What is PC Power Speed Optimizer?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PC Power Speed Optimizer is a "system optimizer". These so-called "system optimizers" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems.
More information can be found on our Malwarebytes Labs blog.
How do I know if I am infected with PC Power Speed Optimizer?
This is how the main screen of the system optimizer looks:
You will find these icons in your taskbar, your startmenu, and on your desktop:
and see these warnings during install:
and this type of screens during "operations":
You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:
How did PC Power Speed Optimizer get on my computer?
These so-called system optimizers use different methods of getting installed. This particular one was downloaded from their website:
How do I remove PC Power Speed Optimizer?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted application.
- Please download Malwarebytes for Windows to your desktop.
- Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
- Click on the Get started button.
- Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
- When the scan is finished click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
- Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.
- No, Malwarebytes removes PC Power Speed Optimizer completely.
- This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this system optimizer.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the PC Power Speed Optimizer installer. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
You may see these entries in FRST logs:
(Crawler, LLC -> Crawler.com) C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerSpeed.exe (Crawler, LLC -> Crawler.com) C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerTray.exe HKLM-x32\...\Run: [PCPowerSpeed] => C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerTray.exe [1298280 2014-06-16] (Crawler, LLC -> Crawler.com) C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Optimize Your PC.lnk C:\ProgramData\Desktop\Optimize Your PC.lnk C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCPowerSpeed C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PC Power Speed C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed PC Power Speed 2.1.0.4 (HKLM-x32\...\{B0C56FD7-493D-44DD-B007-BBB5117D6E6F}_is1) (Version: 2.1.0.4 - Crawler, LLC)Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed Adds the file PCPowerSpeed.exe"="6/17/2014 12:28 AM, 11559784 bytes, A Adds the file PCPowerTray.exe"="6/17/2014 12:28 AM, 1298280 bytes, A Adds the file unins000.dat"="3/3/2020 9:04 AM, 7976 bytes, A Adds the file unins000.exe"="3/3/2020 9:03 AM, 1223040 bytes, A Adds the file unins000.msg"="3/3/2020 9:04 AM, 10684 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\Update Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PC Power Speed Adds the file PC Power Speed.lnk"="3/3/2020 9:04 AM, 1001 bytes, A Adds the file PCPowerSpeed.com.url"="3/3/2020 9:04 AM, 54 bytes, A Adds the file Uninstall PC Power Speed.lnk"="3/3/2020 9:04 AM, 981 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed\Backup Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed\Startup Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCPowerSpeed\News Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCPowerSpeed\Startup In the existing folder C:\Users\Public\Desktop Adds the file Optimize Your PC.lnk"="3/3/2020 9:04 AM, 983 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "PCPowerSpeed"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerTray.exe" /startup" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{B0C56FD7-493D-44DD-B007-BBB5117D6E6F}_is1] "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerSpeed.exe" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "PC Power Speed 2.1.0.4" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "2.1.0.4" "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 13746 "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.PCPowerSpeed.com/" "Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed" "Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ", "PC Power Speed" "Inno Setup: Language"="REG_SZ", "en" "Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ", "5.3.8 (a)" "Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ", "{username}" "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20200303" "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\" "MajorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 2 "MinorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 1 "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1 "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1 "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Crawler, LLC" "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\unins000.exe" /SILENT" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\unins000.exe"" "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://www.PCPowerSpeed.com/" "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ", "http://www.PCPowerSpeed.com/" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\PCPowerSpeed] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "" "CHECK_FOR_UPDATES"="REG_SZ", "1" "CREATE_SYSTEMRP"="REG_SZ", "0" "DELAY_STARTUP"="REG_SZ", "1" "INSTALL"="REG_BINARY, .... "LANGUAGE"="REG_SZ", "en" "PARAM0"="REG_BINARY, .... "PARAM6"="REG_BINARY, ............ "SHOW_RESULTS"="REG_SZ", "1" "SHOW_TRAY"="REG_SZ", "1" "TT"="REG_BINARY, "UID"="REG_SZ", "876684900670175593" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PCPowerSpeed] "(Default)"="REG_SZ", "" "LAST_CHECK"="REG_BINARY, .... "LAST_SCAN"="REG_BINARY, .... "LAST_SCHEDULED"="REG_BINARY, .... "LAST_UPDATE"="REG_BINARY, .... "LSRB"="REG_DWORD", 0 "LSRE"="REG_DWORD", 163 "LSRS"="REG_QWORD, .... "LSRT"="REG_DWORD", 15 "OTF"="REG_SZ", "1" "RESULTS"="REG_BINARY, .... "SCAN"="REG_BINARY, .... "SCHEDULE_SCAN"="REG_DWORD", 7 "STARTUP_SCAN"="REG_SZ", "0" "TCS"="REG_DWORD", 1Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 3/3/20 Scan Time: 9:21 AM Log File: 0b4d5f4a-5d28-11ea-baff-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 4.1.0.56 Components Version: 1.0.835 Update Package Version: 1.0.20152 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 234793 Threats Detected: 30 Threats Quarantined: 30 Time Elapsed: 11 min, 34 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 2 PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerSpeed.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerTray.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , Module: 2 PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerSpeed.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerTray.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , Registry Key: 3 PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, HKCU\SOFTWARE\PCPowerSpeed, Quarantined, 1460, 190052, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\PCPowerSpeed, Quarantined, 1460, 795345, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{B0C56FD7-493D-44DD-B007-BBB5117D6E6F}_is1, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , Registry Value: 1 PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|PCPowerSpeed, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 9 PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed\Startup, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed\Backup, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\PROGRAMDATA\PCPOWERSPEED, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCPowerSpeed\Startup, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCPowerSpeed\News, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\PCPOWERSPEED, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\PC POWER SPEED, Quarantined, 1460, 174335, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\Update, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\PCPOWERSPEED, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, 1.0.20152, , ame, File: 13 PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed\Backup\boost_20200303_091327.xml, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\PCPowerSpeed\Backup\fix_20200303_091307.xml, Quarantined, 1460, 174334, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PC Power Speed\PC Power Speed.lnk, Quarantined, 1460, 174335, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PC Power Speed\PCPowerSpeed.com.url, Quarantined, 1460, 174335, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PC Power Speed\Uninstall PC Power Speed.lnk, Quarantined, 1460, 174335, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\USERS\PUBLIC\DESKTOP\OPTIMIZE YOUR PC.LNK, Quarantined, 1460, 190049, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\PCPOWERSPEED\UNINS000.MSG, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, 1.0.20152, , ame, PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerSpeed.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\PCPowerTray.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\unins000.dat, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCPowerSpeed\unins000.exe, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\PUBLIC\Desktop\Optimize Your PC.lnk, Quarantined, 1460, 241588, , , , PUP.Optional.PCPowerSpeed, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\PCPOWERSPEEDSETUP.EXE, Quarantined, 1460, 795286, 1.0.20152, , ame, Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes 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