What is PrivacyControl?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PrivacyControl is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.
How do I know if I am infected with PrivacyControl?
This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:

You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:

And see these warnings:



How did PrivacyControl get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.
How do I remove PrivacyControl?
Our program Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.
- Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
- Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
- Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
- Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
- Then click Finish.
- If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
- Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
- When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
- Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Reboot your computer if prompted.
- When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of PrivacyControl?
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes PrivacyControl completely.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware help protect me?
We hope our application has helped you eradicate this malicious software. If your current security solution let this infection through, you might please consider purchasing the FULL version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware for additional protection.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware would have protected you against the PrivacyControl rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.


Technical details for experts
Signs in a HijackThis log:
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PrivacyControl] C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe -boot
Alterations made by the installer:
File System =============== In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop Adds the file PrivacyControl.lnk"="11:23 28/02/10 1860 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl Adds the file PrivacyControl.lnk"="11:23 28/02/10 1860 bytes Adds the file PrivacyControl on the Web.lnk"="11:23 28/02/10 1860 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log Adds the file 2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_39 AM_513.log"="11:23 28/02/10 307 bytes Adds the file 2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_38 AM_957.log"="11:23 28/02/10 263 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Registry Backups Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings Adds the file Settings.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes Adds the file SelectedFolders.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes Adds the file ScanInfo.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes Adds the file IgnoreList.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes Adds the file CustomScan.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl Adds the file PrivacyShell.dll"="21:09 27/12/09 1220608 bytes Adds the file PrivacyControl.url"="08:02 12/08/08 55 bytes Adds the file PrivacyControl.exe"="21:10 27/12/09 9023488 bytes Adds the file Launcher.exe"="21:09 27/12/09 679936 bytes Adds the file DataBase.ref"="14:41 23/09/08 33722 bytes In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer Adds the file 81438.msi"="11:23 28/02/10 9968128 bytes Adds the folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A} Adds the file Icon.exe"="11:23 28/02/10 9023488 bytes Registry =============== [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PrivacyShellExt] "(Default)"="'{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PrivacyShellExt] "(Default)"="'{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{D9A9DE7F-A259-4BC1-A348-87BC1053C4E8}] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}] "AppID"="'{D9A9DE7F-A259-4BC1-A348-87BC1053C4E8}'" "(Default)"="'PrivacyShellExt Class'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}\InprocServer32] "ThreadingModel"="'Apartment'" "InprocServer32"="z`]csY25=?3.T.E}(SZ+>S)H0OZ(m+A'8_CgX-iFz.." "(Default)"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyShell.dll'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PrivacyShellExt] "(Default)"="'{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1] "AntiSpywareApplication"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1] "Clients"=":.." "AuthorizedLUAApp"="0" "InstanceType"="0" "AdvertiseFlags"="388" "Assignment"="1" "Version"="33947648" "Language"="1033" "PackageCode"="'DC318F87E28B7AC40BBD3DEF30B8C07C'" "ProductName"="'PrivacyControl'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\SourceList] "LastUsedSource"="n;1;C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\7zS28.tmp\." "PackageName"="'PrivacyControl.msi'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PrivacyControl] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders] "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl\"="" "C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\"="" "C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}\"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UpgradeCodes\ CC05FA1695E7D5145B281262735CDF21] "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\609BF03B91FE93446A5AF852A3FC170C] "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\6109791A227D5F7409DDAFDA119F3791] "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.url'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\C533CC970BD6B1E4B802BE1C98D262DF] "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyShell.dll'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\D179EEB5F2EC76441886BCCA10B0C24A] "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'01:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run \PrivacyControl'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\Usage] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\Patches] "AllPatches"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\InstallProperties] "DisplayName"="'PrivacyControl'" "Language"="1033" "Version"="33947648" "WindowsInstaller"="1" "VersionMinor"="6" "VersionMajor"="2" "URLUpdateInfo"="" "URLInfoAbout"="" "UninstallString"="MsiExec.exe /X{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}." "EstimatedSize"="10702" "Size"="" "Readme"="" "Publisher"="'2Squared Software'" "NoModify"="1" "ModifyPath"="MsiExec.exe /X{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}." "InstallSource"="'C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\7zS28.tmp\'" "InstallLocation"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\'" "InstallDate"="'20100228'" "HelpTelephone"="" "HelpLink"="" "DisplayVersion"="'2.6.0.0'" "Contact"="" "Comments"="" "AuthorizedCDFPrefix"="" "LocalPackage"="'C:\WINDOWS\Installer\81438.msi'" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl] "Start"="'Yes'" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl\Settings] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl\RegInfo] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl] "update_option"="0" "log_option"="0" "exit_option"="1" "scan_ampm"="0" "scan_minute"="0" "scan_hour"="2" "scan_day"="0" "scan_schedule"="0" "general_browserwarning"="1" "general_autostart"="1" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "PrivacyControl"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe -boot'"
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44 Database version: 3805 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 2/28/2010 11:41:15 AM mbam-log-2010-02-28 (11-41-15).txt Scan type: Quick Scan Objects scanned: 102483 Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 24 second(s) Memory Processes Infected: 1 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 3 Registry Values Infected: 1 Registry Data Items Infected: 0 Folders Infected: 6 Files Infected: 15 Memory Processes Infected: C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Unloaded process successfully. Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6d642cfa-40f8-4ae0-9144-538bc1d725e4} (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Infected: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\privacycontrol (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Registry Backups (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Infected: C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyShell.dll (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\DataBase.ref (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\Launcher.exe (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.url (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl on the Web.lnk (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.lnk (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log\2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_38 AM_957.log (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log\2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_39 AM_513.log (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\CustomScan.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\IgnoreList.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\ScanInfo.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\SelectedFolders.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\Settings.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PrivacyControl.lnk (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention