How to completely remove 360 ​​safety guard. Cleaning up application files

360 Total Security is a security product from Chinese developers, which users sometimes have difficulty removing. Next, let's look at what the 360 ​​Total Security program is, how to remove it, and how to solve possible difficulties that arise during the process.

What is 360 Total Security and the difficulties of removal

360 Total Security is free (freeware) antivirus software that boasts the presence of the Qihoo 360 antivirus itself, as well as built-in modules in the form of a firewall, Avira engine and cloud protection technology, which is rare in free solutions.

According to the developers, as well as the opinion of many users, this product can compete with many commercial offers, and even more so with other free antiviruses. The program is available in two versions:

  • 360 Total Security;
  • 360 Total Security Essential.
Their difference lies in the fact that the first option, in addition to security tools, contains modules to speed up the computer and remove unnecessary files (system junk). And 360 Total Security Essential, in turn, is a so-called derivative product, the purpose of which is solely to ensure the protection of its user’s computer.

As practice shows, after deciding to uninstall this product (for example, to install other antivirus software), users are faced with the fact that errors occur when trying to uninstall, and, as a result, the uninstallation procedure is blocked or ends without result. Why is this happening? The fact is that the antivirus has measures to prevent it from being accidentally deleted by careless users, or from being removed by malware.

Manually uninstalling 360 Total Security

This method can be divided into several main components, which will be discussed below.

Initializing the built-in uninstaller

Cleaning up application files

Important! Before you start deleting the folder with antivirus files, you must restart your computer - otherwise, an error will occur when you try to delete the folder.

  1. Go to Windows Explorer (you can quickly do this by pressing the Windows + E key combination on your keyboard);
  2. Go to the path “C:Program Files” or “C:Program Files (x86)” (depending on the version and bitness of Windows);
  3. Place the cursor on the folder called “360”, right-click and select the “Delete” option.
Cleaning the Registry with CCleaner

In addition to the antivirus folder and files itself, after the uninstaller runs, unnecessary registry keys remain in the system, which in theory can be found and deleted using the built-in Windows OS tools (regedit). In practice, some keys cannot be removed manually, and therefore it is better to use a third-party utility, for example, CCleaner. You can download it from the developer’s official website completely free of charge using the link - https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard.

So, let's launch the program and get started:

  1. Find the “Registry” section in the menu and select it;
  2. We start scanning the registry by clicking the “Search for problems” button;
  3. We delete the found results by clicking the “Fix” button.
The utility will remove all unnecessary keys in the registry, including those left over from the antivirus.

Removal using a special utility Revo Uninstaller

The previous method is well suited for people who are accustomed to seeing any important process from the inside and controlling every detail. For the average user, it will be much easier, faster and more efficient to remove 360 ​​Total Security using the specialized Revo Uninstaller utility. It will perform this manipulation not only in less time, but will also clean the system of remnants of the deleted program an order of magnitude better.

Removal instructions using Revo Uninstaller utilities:


After this, 360 Total Security and its traces will be completely removed from your computer.

Video instructions for removing 360 Total Security

In the following video you can clearly see how to remove 360 ​​Total Security from your computer manually:

360 Safety Guard is a fake antivirus program. Quite dangerous for a PC: it has a built-in Trojan virus. Finds and exploits OS vulnerabilities to expand its functional priorities and obtain user data. Distributed through social engineering as a “free computer security solution.” And also through a disguised installation (like worms and Trojans) - without the user’s consent.

The declared “capabilities” of 360 Safety Guard are nothing more than a fake (fiction). The purpose of this “digital product” is exclusively malicious activity and preventing the installation of trusted antiviruses. In particular, this applies to Kaspersky Internet Security (due to software incompatibility). Regardless of how the false antivirus got into the system, it is imperative to remove it.

Removal using the Remove Fake Antivirus utility

Remove Fake Antivirus does not provide your PC with basic protection against malware. His specialty is removing false antiviruses from your computer. The latest version of the utility (1.99 - April 2014) has a fairly long track record of fake software that it can remove. Total 90 items.

1. Open the program’s website (page - http://freeofvirus.blogspot.com/2009/05/remove-fake-antivirus-10.html).

2. Under the list of detected false antiviruses, follow the link “CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD”.

3. Wait for the download to finish. Launch the utility by double-clicking.

4. Click “YES” to the utility request “Start to remove virus?” (Start virus removal).

5. After scanning and removing 360 Safety Guard is completed, restart your PC.

6. Clean the file directories and Windows registry with CCleaner.

7. Update the installed (main) antivirus database and scan all disk partitions for malware. Or install security software from another developer (the current antivirus may not be effective because it could not remove 360 ​​Safety Guard).

How to remove manually?

1. In the Start bar, type taskmgr and press ENTER.

2. In the Windows Task Manager window, go to the Processes tab.

3. Find the file “safetyguard.exe” (or a variant with a similar name). Right-click on it. Select “Open storage location...” from the context menu.

4. Save the path to the fake virus folder in a text file (you will need to return to this directory later).

Attention! Usually the virus is registered in Program Files, in the Safety Guard Software folder. And in “Common Programs” (with the same name).

5. Return to the task manager and right-click on safetyguard.exe again. And then select "End Process".

6. Restart your PC in safe mode (hold down the F8 key while rebooting).

7. Find the fake virus folder (follow the path saved in the file): and delete it, including all files located in it.

8. To remove 360 ​​Safety Guard elements remaining after deleting its main directory, go to the Windows Registry Editor (Start → regedit).

9. Launch the “Find...” function (menu section “Edit”).

10. Type SafetyGuard in the search bar. All found entries with the name of the virus must be deleted.

Attention! Quite often it is registered in the registry branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\.

11. Restart Windows normally. Scan the disk for viruses using curing utilities (for example, Dr.WebCureIT!)

Use only trusted antivirus software. Download their installers only from the official websites of the developers.

360 Total Security is an antivirus utility that protects your computer from various types of security threats. Such a tool is highly desirable in every system, especially those run by inexperienced users. Thanks to active protection, you can avoid almost any level of infection; in general, viruses penetrate only by ignoring warnings.

The utility also has a scanner to combat enemy code that has already penetrated the system, possibly before installing an antivirus. Plus, the tool is completely free. Why do questions arise about how to remove 360 ​​Total Security antivirus if it is good enough?

Reasons for deleting an antivirus

A standard occurrence when working with a PC is downloading software. It can be of quite high quality, which gets along well with the antivirus, or it can be for specific tasks or simply incorrect. This will lead to constant messages about the presence of a Trojan on the computer in the form of this program.

In fact, this is not a reason to remove the defender; you can simply whitelist the application, so the antivirus will not respond to its work. To do this, go to settings, then to the appropriate tab and specify the path to the executable file. If there are many such programs, then it makes sense to uninstall the program.

360 Total Security must be completely removed if you want to reinstall the antivirus or install another one. This action is mandatory, since having several such scanners is critical for the operation of the system. They will fight with each other and at the same time consume a huge amount of resources. Even residual traces of the previous antivirus can harm the proper operation of the successor.

Of course, an important reason is the availability of small PC resources. Thus, antivirus becomes not so much a necessity, but a luxury. Because of it, lags can occur even in very unpretentious applications.

Removing protection

Before answering the question of how to remove 360 ​​Total Security from your computer, you need to prepare the ground - remove the scanner’s protective modules. It is precisely because of the presence of such protections that such questions arise. In general, this is a standard measure that allows you to protect the antivirus itself from the influence of viruses, otherwise it would be vulnerable.

To complete the procedure you must:

  • Click on the three horizontal stripes symbolizing the menu;
  • Then, in the “General” section, uncheck the box next to “Enable active protection...”;

  • Likewise, deselect “Enable Self-Defense 360.”

After completing these steps, the antivirus can be removed using any usual method.

How to remove 360 ​​Total Security Windows 10, 8, 7?

There are many ways to uninstall a program, but we will highlight several main options: using uninstall, standard uninstallation, and using applications.

To remove using the first method, just go to the directory with the antivirus and run the uninstall.exe file. This method was developed directly by the wizards who created the application and is quite easy to use.

The next option is standard deletion:

  • Click on Start and “Control Panel”;
  • Find the Programs and Features tile;
  • Select your antivirus and click "Uninstall".

Despite the difference in the removal procedure, the result is no different. Windows itself goes to the folder with the antivirus and launches the corresponding file, essentially the methods are identical.

Both options do not allow 360 Total Security to be completely removed from the computer, meaning traces of the application still remain on the system. Typically these include: broken registry settings, logs, personalization data and other user information. This data is scattered in different places on the system, making complete manual removal difficult. For this procedure it is better to use special programs, it has proven itself well IObit Uninstaller.

IObit Uninstaller has an advanced search for “tails”, that is, in addition to the usual removal, a trace scanner is launched and they are cleared. You should:

  • Download the application https://ru.iobit.com/downloads/iobit/redir.php?file=iobituninstaller ;
  • In the first tab “All programs” select 360 Total Security;
  • Then click on the “Delete” button below;
  • You will be prompted to create a restore point, do as desired, then the deletion procedure will begin;
  • When finished, you should run the “Power Scan” and clear the traces.

This approach is more functional and allows you to prepare the ground for the further installation of other antiviruses. Also, if you used the first methods, you can simply clean up the traces using CCleaner or similar programs.

Uninstalling 360 Total Security via Safe Mode

The last method that will help you get rid of your antivirus without the need to remove protection from it is to remove it in safe mode. If you simply try to uninstall a program on Windows, you will be told that you do not have enough rights or that it is already in use.

Since in safe mode no secondary programs are loaded, but only the kernel, there will be no problem with uninstallation. You can:

  • Restart your PC;
  • When the BIOS starts, press F8;
  • Select " Safe mode", possible with downloading network drivers;
  • After starting, remove the antivirus in any way, then boot in normal mode.

If there are traces that bother you after uninstallation, then simply run the IObit Uninstaller cleaning program.

You can easily remove the 360 ​​Total Security antivirus using any of the methods, but we recommend using an additional program after the manual method to protect yourself from failures.

If you still have questions on the topic “How to remove 360 ​​Total Security from your computer?”, you can ask them in the comments



 

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