Name: SearchSquire Category: Adware Alias: SearchSquire1, SearchSquire2, SearchSquire3 Advice: Remove Risk: Elevated Risk Elevated threats are usually threats that fall into the range of adware in which data about a user's habits are tracked and sent back to a server for analysis without your consent or knowledge. Description: SearchSquire is an Internet Explorer sidebar containing paid links that open when you use search engines. When using a search engine known to the software, the search terms are forwarded to SearchSquires own search feature, returning advertisers links in a sidebar. Installed through ActiveX drive-by-download on off-screen hidden pop-up advertisments. Advertises when a user using a search engine known to the software, the search terms are forwarded to SearchSquires own search feature, returning advertisers links in a sidebar. SearchSquire contracts with third party advertisers and display third-party ads via popup and popunder ads while browesing the Internet. "These advertisers may have different privacy policies and collect personal information, and your viewing of their advertisements indicates agreement with their policies as well as ours." SearchSquire periodically update its software via an Internet connection without the users consent or interaction. SearchSquire also adds itself as a trusted zone in Internet Explorer allowing for the lowering of security privledges and automatic download of any code it so desires to install. There are two major versions of SearchSquire, v1 and v2. Signatures: process: unsearch33.exe: MD5 Hash: ... process: searchupdate33.exe: MD5 Hash: ... process: searchupdate33.exe: MD5 Hash: cb97f720fa2c93ea901... process: tvm_b5b27.exe: MD5 Hash: de74bdcd4dcbb69b62f... process: unsearch33.exe: MD5 Hash: 9084f481c86621c38c1.. Type: Adware - Adware is generally software that displays advertisements. Some advertisers may covertly install adware on your system and generate a stream of unsolicited advertisements that can clutter your desktop and affect your productivity. The advertisements may also contain pornographic or other material that you might find inappropriate. The extra processing required to track you or to display advertisements can tax your computer and hurt your system performance.