Process Detail
What is search_protect.exe ?
search_protect.exe is known as StartNow Search Update, it also has the following name Amazon Search Protect or and it is developed by Unknown . We have seen about 28 different instances of search_protect.exe in different location. So far we haven't seen any alert about this product. If you think there is a virus or malware with this product, please submit your feedback at the bottom.Something wrong with search_protect.exe ?
Is search_protect.exe using too much CPU or memory ? It's probably your file has been infected with a virus. Let try the program named DriverIdentifier to see if it helps.How to remove search_protect.exe
If you encounter difficulties with search_protect.exe , you can uninstall the associated program (Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove programsWhat can you do to fix search_protect.exe ?
Let try to run a system scan with Speed Up My PC to see any error, then you can do some other troubleshooting steps.If you think this is a driver issue, please try DriverDouble.com
Where do we see search_protect.exe ?
Here is the list of instances that we see for the process: search_protect.exe| Path | Product Name | Vendor | Version | Size | MD5 | |
| 1 | C:\Arquivos de programas\StartNow Toolbar\search_protect.exe | StartNow Search Update | Unknown | 1.0 | 132741 | 8F9D8267368A9113B683E09816AAABFE |
| 2 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 120624 | B36CC734C44BF81CBB3D9A6899E1E5E7 |
| 3 | C:\Program Files (x86)\StartNow Toolbar\search_protect.exe | StartNow Search Update | Unknown | 1.0 | 135204 | 6D6FBE6465D1F496257C3C422DD1F4B7 |
| 4 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 130158 | BEA1F9C1B48961BC0EE9E87B1337CD4E |
| 5 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 125152 | 986E6BC1DC82892450CD47B0AB99D47F |
| 6 | C:\Program Files\StartNow Toolbar\search_protect.exe | StartNow Search Update | Unknown | 1.0 | 135204 | 6D6FBE6465D1F496257C3C422DD1F4B7 |
| 7 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 125152 | 986E6BC1DC82892450CD47B0AB99D47F |
| 8 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 62880 | 81E238C336421464668FBC930132FD6E |
| 9 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 62727 | 887F4F9A4BC9468DFDBD6B7CA8312FD7 |
| 10 | C:\Archivos de programa\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 63800 | 682577A7EA27F3A9B24F64B97D015CE0 |
| 11 | E:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 125152 | 986E6BC1DC82892450CD47B0AB99D47F |
| 12 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 63814 | F10D6F5433A6965FD4A7B66F2CA89A06 |
| 13 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 63800 | 682577A7EA27F3A9B24F64B97D015CE0 |
| 14 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Unknown | 63800 | |||
| 15 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 67316 | 05A32BA624BCC23CF797E4F8CA74B3F3 |
| 16 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 67316 | 05A32BA624BCC23CF797E4F8CA74B3F3 |
| 17 | C:\Programmi\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 67316 | 05A32BA624BCC23CF797E4F8CA74B3F3 |
| 18 | C:\Programme\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 67316 | 05A32BA624BCC23CF797E4F8CA74B3F3 |
| 19 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 77760 | 56E56617221556DCB1FC9C3D27623218 |
| 20 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 73431 | 1EBA00257BBB4575592C2EADC790D25B |
| 21 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 73885 | 622EEA627FE6406EB79CD7398D0FD9CC |
| 22 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 73885 | 622EEA627FE6406EB79CD7398D0FD9CC |
| 23 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 74198 | F16C3267842E8355C6374F342E86F2AB |
| 24 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 77123 | E0C45CFD01F0198CF05751F02FD9F151 |
| 25 | C:\Program Files (x86)\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 77123 | E0C45CFD01F0198CF05751F02FD9F151 |
| 26 | C:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 77251 | 954310BC5EA39DA170FF299DB2E2A09D |
| 27 | E:\Program Files\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 77251 | 954310BC5EA39DA170FF299DB2E2A09D |
| 28 | C:\Programmi\Amazon Browser Bar\search_protect.exe | Amazon Search Protect | Unknown | 1.0 | 125152 | 986E6BC1DC82892450CD47B0AB99D47F |
Comments about this process:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------By AD 2013-08-09 10:17:35 On my windows 7 ultimate 64-bit, this file coming from a british company, unknown and has almost anonymous single web page called distromatic.com this file killed (crashed) explorer.exe, mspaint.exe and openoffice, I had to go to the system events to be able to pinpoint, I had to remove from c:program files (x86)Amazon Browser Bar. I am very puzzled as to a great company like Amazon bundles this stuff in one of its tools, this is shameful. I do not think it is a bad virus, but it sure disrupt and confuse work!
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By Kall 2013-10-03 05:24:18 I scanned my PC with Malwarebytes, and this is what I got, not sure if I should be worried about this or not?
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.75.0.1300
www.malwarebytes.org
Database version: v2013.10.03.01
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x64 NTFS
Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16686
##### :: ####-PC [administrator]
10/2/2013 9:40:22 PM
MBAM-log-2013-10-02 (22-16-53).txt
Scan type: Full scan (C:|D:|E:|)
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 321452
Time elapsed: 8 minute(s), 50 second(s)
Memory Processes Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys Detected: 1
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallSearchProtect (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
Registry Values Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Data Items Detected: 1
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindows|AppInit_DLLs (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> Bad: (C:PROGRA~2SearchProtectSearchProtectbinSPVC32Loader.dll) Good: () -> No action taken.
Folders Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Files Detected: 9
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectSearchProtectbinSPVC32Loader.dll (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectMainbinSPTool.dll (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectMainbinuninstall.exe (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectSearchProtectbincltmng.exe (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectSearchProtectbinSPTool64.exe (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectSearchProtectbinSPVC32.dll (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectSearchProtectbinSPVC64.dll (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectSearchProtectbinSPVC64Loader.dll (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
C:Program Files (x86)SearchProtectUIbincltmngui.exe (PUP.Optional.Conduit.A) -> No action taken.
(end)
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By Don 2014-04-17 14:21:21 SearchProtect overrode my IP address. I activated HMA (VPN service) and SearchProtect overrode the various IP addresses I tried throughout the US. I think it was installed in my system by a trojan malware noted by my BitDefender AV at about the same time I lost control of my IP address. It not only took control, I experienced slow downs, W8.1 crashes, noticeable keystroke compromises and continual interruptions of internet service. I believe it was maliciously induced by unknow party.
Solution: In my paranoia, I went to my control panel and programs and features window. There I found SearchProtect.exe. I uninstalled it and then did a verification of my IP address and voila: I was back to my original IP. I activated my vpn and was able to see the address and location of their server . Mission accomplished - but it took me 3 days to figure it out.
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By Bipin 2014-10-11 04:56:36 Looks like it is a malware, continuously giving error with Bad Image