Bettersmurf

Posted: December 2, 2013

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	19

First Seen:	December 2, 2013
Last Seen:	October 1, 2021
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Bettersmurf is an adware application that modifies Web pages in your browser to display advertisements from affiliated third parties. Since Bettersmurf will not uninstall itself completely on request, anti-malware software may be needed both for blocking Bettersmurf installers and removing Bettersmurf in cases of ongoing problems. Currently, malware experts categorize Bettersmurf as a PUP, but do warn that even a Potentially Unwanted Program like Bettersmurf almost always should be removed from your computer, particularly when it exposes you to advertisement content beyond your control.

The Adware that's not a Very Smurfy Way to Browse a Site

Bettersmurf (not, it should be noted, a typo of 'BetterSurf,' which is a similar adware program) is an add-on that takes great liberties with any sites loaded into your browser. Through modifying the Web page as Bettersmurf is loaded and injecting additional content, Bettersmurf may display banner advertisements on effectively any site you visit, regardless of whether or not the site is intended to have advertisements. Malware researchers haven't seen any attacks or suspicious content delivered through Bettersmurf advertisements, but paranoia always should be your watchword when you're dealing with advertisements from suspicious third parties. Download offers distributed through a Bettersmurf advertisement always should be refused as potentially hazardous to your PC.

Bettersmurf has been verified to be able to modify both Chrome and Internet Explorer for its advertising purposes. Some Bettersmurf variants also have been seen loading pop-up tabs and windows that display additional advertisements, along with the ones that are injected into various websites. There aren't any controls to modify or eliminate these functions, and malware researchers were unsurprised to notice that Bettersmurf can't be uninstalled through all standard software removal procedures.

Getting the Better of Bettersmurf

Although Bettersmurf is only a PUP, Bettersmurf still has the potential to aid and abet attacks against your PC through loading compromised or misleading advertisements. If you see Bettersmurf advertisements in your browser, regardless of the degree of frequency, closing your browser immediately and scanning your PC with all appropriate anti-malware software is strongly advised. Bettersmurf also has a history of resisting deletion that may make the inclusion of extra steps, such as booting from a removable device, required, in some cases.

Bettersmurf is very similar to other adware programs that malware researchers have examined throughout the past, but only was recently identified as an actively-distributed PUP. Your security programs may have problems identifying Bettersmurf installations properly unless they're given the opportunity to download the latest updates to their databases, which may add entries for PC threats and PUPs that only were found recently, like Bettersmurf.

Bettersmurf

Threat Metric

The Adware that's not a Very Smurfy Way to Browse a Site

Getting the Better of Bettersmurf

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