Stop A Computer Sending Automated Queries

A computer sending automated queries can be caused by software or infections from malware or viruses, and this article will help you eliminate the most probable causes.

Note: This is not a guide to help resolve any network issues. This is purely aimed at resolving issues with your computer.

1. Install antivirus and antimalware software

Because this is one of the most likely causes of automated queries being sent from your computer, we will start here first.

Download the following software packages, install them, and perform scans to start removing unwanted critters.

  1. Avast Antivirus: Use the free version. It will do a decent enough job of finding any viruses. Download it from the official website: Download Avast Antivirus.
  2. Malwarebytes: Again, the free version will do nicely. This will get rid of most kinds of unwanted malware. Download it from the official website: Download Malwarebytes.

After installing these two items, run a full scan with them. Be patient with the scans. They take time, but it is so worth it!

I would also recommend running a boot-time scan with Avast to allow the antivirus to scan freely without other processes preventing troublemaking files from being removed.

Oftentimes, this whole step will be the one to stop automated queries from being sent from your computer.

But let’s make sure that all the steps are taken to ensure you have the best chance to end the problem. So, let’s continue.

2. Clean up or change your browser

Most commonly, Chrome is used as the browser of choice. For this situation, I’d like to recommend that you install and use Mozilla Firefox.

If you prefer holding onto your current browser, it’s fine. Close it and leave it closed while using Firefox until you resolve the automated query situation.

If you already use Firefox, giving it a full reset to start over fresh will be most beneficial.

If you follow these steps properly and your issues disappear, you’ll know you have a browser issue if you return to your original browser and the problem returns.

3. Cleanup Registry items

Open the Registry editor by right-clicking on the Start Menu icon and left-clicking on Run (Or by pressing the Windows key and R). Type regedit into the text box and left-click on the OK button.

Important: Make sure you backup the registry or set a system restore point before changing any settings.

Registry Editor Run Items

Open the navigation tree until you can left-click on the Run folder:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Remove everything except (You can remove entries by right-clicking your mouse on it and left-clicking on delete):

  • Anything to do with your antivirus software.
  • SecurityHealth
  • IAStorIcon
  • OneDrive

Other recognizable entries like Adobe or Xbox gaming are entirely up to you if you don’t want them to run on startup.

Deleting these specific entries won’t adversely affect anything. It just means that these things will have to start up when you run the programs relying on these startup items.

If you often use something with an entry related to it, there won’t be much point to remove it.

Repeat the process for these Registry folders:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

After that, close the Registry Editor.

4. Check for any suspicious-looking processes

Task Manager Processes 1

This step, by its very nature, is not black and white. It’s difficult to spot untrustworthy processes at a glance, so it’s up to your best judgment or discretion to decide whether a process must be investigated or stopped.

There is no clear way to explain whether or not a process is bad, so try your best. Over time, you will learn more about computers and how operating systems work. As you gain experience, this process will become easier for you.

Here is a list that you can look over to get some indication of some commonly known harmful processes. You can search for the process or review the list and look for the colored dot representing something bad.

First, open the Task Manager by right-clicking on the Start Menu icon and clicking on Task Manager. Make sure that More Details is expanded to see more options.

Under the Processes tab, you will see most of the things currently running. Look at the names of each item and try to identify unusual names that look out of place.

The link with the list of common processes that can harm your computer has plenty of unusual examples.

Right-click on the process you want to examine, then left-click on Properties.

Left-click on the Details tab to see more about the process. If you don’t see details like a product name and version, it’s enough to get your attention, but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad process.

After that, left-click on the General tab and observe the Location.

Having the location is valuable. You will be able to see the exact file running as that process and take action to either uninstall the program based on the location information or end the process and delete it manually.

If you find that an item returns after deleting it, and you are sure it shouldn’t be there, try to get rid of some others first and return to the one you couldn’t delete before.

Tip: If you prefer, you can rather click on the Details tab in the Task Manager to view a more static list.

5. Cleanup programs that start when your computer starts

click on startup tab

In the Task Manager, click on the ‘Startup’ tab. There will be a list of all the programs that execute on startup.

You can click on the item that you don’t want to run at startup, and click on the Disable button to stop it from starting up in the future.

I recommend disabling anything without a reputable publisher name.

You can disable anything you don’t won’t want running on startup. The fewer things you have running on startup, the more computer resources you claim back on your next startup.

6. Cleanup your drive

Open Disk Cleanup

Quite often, unwanted files end up sitting in various temporary folders. Follow this procedure to clean your drive up from junk files or leftover files from previous software installations and updates.

Open the Run box by right-clicking the Start Menu icon and left-clicking on Run. Type %temp% into the run text box. Then click OK to proceed.

A folder in your Windows File Explorer should open, and select all the files by clicking Select All or pressing Ctrl + A on your keyboard.

Press the Delete key on your keyboard with all the files now selected. Alternatively, right-click on any of the highlighted files and left-click on delete.

Skip over any files that cannot be deleted, and in some cases, you might have to end up clicking on cancel to finish the process, but that’s fine.

In the left-hand pane, click on This PC. Then right-click on Local Disk (C:), then left-click on Properties.

Click Disk Cleanup, then check all the boxes under Files to delete except for Downloads.

Click on Clean up system files, and once that has been completed, click on the OK button.

All the waste files should now be cleaned off your system.

7. Uninstall unused programs

Even though uninstalling unwanted software is relatively safe, you must pay attention to what it is that you are uninstalling specifically.

Note down all the programs that you uninstall. This is handy if you ever need an application you’ve used that you may need to reinstall again.

How to uninstall software

Settings Start Menu

To uninstall an application, open the Start Menu and click on the Settings icon to open the Settings App.

Left-click on Apps to open the Apps and Features window. You will see a list generated with all your installed programs.

Left-click on the item you wish to uninstall and left-click on the Uninstall button.

Apps and Features Uninstall Program

How to test for unwanted automated queries

This is one of those times when viewing and capturing your network data might not help unless you have good knowledge about network systems or computers.

In this case, I doubt that you would be reading this article. But if you are still interested in looking at some data, look at Microsoft’s documentation to see how you could download and install an application to capture some network data.

What is an automated query?

An automated query is a request sent to a computer, server, application, or device. Still, it is typically generated from software like a daemon, processes or services, malware, viruses, or ordinary software.