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Konstantinos Tsoukalas

Konstantinos is the founder and administrator of Wintips.org. Since 1995 he works and provides IT support as a computer and network expert to individuals and large companies. He is specialized in solving problems related to Windows or other Microsoft products (Windows Server, Office, Microsoft 365, etc.).

13 Comments

  1. Amelia Teixeira
    July 23, 2014 @ 12:49 pm

    Thank you! Your article was my saviour ;)
    I was trying to find a way to get rid of that SearchSettings and only found some hard and confused ways.
    Glad I found your article, it was my saviour ;)
    I followed all the steps and got rid of that SearchSettings.
    I had not only one but 2 entries named SearchSettings. Anyway deleted those 2.
    Didn't find any toolbar in control panel but found WindowsProtectManger20.0.0.339
    I googled that and found it is a trojan. I clicked to uninstall and it desappeared! Guess it was uninstalled.
    I've cleaned my PC with CCleaner and Advanced SystemCare 7. Both found Spigot in registry.
    Then I've scanned with Malwarebytes and found more Spigot entries.
    Now I really hope I got rid off that SearchSettings forever!!
    Once more: thank you!!

    Reply

  2. mary
    December 1, 2013 @ 8:08 pm

    I need to know how to delete Spigot from windows 7 home premium. Where is it?

    Reply

    • lakonst
      December 1, 2013 @ 8:28 pm

      I think is under "C:\ProgramData" folder (Folder is hidden. you have to enable hidden files view first). Alternately you can search for it.

      Reply

      • Amelia Teixeira
        July 23, 2014 @ 1:00 pm

        Before ending the process SearchSettings from Task Manager, right click and choose Show in Folder and windows explorer will open in the folder where SearchSettings is.
        But first you need to enable hidden files.

        Reply

  3. lisa
    November 24, 2013 @ 6:25 pm

    Thank you!

    Reply

  4. D
    November 16, 2013 @ 3:02 pm

    Spigot's SEARCH SETTINGS
    is malicious in preventing you from changing your default search provider,
    constantly resetting your default search engine to Yahoo as the default at present.

    It is distributed within installers for other software like Iobit's very popular Advanced System Care.
    And even if you opt to not install the toolbars which come with the “carrier” installer, many times it is nevertheless installed. With every (too frequent) update of ASC the threat is renewed and this mess must be rectified yet again.

    IOBIT's Advanced System Care TOOLBOX has an option for HOMEPAGE PROTECTION (for Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer) which includes an option explicitly in the Firefox section to set Search with a drop-down list apparently showing the search engine choices available within one's own Firefox. This would appear to permit true user choice of what default search engine the user wants for Firefox. I have not tested effectiveness of the protection of other search settings than Yahoo, nor whether this setting affects the other two browswers (IE and Chrome) that are recognized. Nor have I tested what the total removal of the Search Settings program might do to this Homepage Protection feature or its settings page.

    Reply

  5. Grigorio
    October 24, 2013 @ 11:43 am

    Yesterday I updated my YTD and I came across a pop-up window that offered some additional offers. I wanted the toolbar because i read it contains a YTD fast download button. I didn't want to change my homepage so i found useful info on how to reset to previous settings here http://www.wikihow.com/Change-Your-Home-Page In case the search engine is also affected you can find tips about how to change it back here: http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=464 From my previous experience the toolbar can be uninstalled pretty easy from "Control Panel" -> "Add/Remove Programs"

    Reply

    • lakonst
      October 24, 2013 @ 5:29 pm

      Dear Grigorio, if you uninstall the Spigot only (from Add/Remove Programs) and you don't perform the rest of the removal steps as described here, you will see that Spigot still runs in the background.

      Reply

      • Gallagher
        February 6, 2015 @ 5:20 am

        I ran Malwarebytes three times and despite applying "quarantine", it kept being found. I ultimately searched, and deleted, all entries containing "spigot" in my registry.

        Reply

  6. Wave Wolf
    August 23, 2013 @ 12:06 pm

    Like "hm", I don't want to go through the trouble of trying to remove all Spigot traces, so will not download YTD 4.5 update. Will find another program for this purpose. Thank you for excellent information.

    Reply

  7. hm
    July 2, 2013 @ 2:11 pm

    there is a lot I'm not sure of, but I am sure that I can't download u torrent as it includes spigot with no way out, need a torrent download without all the extras – probably doesn't exist

    Reply

  8. Nedzib
    June 19, 2013 @ 8:44 pm

    Very useful. Thank you!

    Reply

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