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Is InstallShield pop-up a virus?

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Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

I'm using a WinXP-pro PC, and Office 2003 and wondered if someone knows
about the "Install Shield Update Manager?

A pop-up in the bottom right (same place where incoming emails pop up by
fading-in-fading-out) just appeared that said "Install Shield needs to check
for updates", then it faded back down into the task bar as an icon (navy
blue swirl) next to the icons like Outlook, McAfee, volume control, etc. If
you drag over the icon, it's name is "InstallShield Update Manager".

Is this a virus? How did it get into the task bar? There's no
corresponding email in the inbox, so it's not from an email, right? Does it
belong to Sonic--the only other software maker I know that has an "Update
Manager." Do I really need an update? If not, how do I get rid of it
forever?

Thanks,
G

Add a reply

As of January, 2009, this nasty little Instarllshield intruder is still around. It doesn't appear in Control Panel Add/Remove programs, but the files are in \Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\
To delete completely you hae to use Windows Task Manager to stop its scheduler program from running. Compare the file names in \InstallShield| with the Image names under Processes in Windows Task Manager and you'll see which Process to stop.

It is joined by "fontsmanager" or something similar
and by "ebay" which drops a shortcut on your desktop

There was a small "fonts" in Control Panel Add/Remove programs. I deleted that, and also searched my hard drive for likely files and removed them.

At some point in this, a window opened in my browser saying "Thanks for trying our software" and showing a page of icons for "our free software downloads or something like that. (I didn't bite.)

I found that every time I started my computer, Windows Installer was attempting to run (I always immediately cancelled it). After I searched my harddrive for suspicious files having ebay in the name and deleted all the suspicious ones (only My Favorites entries and a couple txt files I made were kept) the Windows Installer no longer appeared. I assume it was the ebay virus trying to install some more garbage.

When Installshield first made its appearance in Jan 2009, I googled it and found instructions on uninstalling it.

I haven't done a thorough search on these things, and don't know if they cause damage.

I am irritated thay my AVG anti-virus didn't catch them.

Reply to Elmo

Not to help bump old posts, but I saw this show up on several PCs here at work. What I discovered was it belonged to the Sonic software that was installed. You can remove it from Add/Remove programs. I think the entry is called Sonic Update Manager. Uninstall that and that pop up goes away. The Sonic software still works.

Reply to bhowell

I just had it pop up for me as well and I dont have any sonic software installed. I just cancelled it.

Reply to merovius

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Is InstallShield pop-up a virus?

Forum Windows XP : Windows XP General Discussion - Is InstallShield pop-up a virus?