Need2Find.net

Posted: September 7, 2016

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:	5/10
Infected PCs:	15

First Seen:	September 7, 2016
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Need2Find is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) that may inject advertising content into your browser's Web pages. Unlike most adware, this program's installation may include symptoms of widely varying visibility. Due to the misleading tactics and other hazards accompanying most advertising software, malware researchers suggests that most PC users try to uninstall Need2Find via appropriate security utilities.

Advertising Affiliates Finding Your Browser Through Mysterious Means

Many cases of the PUPs that malware experts classify as being adware may show consistent symptoms, components, and features that make them readily identifiable. Sometimes, however, that overall trend is bucked by individual products that may be more unpredictable and, therefore, more arduous to detect. Need2Find is one program fitting that description, although its advertising features are those most likely of being seen.

Need2Find may bundle itself with P2P download managers, such as Kazaa or Limewire. A complete installation including the checking of Need2Find Web search feature may cause Need2Find to modify your default browser automatically and inject content associated with its advertising sponsors into unrelated pages. Other characteristics malware experts see in varying quantities between different installs of Need2Find include:

Need2Find may drop a browser-specific extension that generates a toolbar at the top of your Web-browsing UI. If it does so, it will not replace any preexisting toolbars; it only will add itself to any already installed ones. The toolbar provides a search function associated with the need2find.net website, which does not deliver independent search results, but isn't a host of unsafe content.
Need2Find may or may not generate a standard program entry (which you may see from the 'Remove Programs' sub-menu of your Control Panel) or directory.
This adware's installer also may drop components that stop the Windows user from deleting Need2Find's files. In these scenarios, malware analysts often found components of Need2Find's software residing in the root directory of the primary hard drive (normally C).
Some installations of Need2Find also may create additional issues with the configuration of other applications in the bundle, such as causing your torrent manager to launch itself automatically.

Resolving the Need to Find an Exit from Need2Find

The individual quirks of a single installation of Need2Find may 'mix and match' any of the above symptoms, and malware experts can't guarantee that all or any of them will be visible to the user. The need2find.net website has been analyzed and found to be lacking in any intentionally harmful content, but Need2Find loading third-party advertising may induce incidental exposure to other threats. Be careful of misleading advertising that could lead to attacks against your PC, such as advertisements that imitate software updates, use scripts for delivering drive-by-downloads, or promote fake technical support companies.

As it usually happens, Windows users are at greatest risk of Need2Find installations, and malware experts find some recent incidents that target Internet Explorer. Use your security software, such as anti-adware scanning products, to fulfill the need for removing Need2Find. Then, follow your Web browser developer's instructions on clearing any remaining, temporary browser data that could endanger your computer.

Although the power of downloading almost any content one might want is at your fingertips, using that power irresponsibly can be a fast path to dealing with adware like Need2Find.

Need2Find.net

Threat Metric

Advertising Affiliates Finding Your Browser Through Mysterious Means

Resolving the Need to Find an Exit from Need2Find

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