How to Remove K-9 Web Filter

The file in question - BCKD.sys

There is an ancient Chinese proverb that goes something like this: “Shitty web filtering software is no substitute for parenting your kids.”  If I really had a dollar for every time I saw a customer use this horrendously shitty software in place of a hardware based appliance (like a dedicated box running Dan’s Guardian, which is ten thousand times more secure and effective) or good old fashion parenting, I’d be a rich dude indeed.

The problem with shitty software like K9 Web Filtering is that it sucks on a few different levels:

• It relies on a driver to filter content, so if something happens to said driver (ie. virus infection, corruption, Windows update), you lose all web connectivity.
• It doesn’t just filter web traffic, but any IP based traffic going in or out of the computer (virus updates, Windows updates, etc.)
• It uses a “phone home” method for verifying the program’s administrative password.  If you lose or misplace the password, you can have it emailed to you, which works fantastically since the shitty program blocks email

Worst of all, K9 doesn’t give a tool or method to remove itself in the event that the program becomes corrupted or inoperable.  In the case of a customer I had to deal with this morning, the program stopped working altogether after Day Light Savings Time, for some reason.

Anyway, web filtering programs are shitty and you should parent your kids instead.  Here’s how to remove it without the administrative password:

• Download Sysinternals’ Autoruns
• Run Autoruns, and click the “Drivers” tab after it finishes scanning.
• Uncheck the “BCKD.sys” driver.  This is the main web filter part of the program.

• Download and run Revouninstaller.
• Uninstall K9 using Revouninstaller’s advanced mode.  When asked for the password, press “Cancel” and then remove the leftovers Revouninstaller finds.

That should fix it.  Usually, I wouldn’t bother posting niche tips like this, but I figure this might save someone time trying to troubleshoot it.  Also, don’t use K9, it sucks.

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