What is PC Sweeper?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PC Sweeper 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 PC Sweeper?
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 this type of warning:
How did PC Sweeper get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.
How do I remove PC Sweeper?
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 PC Sweeper?
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes PC Sweeper 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 PC Sweeper rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Signs in a HijackThis log:
C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Desktop\PCSweeper\pcsweeper.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ÇǽýºÀ§ÆÛ] C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Desktop\PCSweeper\pcsweeper.exe
Alterations made by the installer:
File System =============== In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop Adds the file �ǽý�����.lnk"="19:15 18/06/10 598 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\�ǽý����� Adds the file �ǽý�����.lnk"="19:15 18/06/10 711 bytes Adds the folder C:\Program Files\�ǽý����� Adds the file uninst.exe"="19:15 18/06/10 48406 bytes Adds the file pcswenv.dat"="19:15 18/06/10 33 bytes Adds the file pcsweeperup.exe"="19:15 18/06/10 305664 bytes Registry =============== [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\pcsweeper.exe] "(Default)"="'C:\Program Files\�ǽý�����\pcsweeper.exe'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\�ǽý�����] "Publisher"="'��¹̵��, Inc.'" "URLInfoAbout"="'http://www.pcsweeper.co.kr'" "DisplayVersion"="'1.0'" "DisplayIcon"="'C:\Program Files\�ǽý�����\pcsweeper.exe'" "UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\�ǽý�����\uninst.exe'" "DisplayName"="'�ǽý����� 1.0'" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PCSweeper] "FixUrl"="'http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=ie&pver=6&ar=msnhome'" "bFixUrl"="1" "pcsweeperup.exe"="'0.101'" "pcsweeper.exe"="'0.102'" "BootDate"="'6/18/2010'" "InstDate"="'6/18/2010'" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "�ǽý�����"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\PCSweeper\pcsweeper.exe'"
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46 www.malwarebytes.org Database version: 4212 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 6/18/2010 7:27:16 PM mbam-log-2010-06-18 (19-27-16).txt Scan type: Quick scan Objects scanned: 110113 Time elapsed: 3 minute(s), 31 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: 2 Files Infected: 6 Memory Processes Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\PCSweeper\pcsweeper.exe (Trojan.Downloader) -> Unloaded process successfully. Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\��㽺��� (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\pcsweeper.exe (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PCSweeper (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Infected: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\��㽺��� (Trojan.Downloader) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\�ǽý����� (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\�ǽý����� (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\PCSweeper\pcsweeper.exe (Trojan.Downloader) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\�ǽý�����\�ǽý�����.lnk (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\�ǽý�����\pcsweeperup.exe (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\�ǽý�����\pcswenv.dat (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\�ǽý�����\uninst.exe (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\�ǽý�����.LNK (Rogue.PCSweeper) -> 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