or 8 users, right-click the file and select Run as Administrator.

    3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications.

    If after running both Adwcleaner and Junkware Removal Tool, you are still experiencing problems, please post both logs in this thread!

  10. Sorry Mate. It didn’t work for me. I downloaded Malware, ran it. That didn’t work. I then followed your steps…didn’t work either. I removed it in the add/remove programs etc. It’s still there. I’d love to know what else I can do?

  11. Wow!! This worked so well for me. Especially the registry cleaning section. I would have never been able to do this on my own without your assistance. Thank you!!!!! You brought my computer back to life! God bless you!!

  12. Thank you so much for this easy to understand tutorial. It worked perfectly and the SweetIM crap is off my computer and running SO much better!

  13. Hello Dave,
    Please keep in mind that this program may have a different name on your computer….Check again what programs do you have installed on your computer, and if you find any unknown or unwanted program, remove it from your computer.
    If you can’t find any, you can go ahead with the next steps, as Adwcleaner should remove these files from your computer.

  14. stelian please help, in step one ,controll panel-programs-programs and features there is nothing with sweetim listed should i just continue with step 2,

  15. Just one more point. those evil sweetIM files continue to download their brothers whilst you are scanning for malware. These can be missed if installed on part of the disk which has already been scanned. So first update your malware scanning program (I used spybot) and then IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECT THE INTERNET before scanning and deleting the sweetIM and any other suspiciuos files.
    The latest update of spybot worked, but a week ago it could not delete some of the sweetIM files it detected.
    You still have to reverse the settings in your browsers, as you describe: skybot can’t do that for you.

  16. thank you, i was about to smash my computer because of this fung malware. really really thanks, keep it up the good work.

  17. THANKYOU!!! i tried the first few tips, life resetting the home page, and deleting the program, but that pesky thing just would not go away, i was about to smash my computer before i found this. thankyou.

  18. Wanted to thank you for getting rid of Sweetim. It came “bundled” with the free Hamster Zip Archive software still being touted on CNET. Yes, CNET is offering a link to download a program infested with malware. I manually removed most of Sweetim. MalwareBytes, surprisingly didn’t find the remnants. Your instruction to download SearchReset did the trick for me. Thanks!

  19. Great tutorial – like most guys :-) – I did not follow your directions fully the first time. After that *&##%% sweetim came back – I followed each and every step. Gone – hopefully – for good.

  20. Thanks a bunch, picked up mine from hxxp://epubreader.info/ despite having unchecked everything asking to install it. Haven’t dealt with with a program this invasive in a while, nice to have a step by step guide. Keep up the good work!!

  21. Hello Foster,
    It’s good to read that your comptuer issue got solved! This program is usually bundled with other free downloads… Smile packs,video convertors and other usless software like that!
    Stay safe and next time opt-out any additional installs!

  22. Thanks for generously posting this. Clear and concise. Have had to clean both my daughter’s XP devices because of this crap. What loaded it? BTW I am going to post this on my radio show (www.internetadvisor.net) website for my listeners.

  23. Ah last thing – there was one more that came with it and it was called StrongVault. haven’t checked yet, but i hope it has been removed too.

  24. Thanks for this tutorial. What a pain in the butt. I’ve needed Alcohol 120% Trial and it came with it from website that looked like a legit download website. Bastards.

  25. You are greet! I have finished Step3. And will finished the next steps. Your instructions are very helpful.

    BTW,after reboot my computer when I finished Step 3, I input these words very slowly. Is there any problem?

    hpfei

  26. Hello Gil,
    Did you reset IE as seen on step 2?Did you run adwcleaner as seen on step 3?
    Where exactly do you see Sweetim…. Startup page?Search engine? or toolbar?

  27. also @ michelle, you need to run the task manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC or right click the taskbar) and stop the sweetim process.
    it’s reasonably obvious which one it is, but I forget the name, sorry.

    I know this as I had the same issue, and it twigged in my brain to do that.

  28. I have scanned wih Norton,Malwarebytes,Housecall and still have this crap on my PC,what do I do next.I uninstalled using Revo and Contol Panel and still have it on IE.Firefox is Ok but I wouls like to get shut.

  29. Hello Michelle,
    Open Google Chrome, click on the Google button (those 3 lines in the top right) and select Settings.
    In the “On Startup” field select “Open New Tab page” ……… http://i.imgur.com/RMuc6.jpg
    This should fix your problem! :)

  30. Hey!

    I managed to find the folder on my computer and delete most of the stuff in it, but now i am left with a few things that it refuses to let me delete. It says that i do not have permission to do so when i am the administrator on the computer. I made all the changes on google chrome that you said i should, but if I open a new tab it goes to a strange search engine even though i made google my default search engine.

    Please help!

  31. I have the same problem as him. By clicking uninstall, windows tries to remove it but SweetIM overrides windows and tries to install the program again. When i click close, the windows installer doesnt carry on uninstalling.

  32. I have a problem. when I try to uninstall via the control panel I get a message flasing up asking if I want the program (the one I am trying to delete) to make changes to my computer, when I click no it just goes back to the uninstall control panel, any ideas. Marcus

  33. This kind of malware is really frustrating, and for a person who has limited knowledge about how to deal with it your program solved my problem with SweetIM.
    Thank you very much.
    Bob

  34. Your Sir are a legend who warrants the up most of praise. Thank you for providing me with the knowledge to crush that Jammy bastard.

  35. Thanks so much for your detailed instructions. I had been fighting with this damn malware (with a trojan) for almost a week. Now it’s all gone.

  36. Thank you sooooooooo much !
    Finally this fu****** shit had been removed, and your explanations are so simple, functionnal…
    Thanks again !

  37. Also a Barca fan!! Thank you so much for your easy to follow detailed instructions, I am finally rid of the annoying sweetim! Merry Christmas!

  38. Just wanted to say thanks for the advice, nothing found from malwarebytes or hitman pro, so hopefully I’m clean

  39. Very helpful information – thank you!
    I also used the Advanced System Protector by SysTweak and cleaned out the items found manually, for instance by renaming .exe into .removed_exe

  40. Why does this continue…. someone should remove sweetim from the internet!!!!!!!! Remove the source remove the problem!

  41. Thank you very much for your detailed explanation. I am also the sufferer of this sweetim. i have followed your detailed notes and removed.

  42. I did everything as instructed thne the malware scan and then Hitman but still Sweetim search page opens instead of my Google Home page. This will open on hitting the home icon but the sweetim still is there??

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