Win32:Delf-GD

Posted: July 20, 2012

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:	9/10
Infected PCs:	302

First Seen:	July 20, 2012
Last Seen:	January 31, 2020
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Win32:Delf-GD is a technical label for the Blekko Spam Free Search Bar, which, ironically, has been noted as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). Although Win32:Delf-GD's toolbar does display itself as an independently-identifiable program that's associated with reputable companies, Win32:Delf-GD is resistant to normal deletion methods, such as removal via the Windows Control Panel. Because Win32:Delf-GD alters your browser's content automatically, your anti-malware programs may issue new alerts for Win32:Delf-GD on all web pages or detect Win32:Delf-GD on a recurring basis. If you've decided that you're not interested in the services that Win32:Delf-GD's browser plugin offers, SpywareRemove.com malware experts suggest deleting Win32:Delf-GD with suitably extensive anti-malware scans, since Win32:Delf-GD is unlikely to give up the ghost for anything less strenuous than that.

Win32:Delf-GD is an uncommon example of a Potentially Unwanted Program that can exhibit traits of both reputable software and a low-level PC threat or adware. First and foremost, Win32:Delf-GD's Spam Free Search Bar has been associated with legitimate PC security companies and hasn't been found to have any overtly malicious characteristics. However, a number of caveats that are linked to Win32:Delf-GD's toolbar and give Win32:Delf-GD many of the drawbacks of an adware-based PC threat, such as:

Refusing to be uninstalled by normal methods of removing software.
Being bundled surreptitiously with other programs and, therefore, installed without your consent.
Making website alterations, such as changing your search results, without any obvious way of disabling these features.
Lastly, Win32:Delf-GD may even change your homepage or default search engine settings without your permission; these changes may be irreversible until Win32:Delf-GD is removed.

Where You Can Relax Regarding Win32:Delf-GD

Although some PC security companies have labeled the Win32:Delf-GD toolbar as a Trojan, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers note that this is a false positive, since Win32:Delf-GD hasn't been found to possess any true Trojan characteristics or features with deliberately malicious intent. Nonetheless, many PC users have found themselves stuck with Win32:Delf-GD's Blekko Spam Free Search Bar without any idea of how it got onto their computer in the first place.

SpywareRemove.com malware research team recommends that you inspect installation routines for freeware programs very carefully, since it may give you a chance to notice an optional Win32:Delf-GD installation. If Win32:Delf-GD already is on your PC, your best chance of removing Win32:Delf-GD permanently is to scan your PC in Safe Mode so that all of Win32:Delf-GD's components can be deleted safely. Of course, if you prefer to enjoy the features that Win32:Delf-GD has to offer, you can set your anti-malware software to ignore Win32:Delf-GD, which isn't necessarily a threat unless you determine Win32:Delf-GD to be so for your personal computer usage.

Win32:Delf-GD

Threat Metric

Where You Can Relax Regarding Win32:Delf-GD

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