BEWARE: Search-Snacks/Search Snacks Malware/Virus not found AT ALL by IOBit Malware Fighter 2

[cardcop05]

After I tried Driver Booster 2 briefly (FULL OF BUGS that I don't have time for) suddenly Search Snacks was installed on my system. I'm not blaming DB 2, but I had not downloaded ANYTHING but DB 2 and two drivers it recommended a week before of after. THEN THE NIGHTMARE BEGAN. Uninstalling Search Snacks DOES NOT WORK (if it ever did). It leaves an Automatic reinstall .exe on your system that IMF 2 FULL SCAN cannot find. In fact IMF 2 didn't find ONE file associated with Search Snacks. I found a very helpful IOBIT employee who is working on the Driver Booster 2 bugs, so I wrote to him to forward my complaint.

 

Here's the complaint I sent to IOBit today:

I hate to have to contact you with this, but I please ask that you forward this to a Customer Service Supervisor as I can't wait another 8-minutes+ trying to get an IOBit human by phone to never get one. I have Myasthenia Gravis which causes severe weakness in all my muscles. It causes severe pain to just hold a phone for more than 5-minutes.

 

While I was waiting for your response I did exactly what you suggested, but I bought Spyhunter as well for $10 which made getting rid of Search-Snacks & PUP malware files so much easier.

 

Before I did that I ran IOBit Uninstaller starting the day Search Snacks got on my system (and every time it reinstalled right after IOBit Uninstall from my system w/w-out being connected online). Search Snacks is by far the WORST (and only such) program I've ever had on my computer ​since 1997.

 

I even called IOBit Support (THE WORST SUPPORT I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED!) which was having unexpected long hold times (probably due to Search Snacks and IOBit software not removing it), so a guy named Christian called me back at about 2:10PM EST at my automated request from 855-855-9010 on my Caller ID. He had to take over my system by using LogMeIn Support (which I never used before, but I trusted this guy). I thought LogMeIn was an IOBit product, but found out long after the fact that it was not. Firstly I don't particularly like the idea of one company using another company's products for support help- but if that was the only way I guess I had no choice. Christian gave me a 6-digit PIN to log-in to LogMeIn that started with 399 (I need the other three numbers as I'm trying to get a transcript of our conversation from LogMeIn). Christian first told me to Uninstall Search Snacks then Delete all add-ons by going to the Advanced tab in Internet Options and clicking Reset Internet Explorer Settings. I'm no novice user (which I told Christian right away) as I did that already a few times starting a couple of days ago trying to remove Search Snacks without using extra third party software. Christian got a tone of disgust in his voice after I told him this.

 

Then Christian, while my system was 100% under his control decided to use a Third Party Malware Removal software program (Hitman Pro) which I downloaded while waiting for a call back from IOBit (which took 30-minutes). So he ran Hitman Pro which found Search Snacks listing it as a Trojan, and three other PUP files listed as malware. Then he closed Hitman Pro and began a HARD SELL memorized speech on how I NEED to use IOBit's user support service. He said he ran his own program while Hitman Pro was running that found several problems with my system which is significantly effecting the performance of my computer (never mentioning that there was a fee). First of all I know he did not run his own program on my system, I'm not stupid like many computer users. If he did I would have seen SOMETHING on my computer indicating as such which there was NOTHING. Then he says: you NEED to use our user support which is only $149.99 which will blah, blah, blah. I kept trying to talk and he just kept talking fast (all of a sudden) with his HARD SELL sales pitch. I told him I'm very physically disabled and am homebound/mostly bed-ridden and cannot afford to spent $149.99 on a problem... Before I could finish he started his fast paced HARD SELL sales pitch AGAIN! This time I had to YELL "NO, NO, NO" in order to get him to shut up. I told him "why would I spend $149.99 to fix a problem when I could but a BRAND NEW laptop for $300?" Then he said "I thought you said you couldn't afford $149.99, so now your going to spend $300, $400, or $500 on a new laptop." WHO THE HELL DOES THIS GUY THINK HE IS PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH LIKE THAT? I never said I WAS GOING TO BUY a new laptop, I just said I could buy a new one for $300 as an example of the stupidity of spending $149.99 to fix one medium sized problem (what I bought the one I'm using for BRAND NEW in 2012).

This Christian WOULDN'T STOP, next he's offering me the same user support for $29.99 a month, then says really fast in a lower tone "for a $99 start-up fee". I then told Christian he's an idiot and a real scumbag for pushing something I don't need on me when I called for FREE help since I have Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 7 Pro which provided the Customer Service phone number. Then he closed Hitman Pro, disconnected from my system and closed the LogMeIn window nearly simultaneously not allowing me to write down the PIN number and he hung up on me.

 

Again, I need IOBit's 6-digit Pin number so I can get a transcript of the conversation and I expect Christian to be spoken to about this. Because as of right now over 12-hours after this fiasco, I want to delete EVERYTHING from IOBit on my computer the day it expires (or sooner). In the end, I paid $10 for Spyhunter which successfully deleted (58) Search Snacks files and (14) PUP files (again, none of which IOBit Malware Fighter 2 FULL scan found). My system has been running perfectly again for the last 12-hours and I see no reason why it won't continue to run perfectly (which totally contradicts everything Christian told me unless I spend $149.99 OR $99 and $29.99 a month!).

 

A several year loyal IOBit programs user.

[tysoncs]

i agree with u bro..iobit's malware fighter doesnt have good detection rate.

my computer was infected too..thankz to SAS i survived!

i hope they update this product!

[Cicely]

Hello cardcop05,

 

Welcome to IObit Forum.

 

Sorry for the trouble you encountered. ​I admit that IObit Malware Fighter is not a perfect program which may miss some virus/malware. I already have had our specialists to collect Search Snacks.

 

Moreover, we will keep expanding our database. If you encounter any malware that IMF missed, please post it here or write to imfsupport@iobit.com, we will try our best to help you out of the problem as soon as possible.

 

The phone number you called is from our partner SupportChoice, which is for some emergency circumstances. You can contact us directly via the email provided if you need any assistance regarding our products.

 

Thanks for your understanding.