I wrote this article to help you remove Skype Goo.gl Virus. This Skype Goo.gl Virus removal guide works for all Windows versions.
Suspicious links in Skype and Facebook chats, starting with Goo.gl, are a sign of a Trojan infection. The Trojan horse responsible for them has been dubbed the Skype Goo.gl virus. The free messenger application is the main target of the clandestine program. The developers of the Skype Goo.gl virus have devised a clever strategy for tricking users. You may know about the service of shortening links, provided by Google. Having the fake links start with Goo.gl makes them look legitimate. At the same time, it covers the identity of the website they lead to. You would only find out where a link leads to after it is too late. To prevent further security issues, you need to take actions against the Skype Goo.gl virus.
What dangers does the Skype Goo.gl virus expose me to?
Trojans are the malware type with the most wide range of potential dangers. To begin with, they can attract and install other spyware to your system. The Skype Goo.gl virus will make corrupt registry entries. They will open security holes in your OS. The Trojan can download and install all kinds of malicious software on your computer. This will be done through background processes, visible only in the Task Manager. The most obvious sign for the presence of the Skype Goo.gl virus is a decline in the system’s performance speed. This is a common side effect from the activity of malware programs in general. It is up to you to identify the problem on your system.
Spamming is an activity which many rogue programs carry out. The Skype Goo.gl virus spams users by inserting redirect links into their chat logs. These links could lead to corrupted websites, used for distributing malware. Before following a link from a chat message, make sure it was sent from your correspondent. The links the Skype Goo.gl virus inserts into messages are only visible on the victim’s computer.
The hackers behind the Skype Goo.gl virus could use your system as a proxy for their activities. They can transmit malware to other machines and computer networks through your PC. This activity puts you in danger of prosecution as the owner of the malware source.
Another treat we need to address is the personal security risk. The Skype Goo.gl virus can track your tasks and record information from your keystrokes. The hackers behind the malignant program can obtain your IP address, e-mail, telephone number, physical address, user names, passwords, credit card and banking details. They can use your credentials to break into your accounts or sell them to cyber criminals.
How did the Skype Goo.gl virus wind up on my system and how do I protect myself from future attacks?
The Skype Goo.gl virus uses a few techniques to penetrate into a computer. We will refer to them as dark patterns. There are ways to counter each method. We will list them in parallel with the patterns.
The Skype Goo.gl virus prefers to travel with spam e-mails. The furtive program merges itself with an attachment from the message. Opening the host file would unleash the Trojan into your system. The person behind the bogus message can use a macro or a Javascript code to have the installation start upon accessing the file. To recognize a spam e-mail, you need to check the details from the message. Look up the sender’s contacts. If the letter is said to be from a given company or institution, the e-mail account should belong to it.
Drive-by installations work in a similar manner. The shady program can be hidden behind a corrupted website or a compromised link. Accessing the host page for the Skype Goo.gl virus would result in an instant infection. If you have doubts about the reliability of a given website, do some research. Read what others have to say about it. You should only follow links, provided by reliable websites and people. If the link is not referenced in any way, ask about it. The Skype Goo.gl virus proves that links can be inserted by third parties.
The Trojan can also travel in a bundle with freeware, shareware and pirated programs. You should be careful about the software you install to your system. Make sure it has a good reputation. The same goes for the website you download it from. Doing research may be necessary. The Skype Goo.gl virus would be included as a bonus with the program you have decided to add to your system. Taking the time to read the end user license agreement (EULA) of the tools you install can reveal questionable terms. If you discover something suspicious in the agreement, you should terminate the installation.
Skype Goo.gl Virus Uninstall
Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.
Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.
Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.
Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.
Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.
Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.
Still can not remove Skype Goo.gl Virus from your computer? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.
