PC Cleaner Pro

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Mar 2012 6:28 am

Any advice on whether or not to use this program? Supposedly cleans up your computer and fixes problems as the name implies.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 30 Mar 2012 7:01 am

A quick search shows plenty of reasons not to use this program.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Mar 2012 7:12 am

It is a rogue Windows utility program that presents bloated results of scans to goad the gullible into purchasing it. While not malware, it uses similar tactics to get people to purchase it.

There is a tutorial on removing it manually at the Malwarebytes forum.

I don't generally recommend Registry cleaners at all. The only exception is CCleaner, which is part temp file remover and part registry cleaner. It is totally free and cleans everything you leave checked. If you use it to make changes to your Registry, make sure you have it create backups first.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Mar 2012 7:16 am

Anyone contemplating purchasing this program needs to read this article first.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Mar 2012 8:52 am

Well, like a dummy I downloaded the program but backed out when asked to register. The microsoft badge tricked me into thinking it was one of their programs.

I don't see the page that malwarebytes shows to uninstall and I can't find it in my control panel add or remove to uninstall either.

Any help would be welcome.
Thanks. Live and learn I guess, if you live long enough. $:\$

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Mar 2012 9:33 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote: I don't see the page that malwarebytes shows to uninstall and I can't find it in my control panel add or remove to uninstall either.

I posted this in my previous reply:

"There is a tutorial on removing it manually at the Malwarebytes forum."

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Mar 2012 10:07 am

That's what I'm referring to Wiz. I didn't find any of the screens listed on the MB forum tute.

I only ran the PC PRO scan....I didn't purchase it, so I guess I don't have it, but it still shows up when I view programs from my computer Start menu. However, it does not show on the control panels' list of currently installed programs.

I guess I'm just not computer savvy enough to figure it out.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Mar 2012 10:47 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote:That's what I'm referring to Wiz. I didn't find any of the screens listed on the MB forum tute.

I only ran the PC PRO scan....I didn't purchase it, so I guess I don't have it, but it still shows up when I view programs from my computer Start menu. However, it does not show on the control panels' list of currently installed programs.

I guess I'm just not computer savvy enough to figure it out.

What security programs are installed, up to date and actively protecting your computer?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Mar 2012 12:31 pm

What I have is AVG 9.0 free. It is up to date. I've tried many time over the last year or so, unsuccessfully to upgrade to the newest AVG 2012, but it always fails to complete. I get a "general error" or "unexpected run time" message ea. time I try to run it.

I've tried both downloading the file and running it with the computer offline and running it through IE through the AVG site. The results are the same.

Firefox and IE browsers.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Mar 2012 6:29 pm

Jerry;
What operating system and service pack is on the computer in question?

Have you been getting monthly Windows Updates? Have you tried Microsoft Security Essentials? Have you tried Malwarebytes Anti-Malware yet?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Mar 2012 6:42 pm

Wiz, it's XP Pro, service pack 3. I don't get Windows updates. Matter of fact, I get error codes when I attempt to run a Windows update and they always fail. I forget what the error code is, but I'm sure I made a note of it somewhere.

I do have Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program, but it doesn't seem to change anything.

I have some instructions from you from a couple years back on how to run it in computer's safe mode, so maybe I'll try that again.

I'll look into Microsoft Security Essentials.

Thanks.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Mar 2012 6:58 pm

Chances are 90% that your unlicensed, un-updated, un-secured Windows XP machine has been pwned by a rootkit (possibly a bootkit) and bots. You would do well to save important files to a USB drive, buy a new hard drive, purchase and install a licensed copy of Windows 7 Home Premium.

The only way the machine would have survived uninfected, would be if you have been operating from a "Limited User" account.

If there is a computer store near you, I advise you to take it to them for installation of a licensed operating system. The hard drive would need to be zeroed, or a new MBR written from a bootable system disk. I just went through this with a customer's computer, after it got infected with a bootkit.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Mar 2012 7:09 pm

Yeah, maybe so

. Yes, I do use a secondary user account, not the administrator account. Guess I'm due for a new one anyway. Thanks.