How to remove Antivirus Gold or AVGold

How to remove Antivirus Gold / AVGold
What this program does: Antivirus Gold is a supposed AntiSpyware application that gets installed by Spyware/malware without asking for permission. This infection hijacks your desktop to display an ad stating you need to buy an antispyware program.

Tools Needed for this fix:

• SmitFraudFix.zip

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AntivirusGold] C:\Program Files\AntivirusGold\AntivirusGold.exe /h
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Intel system tool] C:\WINDOWS\System32\winnook.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Intel system tool] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hookdump.exe Note: All of these O4 entries may not be present.
Revision History

07/10/06 - Updated the tutorial to use newer tools.

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Removal Instructions:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop:
   
   SmitFraudFix.exe
   
   Confirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below:
   
   
   
   
3. Next, please reboot your computer into Safe Mode by doing the following:
   
   
   1. Restart your computer
      
      
   2. After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
      
      
   3. Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
      
      
   4. Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.
      
      
   5. When you are at the logon prompt, log in as the same user which you had done the previous steps.
      
      
4. When your computer has started in safe mode and you see the desktop.
   
   
5. Close all open Windows.
   
   
6. Now, double-click on the SmitFraudfix icon that should be residing on your desktop.The icon will look like the one below:
   
   
   
   
7. When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen.
   
   
8. You will now see a menu as shown in the image below. Press the number 2 on your keyboard and the press the enter key to choose the option Clean (safe mode recommended).
   
   
   
   
9. The program will start cleaning your computer and go through a series of cleanup processes. When it is done, it will automatically start the Disk Cleanup program as shown by the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   This program will remove all Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and other files that may be leftover files from this infection. This process can take up to a few hours depending on your computer, so please be patient. When it is complete, it will close automatically and you will should continue with step 11.
   
   
10. When Disk Cleanup is finished, you will be presented with an option asking Do you want to clean the registry ? (y/n). At this screen you should press the Y button on your keyboard and then press the enter key.
    
11. When this last routine is finished, you will be presented with a red screen stating Computer will reboot now. Close all applications. You should now press the spacebar on your computer. A counter will appear stating that the computer will reboot in 15 seconds. Do not cancel this countdown and allow your computer to reboot.
    
12. Once the computer has rebooted, you will be presented with a Notepad screen containing a log of all the files removed from your computer. Examine this log, and when you are done, close the Notepad screen.
    

Your computer should now be free of the AntiVirus Gold or AVGold infection. If you are still having problems with spyware after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:
Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log

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BleepingComputer.com can not be held responsible for problems that may occur by using this information. If you would like help with any of these fixes, you can post a HijackThis log in our HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum.

If you have any questions about this self-help guide then please post those questions in our AntiVirus, Firewall and Privacy Products and Protection Methods forum and someone will help you.