Home > Rogue Anti-Spyware > PCPrivacyTool

How to remove PCPrivacyTool?

August 3rd, 2007

What is PCPrivacyTool?

PCPrivacyTool is another rogue antis-spyware parasite that uses counterfeit marketing to milk money from unsuspecting users. Although PCPrivacyTool does not propagate via trojans or web browser security holes and must be manually installed to run, it is still a malicious computer threat.

Once installed, PCPrivacyTool starts to scan your computer for errors and malware. After the "scan" is complete, the scan report shows fake and exaggerated errors, indicating even essential Windows components as potential threats. After you see the report, PCPrivacyTool offers you to buy its full version in order to remove the false errors. Do not fall for this trap, as PCPrivacyTool is designed only to milk money from scammed users.

www.pcprivacytool.com has been registered on December 8th, 2006, and is hosted in London, UK. Be sure to block www.pcprivacytool.com (85.12.60.30) to prevent accidental infection.

PCPrivacyTool is Extremely dangerous

PCPrivacyTool is a corrupt Anti-Spyware program

PCPrivacyTool may spread via Trojans

PCPrivacyTool may display fake security messages

PCPrivacyTool may install additional spyware to your computer

PCPrivacyTool may repair its files, spread or update by itself

PCPrivacyTool violates your privacy and compromises your security

for PCPrivacyTool
removal

Manual PCPrivacyTool removal

Important Note: Although it is possible to manually remove PCPrivacyTool, such activity can permanently damage your system if any mistakes are made in the process, as advanced spyware parasites are able to automatically repair themselves if not completely removed. Thus, manual spyware removal is recommended for experienced users only, such as IT specialists or highly qualified system administrators. For other users, we recommend using automatic spyware removal applications found on 2-viruses.com.

Remove these PCPrivacyTool Registry Entries:

HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"PCPrivacyTool" = "C:\Program Files\PCPrivacyTool\GDC.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"PCPrivacyTool" = "C:\Program Files\PCPrivacyTool\GDC.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\"ugdccw" = "C:\PROGRA~1\PCPRIV~1\UGDCcw.exe" -start"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved\"{B33DE756-DEEE-4D7A-87DB-1D905BA2AA21}" = "secure_del"
HKEY_ALL_USERS\Software\PCPrivacyTool
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B33DE756-DEEE-4D7A-87DB-1D905BA2AA21}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\Directory.Audio\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\Directory.Image\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\Directory.Video\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\secure_del
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\GDC_is1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PC Drive Tool
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PCPrivacyTool
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Purchased Products\PC Drive Tool
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ugdccw

Remove these PCPrivacyTool files:

Delete these PCPrivacyTool directories: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PCPrivacyTool and %ProgramFiles%\PCPrivacyTool

for PCPrivacyTool
removal

PCPrivacyTool is classified as Rogue Anti-Spyware. After infecting a user’s system, it proceeds to scare its victim into buying the “product” by displaying fake security messages, stating that your computer is infected with spyware and only PCPrivacyTool can help you to remove it after you download the trial version. As soon as the victim downloads PCPrivacyTool trial version, it pretends to scan your computer and shows a grossly exaggerated amount of non-existent errors. Then, PCPrivacyTool offers to buy the full version to fix these false errors. If the user agrees, PCPrivacyTool does not only fix the errors, but it also takes the user’s money and may even install additional spyware into the victim’s computer.

Some Rogue Anti-Spyware, such as PCPrivacyTool, may offer users to buy it after the victim clicks on a banner or a pop-up while surfing the internet. Usually, a Trojan is installed to a victim’s computer after clicking on the advertisement. It then proceeds to download or even install PCPrivacyTool, which is another way for Rogue Anti-Spyware to spread itself.

Most of rogue Anti-Spyware, such as PCPrivacyTool, is nearly impossible to remove manually.

How to tell if your PC has been infected by a Rogue Anti-Spyware such as PCPrivacyTool?

Numerous undesirable and annoying pop-ups: A typical Rogue Anti-Spyware parasite keeps track of your internet browsing habits, sending your browsing history data to remote servers, owned by third party companies that use this information to advertise their products via numerous pop-ups, toolbars, hijacked homepages and spam letters. All these undesirable advertising methods are used on the victims of Rogue Anti-Spyware.

Changed or new icons: Sometimes, Rogue Anti-Spyware installs unwanted software to a victim’s PC without user’s knowledge and consent. This may lead to slower PC performance and stability, as well as more unwanted programs you can't remove.

Rogue Anti-Spyware