Seaport.exe

Dear Sir/Madam,

I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.

Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?

Thanking you in advance,
--
Karim434

Malicious software ("malware") is installed on your computer.

Make sure that your anti-malware software is running, then download the
latest signatures and run a full scan.

Comprehensive anti-malware software scans for all types of malicious
software in the background, on demand and on schedule. If you don't have
comprehensive anti-malware software, you're a sitting duck.

For now try scanning your system with /several/ of the better online
scanners, such as:
Kaspersky Antivirus (http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner)
Panda ActiveScan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan)

Download HijackThis from www.trendsecure.com. Run it, save a log, and
post the log at one of the many sites that support HJT, such as
spywarewarrior.com, bleepingcomputer.com, and http://aumha.net -- but
not here. Within a day you'll have step-by-step advice from an expert on
cleaning up any malware infestations.

Even the best detection and removal software can't fix every malware
infection. If none of the above remove the infection, you may want to
show the computer to a professional. You might need to erase your hard
drive and start over.

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Karim434 wrote:
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
> in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
> I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.
>
> Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
> what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?
>
> Thanking you in advance,

Dear Leonard Grey,

Still no luck. I used DiskCleanup and deleted all my Internet files and then
thoroughly scanned my machine with AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5, CCleaner, Ad-Aware
2008, SpyBot Search and Destroy, Spyware Doctor and Yahoo! Anti-Virus (all of
them fully up-to-date). None of these found anything of consequence and
'SeaPort' the process continued to run.

I then used 'HijackThis' and posted the log file at SpywareWarrior. Nobody
has responded to it (whilst some newer threads have been) leading me to
deduce that no one there thinks there is anything worth commenting on.

I have also used 'Services.msc' to find the process, stop it and disable it.
Based on the location and the descriptions (including Microsoft Corporation
trademarks) it looks about as legitimate as my Microsoft software.

Anyway, for now, if there is something wrong on my machine, I cannot find
it. I don't know if you can recommend anything else? I also used the Panda
Active Scan you mentioned; as before, it did find a few cookies (which I
deleted, again) but nothing else.
--
Karim434


"Leonard Grey" wrote:

> Malicious software ("malware") is installed on your computer.
>
> Make sure that your anti-malware software is running, then download the
> latest signatures and run a full scan.
>
> Comprehensive anti-malware software scans for all types of malicious
> software in the background, on demand and on schedule. If you don't have
> comprehensive anti-malware software, you're a sitting duck.
>
> For now try scanning your system with /several/ of the better online
> scanners, such as:
> Kaspersky Antivirus (http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner)
> Panda ActiveScan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan)
>
> Download HijackThis from www.trendsecure.com. Run it, save a log, and
> post the log at one of the many sites that support HJT, such as
> spywarewarrior.com, bleepingcomputer.com, and http://aumha.net -- but
> not here. Within a day you'll have step-by-step advice from an expert on
> cleaning up any malware infestations.
>
> Even the best detection and removal software can't fix every malware
> infection. If none of the above remove the infection, you may want to
> show the computer to a professional. You might need to erase your hard
> drive and start over.
>
> ---
> Leonard Grey
> Errare humanum est
>
> Karim434 wrote:
> > Dear Sir/Madam,
> >
> > I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
> > in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
> > I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.
> >
> > Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
> > what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?
> >
> > Thanking you in advance,
>

It looks like this might be something to do with the latest version of MSN. Even if you selected not to install any extra addon's it seems Microsoft ignore this.

You can stop this in your Services as it is set to Automatic, I've stopped is set it to disabled and so far not had any problems with MSN or anything else.

Hope this helps.

From what I gather, it's installed with Windows Live group of programs, mine
appeared shortly after updating MSN. The only thing is its registered in
msconfig services tab as written by "microsoft corp." not "microsoft
corporation" though it disappears if you tick hide all microsoft services box.

"Karim434" wrote:

> Dear Leonard Grey,
>
> Still no luck. I used DiskCleanup and deleted all my Internet files and then
> thoroughly scanned my machine with AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5, CCleaner, Ad-Aware
> 2008, SpyBot Search and Destroy, Spyware Doctor and Yahoo! Anti-Virus (all of
> them fully up-to-date). None of these found anything of consequence and
> 'SeaPort' the process continued to run.
>
> I then used 'HijackThis' and posted the log file at SpywareWarrior. Nobody
> has responded to it (whilst some newer threads have been) leading me to
> deduce that no one there thinks there is anything worth commenting on.
>
> I have also used 'Services.msc' to find the process, stop it and disable it.
> Based on the location and the descriptions (including Microsoft Corporation
> trademarks) it looks about as legitimate as my Microsoft software.
>
> Anyway, for now, if there is something wrong on my machine, I cannot find
> it. I don't know if you can recommend anything else? I also used the Panda
> Active Scan you mentioned; as before, it did find a few cookies (which I
> deleted, again) but nothing else.
> --
> Karim434
>
>
> "Leonard Grey" wrote:
>
> > Malicious software ("malware") is installed on your computer.
> >
> > Make sure that your anti-malware software is running, then download the
> > latest signatures and run a full scan.
> >
> > Comprehensive anti-malware software scans for all types of malicious
> > software in the background, on demand and on schedule. If you don't have
> > comprehensive anti-malware software, you're a sitting duck.
> >
> > For now try scanning your system with /several/ of the better online
> > scanners, such as:
> > Kaspersky Antivirus (http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner)
> > Panda ActiveScan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan)
> >
> > Download HijackThis from www.trendsecure.com. Run it, save a log, and
> > post the log at one of the many sites that support HJT, such as
> > spywarewarrior.com, bleepingcomputer.com, and http://aumha.net -- but
> > not here. Within a day you'll have step-by-step advice from an expert on
> > cleaning up any malware infestations.
> >
> > Even the best detection and removal software can't fix every malware
> > infection. If none of the above remove the infection, you may want to
> > show the computer to a professional. You might need to erase your hard
> > drive and start over.
> >
> > ---
> > Leonard Grey
> > Errare humanum est
> >
> > Karim434 wrote:
> > > Dear Sir/Madam,
> > >
> > > I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
> > > in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
> > > I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.
> > >
> > > Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
> > > what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?
> > >
> > > Thanking you in advance,
> >

This is a Microsoft search enhancement app. See details here http://theparallaxview.com/2008/12/seaportexe/
on what it's about and if you should wish to remove it.

I second last two replies from Gaz... & Toby Drake.

It is included in the Live suite (& in IE8 Beta i think?), but you need to
always select an install option like custom or choose individually / myself,
rather than accept suggested defaults / entire suite (depending on how it's
worded exactly).

If you use Win/MS Search, you may find addons that attempt to duplicate
GoogleDesktopSearch functionalities useful-- like scan mail, other file
types, other networked computers, etc. useful.
I don't utilize it-- it's bloated and slow, slow like heck. It was sorta ok
pre-Vista, but uselessly slow now.
Some folks swear by it, i don't know how / why....the proof is in how MS
pays users to use it.

Dang, Lenoard Grey...a simple web search, rather than an arbritrary
assumption, would've prevented all that.

BTW i have this site open in three browsers-- IE(vista), FF 3.1, TheWorld
2.41-- only the latter one displays correctly / all replies...also get an
error message in IE that site is not available upon login to reply...what a
black stain...

"Karim434" wrote:

> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
> in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
> I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.
>
> Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
> what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?
>
> Thanking you in advance,
> --
> Karim434

hi to all out there who have been infected by this pesky piece of malware! have been sitting trying to fix this problem for litteraly 2 days and it looks like so far i've done it!

ok first those of u using AVG 7.5 go and upgrade it to the 8.0 version NOW! its now free at AVG home....then if ur not already using it get ZONE-ALARM free fire wall it catches the virus "seaport.exe" trying to gain internet access...it doesnot completely remove this however but does lock it away in the vault! it then gives you notification of any other similar intrusions so far so good!!

"also would like to say to any1 who has asked if this is harmful "seaport.exe" then YES if u didn't add it intentionally its harmful! like a gate crasher at a private party not invited not wanted"

if u have any suggestions on which programs out there can totally remove this malware please let me know

useful address... http://www.zonealarm.com download free firewall only

Seaport.exe is part of Microsoft's search enhancement program. If you search
your history or anything else you need this. You can find more info on this
by going to www.google.com and searching seaport.exe

"Karim434" wrote:

> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
> in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
> I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.
>
> Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
> what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?
>
> Thanking you in advance,
> --
> Karim434

1st Question you may need to answer is... do you have Windows live Messenger
installed? If yes try uninstalling the search toolbar which comes with it and
integrates in ms internet explorer. that sea port thing will disappear.

"Karim434" wrote:

> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> I just noticed something called 'Seaport Search Enhancement Broker' running
> in the background on my machine (Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3).
> I've never heard of it and cannot find any information about it online.
>
> Does anyone know what this is, whether or not I should be worried about it,
> what it is there for and if/how I can get rid of if?
>
> Thanking you in advance,
> --
> Karim434