NCLAUNCH
I was checking for the unwelcome, Acrobat-launched WISPTIS.EXE when I spied something strange. At some point during the past day, 'NCLAUNCH.EXe' had found its way into my Windows directory and was running ever-so-silently in the background. What's worse, I found it via MSCONFIG set to autolaunch on startup. Not knowing where this process came from, I killed it immediately and searched for clues online. Alas, there were no helpful sites to be found. Diving into the Properties for the file, I found the answer in Comments field on the Version tab to be quite informative: “File launcher used by SWF Studio screensavers on Windows NT, 2000 and XP.” Turns out this was a remnant of some lousy-ass eye candy I tried (and immediately uninstalled) yesterday. Consider yourself informed and forewarned.
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8 Comments
Diet Alert
November 30th, 1999
at 12:00am
almost immediately thereafter with a link to this inspired interlude: I wonder if either of those tunes were created on Windows? windows music, windows sounds Related Content:I’m Not Quite Dead YetCreative Sound Windows Vista Audio WarningNCLAUNCHFree Sound EffectsA Better Vista Boot ScreenJingle Jangle JingleMicrosoft Windows VistaBatch BonanzaNew Version of MSCONFIGSuper Tweakers [IMG]
Anonymous
February 19th, 2004
at 7:50pm
First Post!
Anyways, Thanks.
Anonymous
March 2nd, 2004
at 3:23pm
I found a link in the Northcode support forums (makers of SWF Studio) to an uninstaller for NCLaunch.exe
http://www.northcode.com/misc/unlaunch.exe
Also a link that better explains what NCLaunch.exe is for and what it does.
http://www.northcode.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2867&highlight=nclaunch
Doesn't appear to have any nasty intentions or side effects. Using a background app to facilitate functionality isn't an inherently “Bad Idea”. In this case, it would seem to be the responsibility of the distributer of the “lousy-*** eye candy” to completely clean up after itself on uninstall.
Maybe the warning would be better made against the purveyor of said “lousy-*** eye candy” than against Northcode/SWF Studio who appear to simply develop the tools used (which include NCLaunch.exe)
Anonymous
March 24th, 2004
at 10:40am
FYI, I just installed AOL Instant Messenger and upon completion I immediately found this process running. A little digging yielded the following pieces of adware that were piggybacked with AIM (and unmentioned in their installation or software agreement):
WildTangent Multiplayer Library
WildTangent Updater
WildTangent Web Driver
Viewpoint Media Player
Shame on AOL (as though that's some kind of revelation).
Interestingly my IDS picked up signatures once the scumware fired up that sent ICMP traffic to 206.65.182.93, an IP owned by GTEK Technologies.
- mike
Anonymous
April 13th, 2004
at 3:25pm
NCLaunch is a utility installed by screensaver applications created with SWF Studio (www.northcode.com). The utility allows the screensaver to launch URLs and applications from the screensaver that survive the termination of the screensaver on Windows NT, 2000 and XP - a job that is otherwise impossible.
NCLaunch is NOT a virus, adware or spyware and doesn't access the net for any reason.
As you have already noted, there is information in the file properties that directs you to northcode.com where you can find out what NCLaunch is and how to remove it.
No attempt was made to hide this utility, it is necessary to the proper functioning of SWF Studio.
NCLaunch can be removed quickly and automatically (if you're sure you don't need it) by running the “un-launcher” which you can download from: http://www.northcode.com/misc/unlauch.exe
Anonymous
July 9th, 2004
at 7:55am
Apparantly Northcode doesn't want you to have the ability to remove this stuff anymore. all the links to an unlaunch page go nowhere now and the site is very vague on how to actually remove their stuff.
Anonymous
August 18th, 2004
at 7:28am
Actually, the link provided does work and you can find more information in the forums:
http://www.northcode.com/forums
Example:
http://www.northcode.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3550
Or do a search for nclaunch* in their forums.
Although, their site is in need of updating for sure!
Anonymous
September 14th, 2004
at 10:37pm
thanks for this info