A suspicious process has been the reason for numerous reports about pop-up advertisements as well as other suspicious activities on affected computers. The process is belongs to ad-supported software, going by the name of DNS Keeper. Similar to other adware, such as DNS Unlocker, DNS Locker, DNS Unblocker, it has been regarded as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP). Although DNS Keeper is advertised as a program that may benefit users in their online browsing and experience the program may do exactly the opposite. Security researchers strongly advise users to stop the process and uninstall the software completely and scan their PCs with an advanced anti-malware tool to secure it.
| Name | Dnstehachapi.exe |
| Type | Adware process |
| Short Description | May collect information, administer POP ups and may modify user DNS settings. |
| Symptoms | Slow user PC. Web browser not responding. Pop-ups and other advertisements. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling, freeware installers. |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By Dnstehachapi.exe |
Dnstehachapi.exe – How Did I Get It?
One way to install this program on a computer is if the user unknowingly uses a bundled setup to install freeware. Most third-party sites support the installation of widely used free programs bundled altogether with software that is considered potentially unsafe. You may have missed seeing something familiar to ‘Include DNS Keeper as free extra’ in the ‘Custom’ installation option of your installer. This is why it is highly advisable for users to take their time whilst installing new software in their systems.
Dnstehachapi.exe – More About It
The process dnstehachapi.exe is located in:
C:/Program Files/DNS Keeper/
Once ran on the user PC, the process may begin to cause several issues to the computer, by generating random advertisements during online browsing.
The program this process has been connected to (DNS Keeper) may also employ various types of tracking technologies to determine user interests:
- Pixels.
- Beacons.
- Cookies.
- Local Shared Objects.
Once the user’s searches, browsing history and online clicks may have been aggregated, the process then may begin to administered advertised content in the form of pop-ups, banners, ad-supported search results, highlighted text in browser and others. All of those advertisements are mostly connected with respectable sites. However, there may be advertised content or redirects leading to various suspicious online websites that may conceal certain risks from the user:
- Infect the user PC with malware (Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware)
- Scam the user to enter his information in fake registration forms for a reward or a trial.
- Con the user into calling fake tech support service that charges high rates.
- Subscribe users to SMS services that may be very expensive and automatic, without their consent.
The program may also have created various registry objects that may prevent it to be manually removed from the user PC. Also, it is very likely that the process may modify the ipv4 DNS settings of the user PC it has been installed on, changing them to the DNS settings of another domain to collect different information.
Should Dnstehachapi.exe be Removed?
Given that such processes have been regarded as low risk type of threats to the user PC, it is advisable that they be fully removed from the user PC. In order to remove them manually, you should follow the removal tutorial below. It is not advisable in any way to drag the folder into the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete it manually, because it will most likely have no effect.
For best results it is recommended to use a professional security scanning tool that will delete all settings, changed by this unwanted program on your computer. Since conventional antivirus programs may not detect dnstehachapi.exe as a threat, because it is a low-level danger to the user PC and is not directly risky for the computer, it is highly recommended to use an advanced anti-malware program. Such program will detect any objects related to the process and remove them automatically. It may also find some other threats brought third-party advertised sites on your computer and protect you in the future from any intrusions.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall Dnstehachapi.exe in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall Dnstehachapi.exe.
Step 2: Remove Dnstehachapi.exe from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select Dnstehachapi.exe and click “Remove”
After Dnstehachapi.exe is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select Dnstehachapi.exe to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After Dnstehachapi.exe has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on Dnstehachapi.exe
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Dnstehachapi.exe. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Dnstehachapi.exe will be removed.
In order to remove any associated objects that are left after uninstall and detect any other threats, you should:
Step 3: Start Your PC in Safe Mode to Remove Dnstehachapi.exe.
Removing Dnstehachapi.exe from Windows XP, Vista, 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
Removing Dnstehachapi.exe from Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 systems:
Substep 1:
Open the Start Menu
Substep 2:
Whilst holding down Shift button, click on Power and then click on Restart.
Substep 3:
After reboot, the aftermentioned menu will appear. From there you should choose Troubleshoot.
Substep 4:
You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu you can choose Advanced Options.
Substep 5:
After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Substep 6:
Click on Restart.
Substep 7:
A menu will appear upon reboot. You should choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart and boot into Safe Mode so you can scan for and remove Dnstehachapi.exe.
Step 4: Remove Dnstehachapi.exe automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
To clean your computer you should download an updated anti-malware program on a safe PC and then install it on the affected computer in offline mode. After that you should boot into safe mode and scan your computer to remove all Dnstehachapi.exe associated objects.
