How to remove "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware?
What is "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware?
Be aware about Police Central e-crime Unit (PCEU) scam that has been spreading around these days. This ransomware, just like Metropolitan Police scam, tends to lock entire computer (either laptop or desktop) in order to scare its victims and get some money from them. To trick its victim, this program also displays an alert claiming that his IP is found to have visited websites containing pornography, child pornography and other websites with illegal content and now he must pay a fine of 100 pounds. In addition, users are asked to pay only through the Ukash or Paysafecard. Don’t fall for this dangerous application! This ransomware has nothing to do with Specialist Crime Directorate of Police Central e-crime Unit (UK’s Metropolitan Police) which is mentioned on the title of this fake alert.
As soon as you get this virus, you find your computer completely locked and you can’t do anything on it. Anything! You see only this tricky alert supposedly sent by Police Central e-crime Unit saying that you have violated the law by visiting websites containing pornography and that your computer also contains video files with Pornographic content, elements of violence and other illegal content. Firstly, keep in mind that this is done for the only reason – to scare PC users and get their money. Secondly - remember that this notification is deceitful, misleading and can be removed from your desktop only by removing the virus. It’s highly recommended to ignore Metropolitan Police fake alerts and remove this ransomware without any delay. Note that there have been noticed the same-looking ransomwares displaying similar alerts in French, English, German, Portuguese and other languages.
However, you may find difficulties when trying to remove Police Central e-crime Unit because it will lock everything on your PC. Try following these steps to overcome this difficulty:
- Take another PC that has an Internet connection.
- Download Combofix.
- Transfer it to your USB flash drive/ memory stick.
- Reboot PC infected with Police Central e-crime Unit trojan, press F8 just after reboot
- Choose safe mode with command prompt
- Launch anti-malware programs from your USB drive
- Reboot, update your regular antivirus, scan with it and with Spyhunter, Spyware Doctor, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or other tools that can remove additional infections.
"Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware is Dangerous
"Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware is a Trojan parasite "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware may display fake security & messages "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware may display numerous annoying advertisements "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware may be remotely controlled by a malicious person "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware may spread additional spyware "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware may repair its files, spread or update by itself "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware may prove difficult or impossible to remove "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware violates your privacy and compromises your security
for "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware detection
Note: Spyware Doctor trial provides detection of parasite like "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware and assists in its removal for free. You can remove detected files, processes and registry entries yourself or purchase a full version.
"Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware screenshots
Manual "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware removal
Important Note: Although it is possible to manually remove "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware, 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 Spyware Doctor or other malware and spyware removal applications found on 2-viruses.com.
Stop these "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware processes:
Remove these "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware Registry Entries:
It is impossible to list all file names and locations of modern parasites. You can identify remaining parasites, other "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware infected files and get help in "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware removal by using free Spyware Doctor scanner. It comes with free real-time protection module that helps preventing "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware and similar threats.
Such Trojans as "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware generally infect your system while you are installing a game, opening a picture or playing a video file.
Some Trojans such as "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware masquerade themselves as useful freeware programs or plug-ins, but are actually bundled Trojans.
As soon as it infects your system, Trojan "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware gives COMPLETE control over your system to a hacker using the Trojan, who may cause serious damage to your system. A Trojan may alter your desktop or add undesirable shortcuts to various commercial and marketing sites; "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware is no exception. It may create a backdoor to your system, allowing the hacker to control your system and steal your personal information. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans like "Police Central e-crime Unit" ransomware do not reproduce by infecting other files nor do they self-replicate and each new victim must run the infected file.
If you have an operating system with 2 or more user profiles, you can disconnect yourself from the internet and log on in another profile and either run downloaded fix software from a USB drive or run your usual Anti-Virus software. Or perform a system resore from the otehr user profile – then a full Virus scan (method I used).
I sorted my PC this way when it was infected bu this Malware.
I got this nasty ransomware virus.
Started in safe mode (by repeatedly pressing F8 as you boot up), then installed and ran malwarebytes:
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
Found 5 threats, including a change to the registry which is why the popup covered my screen every time I started my PC.
Malwarebytes scan sorted the problem.
easy solution is to go to the guest account, or another user account which is unnafected, then use system resore to roll back to a previous restore point. after that get yourself an up to date virus scanner and run a deep scan
OK I tried the free removal tool download. Hit the F8 key as instructed & selected Safe Mode with prompt but all it’ll let me do is open in XL, the download doesn’t even show up on the list to select from. What can i try now please? Every option I choose from the F8 menu just takes me to XL & moment that boots up the ‘Police Central e-crime Unit’, screen appears!
I’m happy to try different ideas but I’m no whizz with the computer so need easy instructions please.
I have just bought and downloaded Spyware Doctor but my internet connection went down before I could register it. Now I am back on the internet so how do I register the spyware to get it working? The problem is that I am currently operating on iexplore because of this damn police virus. Thanks
i’m using the damn virus explorer too.but the main problem is i did try the instructions to set up trojan killer.but after restart, no matter how many times i have pressed f8..the boot menu selection just wont showed up!!! Help!!
Yes i have this virus at least for times now and iam getting sick to death with it really. Last year i had something like it the police ukash virus on 23th dec and to have it all fixed now. I don’t see why i should keep going to computer shops just have it repaired then use it again only to find it there a new scam like it.
matthewdarlington
Most of the computer shops are not interested in protecting your PC or spending money to secure it. I recommend purchasing a better antivirus or getting anti-malware program. In most cases this is due poor antivirus and/or browsing infected sites.
Probably too late now but press and hold the F8 button should work! @angela kiew
I have got the metrapolian police virus for a second time now. last time had to pay at computer shop. This time trying to do it my self. Download the pc doctor free scan like they all say then to remove it they want you to pay. So save yourself all the trouble and just take it shop.
Help….. I
My Pc is infected with the PCEU trojan – I’ve followed your instructions however after selecting ‘Safe Mode with Prompt Command’and the XP Pro – the next window comes up is the same ‘ choose mode to start with’. When I try to hard start with my usb stick in [I've downloaded the exe fix to get rid of this trojan]- screen says ‘operating system missing’
any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated as I’m now at wits-end with this!! I cannot get further than the Safe mode prompt instruction – if I leave it, the darned PCEU screen comes on……..
Thanks
try to start in safe mode with networking(hit f8 on start) and try to download malewarebytes free version, then run a full scan. (make sure you save the file under a different random name, in case the malicious software tries to stop you loading malewarebytes. If you cannot get this software to operate, utilise dr web cure it, which is a free on line scanner, that does not use the pc to store any programs. hope this helps.
I too have been infected by the “Police e-crime” trojan even though I have up-to-date Norton 360 protection. I have been recently considering using the recovery discs to format my pc and restart in original factory condition anyway.
Would this completely remove this trojan and any other dormant nasties?
kenco:
Though if you recreate partitions (do not format them only) you can be almost certain to remove all the parasites.
in 99%, Yes. In 1% – no
However, if you protection and browsing won’t change, it is more than likely that you will be reinfected again. Just common sense.
Install all updates, try using different antivirus/internet security suite (Kaspersky is very good, I use ESET for many years, etc). I would use an anti-malware program with real time protection from different company than antivirus as well.
@Giedrius Majauskas (admin)
Thank you Giedrius for your reply. I restored the pc to original factory condition and I am happy to say that it is totally clear and furthermore the pc is again as new and much faster again. The downside was obviously the time taken out to reinstall all the software etc.
Thank you for your advice re future protection. I always thought that I was well protected and I always back everything up on external hard drives, in fact I store very little on the pc hd which was just as well in this case as I didn’t have to worry about losing anything, just my time.
Good advise to everyone; always burn a set of recovery discs when buying a new pc and more importantly, keep them safe, they are invaluable when things go wrong!
i too have recieved this virus from streaming family guy online :/ but the thing is, it only locked down a user rather than my whole computer. thankyou for the advise
TO REMOVE POLICE CENTRAL E-CRIME UNIT RANSOMWARE FOR FREE…..
FIRST OFF ALL DO NOT PAY THE RANSOM FOR THIS VIRUS AS THIS TROJAN IS NOT CONFIGURED TO RECOGNISE A SUCCESSFULL PAYMENT, AND THEREFORE WONT UNLOCK YOUR SYSTEM.
i was unwittingly victim to this ransomware “police central e-crime unit”.
first a restore point is needed, i cant stress how much backing up your system once it is running fine is very important. when booting keep pressing f8 on most systems, to boot in safe mode with command prompt
then restore your backup to an earlyer date. my backup was only 3 hours priur to infection.
then do a full scan of your hard disks with your anti-virus. also using another pc with internet connection, download
2 things, first microsoft safty scanner http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx and secondly malwarebites http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
N.B you only need to download and install the trial version of malwarebites to completly remove these registry trojans, the files where mostly looking for start “HKEY_”….. but it will be impossible to name all the files unlike many other programs will scan and only fix once you have purchased, malwarebites will also remove them, purchasing the full version is for realtime scanning and scheduled scans, it also has a file assasin to delete locked files. like i said manualy you can run this anti-malware program without purchase. i highly recomend it. once you have downloaded paste them onto a flashdrive/usb stick
run the infected system in safe mode and install these 2 programs. run them both (full scans) and i advise you use both these tools regular. the only problem i was left with was sertain files I.E mp3s, jpeg images and all my favourats list of links in my web browser where “locked” so i had to delete them all. i have everything on DVD disks
so no big problems getting back to normal. i live in lancashire and the police central e-crime unit lock i recieved stated it was from west yorkshire police constablry. if i had expliced images of childporn or sadomasichism the police wouldnt worn me with a simple fine. they would be threw my door. UKASH, the only thing i no about ukash is you can purchase vouchers from paypoint machines in petrol stations etc. and internet hackers use this method of payment also for selling details of the digital strips from bank/credit cards to the lower down the chain fraudsters that print those details onto duplicate cards in order to commite crime using these cards as payment.
Grant Hartley :
Learn some more about registry keys before suggesting that HKEY are evil…
Differently form MBAM, SH and SD have better protection from process killing parasites (SH kills malicious processes itself upon launch), thus might launch in more serious cases without additional intervention.
Giedrius :
i only advise as per “police central e-crime unit” ransomware.
the HKEY registry value data had been edited, if you read my first post
again you will find my method of removal was a FREE process.
sh and sd will scan your system but expect payment before they will
remove or quarantine any infected files. i was only explaining what i
did to overcome this problem.