CLARIA

Claria was previously known as "The Gator Corporation". It belongs to the "Gator/GAIN/Claria" group.  It is said to have originated in Redwood City, California during November, 2000. This spyware is believed to be already downloaded in about 8.5 million computer systems. And this includes not only the United States but also countries like Austria, China, Belgium, Canada, Bulgaria, Portugal, Russia, Australia, Norway, South Africa, Poland, Greece, Hong Kong, Spain, New Zealand, Hungary, Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, Taiwan, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, Macedonia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, South Korea, Germany, France, Denmark, Czech Republic and Brazil.

According to a research performed by the eTrust Spyware Encyclopedia in August 2003, this is how they summarized this spyware, "The Gator Advertising Information Network (GAIN) is a network of advertisers who deliver ads thru the use of adware technology developed by The Gator Corporation. This network is intended to be "permission based"; in return for agreeing to receive free software from participating software developers, users of GAIN-supported products agree to receive periodic advertising.

Should a user of a GAIN-supported application wish to stop receiving advertising, the GAIN-supported application should be uninstalled in accordance with the manufaturer's license. In the event any GAIN components remain after such an uninstall, PestPatrol can be used to "clean up" your computer." So, as a whole Claria is responsible for changing the users browser settings like the default search provider or home page without giving any intimation to the user or seeking any kind of consent from the same while it is making the changes and thus it sends out all kind of personal information of the user. Needles to say, this too is done without the permission or acknowledgement of the user.

If you want to remove Claria manually, here is how you can do it. eTrust Spyware Encyclopedia refers the procedure as follows:

"Go To the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If you find the value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\cmesys, delete it and reboot the machine immediately.

If you find the value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\trickler, delete it and reboot the machine immediately.

Clean Registry:

Remove these registry items (if present) with RegEdit:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{06dfeda9-6196-11d5-bfc8-00508b4a487d}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{29eeff42-f3fa-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{38493f7f-2922-4c6c-9a9a-8da2c940d0ee}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{4006e7b2-0fb2-4345-b388-083b138e80af}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{456ba350-947f-4406-b091-aa1c6678ebe7}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{54e7e082-1da6-412e-96b5-c290fcef5329}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{6c8dbec0-8052-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{731918d2-517a-47e2-886a-3bc1380c591d}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{a9ef28a2-55d1-480b-a403-84928d59f556}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\getandrun.dfrun
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\getandrun.dfrun.1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\gator.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\menuorder\start menu\&programs\gain
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\menuorder\start menu\&programs\gator ewallet
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\menuorder\start menu\programs\gain
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\menuorder\start menu\programs\gator
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\gef
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\gmg
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\gmi
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\lastinstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\sevt
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\sih
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\siseq
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\sseq
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\{21ffb6c0-0da1-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}\uets
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\getandrun.dfrun
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\getandrun.dfrun.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\interface\{06dfeda9-6196-11d5-bfc8-00508b4a487d}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\interface\{38493f7f-2922-4c6c-9a9a-8da2c940d0ee}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\kbbar.kbbarband\clsid
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\gator.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\gator.com\cmeii
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\gator.com\gator\dyn
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\gator.com\gator\stat\gmt
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\gatortest
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\app management\arpcache\gator
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\c:/windows/downloaded program files/conflict.1/hdplugin1014.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\c:/windows/downloaded program files/conflict.1/iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\c:/windows/downloaded program files/hdplugin1014.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\c:/windows/downloaded program files/iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\c:/winnt/downloaded program files/conflict.1/iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\c:/winnt/downloaded program files/iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\moduleusage\d:/winnt/downloaded program files/iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\cmesys
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run\trickler
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\shareddlls\c:\windows\downloaded program files\conflict.1\hdplugin1014.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\shareddlls\c:\windows\downloaded program files\conflict.1\iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\shareddlls\c:\windows\downloaded program files\iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\shareddlls\c:\winnt\downloaded program files\iegator.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\shareddlls\systemroot+\downloaded program files\hdplugin1014.dll
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\stashedgef
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\stashedgmg
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\{456ba350-947f-4406-b091-aa1c6678ebe7}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\{4a840e1e-2ba8-47de-923e-0e00407eb530}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\{6c8dbec0-8052-11d5-a9d5-00500413153c}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\date manager
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\gator
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\offers
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\precisiontime
HKEY_USERS\.default\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\menuorder\start menu\&programs\gain
HKEY_USERS\.default\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\menuorder\start menu\&programs\gator ewallet
 
Remove Directories:

Remove these directories (if present) with Windows Explorer:

c:\documents and settings\all users.windows\start menu\programs\date manager
c:\documents and settings\all users.windows\start menu\programs\gator ewallet
c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu\programs\gain
c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu\programs\gator ewallet
c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu\programs\precisiontime
commonprograms+\gain
commonprograms+\gain publishing
commonprograms+\offercompanion
profilepath+\start menu\programs\gain
profilepath+\start menu\programs\gator
profilepath+\start menu\programs\gator ewallet
profilepath+\start menu\programs\offercompanion
programfilesdir+\clickthebutton
programfilesdir+\common files\cmeii
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\18lfpza0nz\ga
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\ga
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\13276
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\14877
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\14879
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\19829
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\19911
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23466
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23479
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23486
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23543
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23574
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23757
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23783
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23785
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23815
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23817
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23843
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23871
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gd
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gg
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\data
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\scripts
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\vky889g40u\ga
programfilesdir+\gator.com
programfilesdir+\webrebates\system\temp
systemroot+\start menu\programs\date manager
systemroot+\start menu\programs\gain
systemroot+\start menu\programs\precisiontime
systemroot+\system32\pcs
systemroot+\temp\adware
systemroot+\temp\fsg_tmp
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20263
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20278
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20300
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20395
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20535
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20813
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20814
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20835
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\20976
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\21234
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\21525
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\21830
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\21887
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\21888
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\21914
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\22011
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\22016
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\22131
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\22367
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\22719
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\23294
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\23407
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\23436
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\23479
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gb\23757
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gd
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\30v5332k7h\gg
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\6433t0f33z\ga
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\banners
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\13276
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\14877
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\14879
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\16714
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\17481
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\17486
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\18845
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\19807
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\19829
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\19909
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\19995
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20263
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20278
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20300
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20301
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20394
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20535
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20813
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20814
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20835
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\20899
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21201
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21525
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21830
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21887
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21888
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21899
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\21914
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22008
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22016
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22104
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22131
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22192
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22219
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22275
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22367
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22568
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22599
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22637
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\22719
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23148
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23294
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23306
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23405
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23410
programfilesdir+\common files\gmt\d71256a02w\gb\23436"

So, if you are interested to remove this spyware from your system- just follow these instructions.