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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is PC Speed Up?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PC Speed Up 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 Speed Up?

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 PC Speed Up get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.

How do I remove PC Speed Up?

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 Speed Up?

• The shortcut called PC½ºÇǵå¾÷ on the desktop can be deleted if it belonged to the rogue.

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 Speed Up 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\pcspeedup\pcspeedup.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pcspeedup] "C:\Program Files\pcspeedup\pcs.exe" 0C

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
    In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
      Adds the file PC??????.lnk"="11:44 16/10/11 1540 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\pcspeedup
      Adds the file PC??????.lnk"="11:44 16/10/11 1552 bytes
      Adds the file PC?????? ????.lnk"="11:44 16/10/11 790 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\pcspeedup
      Adds the file uninstall_pcspeedup.exe"="10:39 23/06/10 401408 bytes
      Adds the file pcspeedup.exe"="14:12 12/04/10 1646080 bytes
      Adds the file pcs.exe"="14:12 12/04/10 526848 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\pcspeedup\skin
      Adds the file Thumbs.db"="14:47 19/03/10 15360 bytes
      Adds the file main.jpg"="14:50 15/03/10 162897 bytes
      Adds the file al2.jpg"="12:55 19/02/10 93332 bytes
      Adds the file al.jpg"="12:54 19/02/10 101407 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
      "pcspeedup"=""C:\Program Files\pcspeedup\pcs.exe" 0C"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\pcspeedup]
      "UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\pcspeedup\uninstall_pcspeedup.exe'"
      "DisplayName"="'pcspeedup ????'"
      "DisplayIcon"="'C:\Program Files\pcspeedup\uninstall_pcspeedup.exe'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\nopcspeedup]
      "true"="'true'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\pcspeedup]
      "ver"="'1.0'"
      "pid"="'homepage'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.2.1300
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 7961

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

10/16/2011 10:02:03 PM
mbam-log-2011-10-16 (22-02-03).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 146200
Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 9 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 2
Files Infected: 8

Memory Processes Infected:
c:\program files\pcspeedup\pcspeedup.exe (Rogue.PCSpeedUp) -> 796 -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\pcspeedup (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\pcspeedup (Rogue.PCSpeedUp) -> Value: pcspeedup -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
c:\program files\pcspeedup (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\skin (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
c:\program files\pcspeedup\pcspeedup.exe (Rogue.PCSpeedUp) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\pcs.exe (Rogue.PCSpeedUp) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\Desktop\install_homepage.exe (Rogue.PCSpeedUp) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\uninstall_pcspeedup.exe (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\skin\al.jpg (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\skin\al2.jpg (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\skin\main.jpg (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\pcspeedup\skin\Thumbs.db (Rogue.PCSpeedUP) -> 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

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.