Spyfader, What Is It?
What is Spyfader?
No one seems to know!
I am sure Spyfader is currently infecting more computers than we think. From research on the Internet, if Spyfader is seen, then there is certain demise for your hard drive or system. It is recommended to back up your Documents immediately. For Spyfader to be around for so long, (at least 3 years) there is still no good information about it. It is clear however, that all who have been infected by Spyfader have had subsequent problems with their computers and hard drives, mostly intermittent and sudden crashes. This is a very unusual aspect of Spyware, if that is in fact what Spyfader.exe is. As you know spyware generally does not intentionally crash a computer.
Spyfader and Windows XP
Just this past week I began to have a problem with Spyfader on a desktop using XP. All major antivirus programs, and several major Anti Spyware programs did not even recognize or report on Spyfader after investigating the hard drive. I’m beginning to think this Spyfader.exe will be filed in with UFO’s, the Jersey Devil or Bigfoot, Sasquatch and Yeti. Does Spyfader really exist? Did they really see it. Was it created at Area 51?
Brief Spyfader Appearences
I can tell you that for a fact I saw a window that said it was closing Spyfader.exe! The window revealed itself for only about a second and clearly said Spyfader.exe. Had I not been looking directly at the screen display, it would’ve been missed totally. This seems to be close to the experiences of all who have been infected by it. Some have also seen Spyfader briefly in their Windows Task Manager.
So today I finally had time to do further research on Spyfader.exe (Been working on trying to salvage a good computer) and to no avail. That is, I have had no success in results for my investigation on Spyfader and/or the salvaging of the good and expensive computer. No one seems to know what Spyfader is! Why not? It seems that everyone who has reported seeing this Spyfader has been questioned as to whether they actually saw what they saw. “The UFO Syndrome”
Sysfader or Spyfader?
Some claim it to be sysfader, I can assure you it is not. It said Spyfader, and I now have a dead computer because of it. I have not added any new hardware to the system, and in particular a Mouse, Keyboard or controller software for them.
I have been playing with the system to see if I can discover anything related to Spyfader on it. I will keep this post current as to any Spyfader discoveries or advancements. My next attempt to remove Spyfader will be with Trend Micro’s “Hijack This.” If there is no success with finding where Spyfader is on my system then I will be doing a complete restore on the Hard Drive. I have not read of anyone doing a restore with this Spyfader infection issue, as I’m sure most move on if it’s successful.
Luckily, this site SpywareBlogging.com will continue to monitor and report on the Spyfader issue.
- Here is an old post I ran across, but not the oldest: SPYFADER running automatically.
- Another forum debates Sysfader and Spyfader: Sysfader or Spyfader?
- Most recent Forum discussion: Spyfader
I will keep this post active, please provide your useful feedback, comments or questions.
Good Luck and please Come Back Soon!
I have the exact same issue. My Laptop is still working fine however. I just noticed it today after closing a video game in the task manager. after going through every forum I did not find a single person who could help. I am limited on what programs I can run due to my lack of admin approval, but I still couldn’t find anything on the spyware searchs I did perform. I did notice most of the people who said they had this problem said it was on there dell. Might just be that most people use dells and that it means nothing, anyway, please post any new info you find.
I work at Kennedy Space Center for a NASA contractor, and I have a habit of running Task Manager while booting up my computer. This morning I noticed a program in the Applications listing of Task Manager show a program called “Spyfader” come up several times, and each time Spyfader only showed for about 3 seconds, then disappeared. NASA is really diligent about detecting a preventing spyware and viruses from it’s computers and networks, so I Googled for any information about Spyfader, and that’s when I came across your blogging site, along with others that were posted several years ago. It seems no one, to date, has found any viable information on this extremely secretive program.
I too just saw this today. I don’t recall seeing this in the past. Unless this arrived from some kind of infected Web site, (although I have all current patches), the only other possible cause I can think of is installing the Western Digital disk management software for a recently added external USB drive, (but I’m not saying that was the cause). There really needs to be a task force to identify what this is, and what it attempts to do. Please chime in if you are willing to participate.
I encountered this malware(?) yesterday. People keep directing me to information about sysfader, but at least now I know I wasn’t seeing things. So thank you for that.
Well, this site hasn’t been updated since last June, but I thought it was worth posting anyway. If nothing else, to let other “victims” of spyfader know that you’re not alone.
Unfortunately, spyfader still appears to be a mystery. No one seems to know what it is/does, exactly, or how to get rid of it.
Anything new on this?
I have an HP and use XP. Everything was running slowly so I tried so shut down. I had to shut the computer off at the tower. I definanatly saw Spyfader. I have seen it before.
I saw it flash in my task manager. I closed and opened the same program to watch this program flash again and again to be sure I was reading it right. It read “Spyfader.”
Then of course hours later, opening programs “Sysfader” flashed in its stead.
my only contribution is that after down loading and then virus checking some files I went to use my Sonic “Record Now” disk burning software that came pre installed on my Toshiba satellite. It failed to open after several attempts and when opened task manager to see what happened when I attempted to open “record now” I saw the word “spyfader” flash by which lead to the search , which lead to this site.
No other adverse affects yet . but pleased I do back ups
Hello, I found your blog in a new directory of blogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, Your blog looks good. Have a nice day.
Thank you for your help, buddy!
Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…
i have spyfader too.
anyone managed to get rid of it yet?
reinstalling windows must kill it, surely.
anyone want to suggest anything before i do that?
in more detail:
its not sysfader.
f-secure and superantispyware don’t see it.
its a laptop and doesn’t have a usb mouse or keyboard for any bad hardware to hide in.
unless it can survive a reinstallation of windows, i’m prety sure i got it when i downloaded the ffdshow codec for watching video files.
i got this from some website called freeze/installIq, which i have since found out is dodgy, but was recomended by windows, when it couldn’t play the files.
on saying that, the reason i reinstalled windows was that it was going slow, so i wonder if i had it already.
could it survive a windows reinstall?
i reformatted the disc, but then i copied my old docs and settings folder back onto it.
the web is full of possible solutions from people who haven’t had it, but none i can see from anyone who has got rid of it.
please post if you have done so!
as no one has, i’m assuming that none of the methods suggested work.
how?
it seams amazing that several years on no one has killed it!
should i reinstall windows?
is there a less annoying option?
would that even help?
if so show i not copy over my docs and settings?
…and had it been watching me?
should i change all my website passwords?
also:
every time i open a firefox window i get a second tab called “free living marine screensaver”.
f-secure and superantispyware don’t see this either.
i don’t know if its connected.
none of the other victims mention it.
if its not connected, any idea how to kill it?
Just noticed Spyfader (not Sysfader) flash while trying to open Quickbooks. My whole system (Dell) has become totally unstable - programs won’t open, then for no apparent reason my entire desktop disappears - background is there but no task bar, no icons, nothing, so I can’t do any af the “fixes” I’ve seen when searching - now my keyboard is getting dodgy. I have not installed any new hardwar in the last 10 months.
so I think I saw that little spyfader window… I have sophos - how do I get rid of it?