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Removal instructions for PCMaster Antispyware


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What is PCMaster Antispyware?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PCMaster Antispyware 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 PCMaster Antispyware?

This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:

main.png

You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:

icons.png

And see these warnings:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

warning4.png

warning5.png

How did PCMaster Antispyware get on my computer?

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

How do I remove PCMaster Antispyware?

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 PCMaster Antispyware?

  • The shortcut called �Ǿ������� 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 PCMaster Antispyware rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcm.exe
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmmonitor.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PCMaster Antispyware] C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmp.exe

Alterations made by the installer:



File System
===============
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
Adds the file �Ǿ�������.lnk"="10:49 04/02/12 750 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\�Ǿ�������
Adds the file �Ǿ������� ����.lnk"="10:49 04/02/12 756 bytes
Adds the file �Ǿ������� ����.lnk"="10:49 04/02/12 762 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware
Adds the file rm.vrm"="14:20 11/01/12 67456 bytes
Adds the file pmnd.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 11200 bytes
Adds the file pm13.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 203648 bytes
Adds the file pm12.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204288 bytes
Adds the file pm11.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204512 bytes
Adds the file pm10.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 201728 bytes
Adds the file pm09.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204064 bytes
Adds the file pm08.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 203616 bytes
Adds the file pm07.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204160 bytes
Adds the file pm06.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204128 bytes
Adds the file pm05.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204320 bytes
Adds the file pm04.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 204704 bytes
Adds the file pm03.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 173280 bytes
Adds the file pm02.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 202688 bytes
Adds the file pm01.pdb"="14:20 11/01/12 201696 bytes
Adds the file ph.dat"="10:54 04/02/12 630 bytes
Adds the file pcmu.exe"="14:13 16/01/12 267968 bytes
Adds the file pcms.exe"="10:54 16/01/12 349376 bytes
Adds the file pcmr.exe"="10:54 16/01/12 109248 bytes
Adds the file pcmp.exe"="14:13 16/01/12 323264 bytes
Adds the file pcmmonitor.exe"="10:53 16/01/12 194752 bytes
Adds the file pcml.exe"="14:13 16/01/12 44736 bytes
Adds the file pcmc.dll"="10:53 16/01/12 15040 bytes
Adds the file pcm.exe"="10:53 16/01/12 499392 bytes
Adds the file pcm.dat"="14:06 16/01/12 694 bytes
In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32
Adds the file pcmaster.not"="14:07 16/01/12 1 bytes

Registry
===============
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\�Ǿ�������_is1]
"NoRepair"="1"
"NoModify"="1"
"URLUpdateInfo"="'http://www.pc-master.co.kr'"
"HelpLink"="'http://www.pc-master.co.kr'"
"URLInfoAbout"="'http://www.pc-master.co.kr'"
"Publisher"="'Copyright (C)2012 PCMaster All Right Reserved.'"
"QuietUninstallString"="'"C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\unins000.exe" /SILENT'"
"UninstallString"="'"C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\unins000.exe"'"
"DisplayName"="'�Ǿ������� ver 1.0'"
"Inno Setup: User"="'{username}'"
"Inno Setup: Icon Group"="'�Ǿ�������'"
"InstallLocation"="'C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\'"
"Inno Setup: App Path"="'C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware'"
"Inno Setup: Setup Version"="'5.0.8'"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PCMaster_is1]
"URLInfoAbout"="'http://www.pc-master.co.kr'"
"UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmu.exe'"
"DisplayVersion"="'ver 1.0'"
"DisplayName"="'PCMaster'"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PCMaster Antispyware]
"ldate"="'2012.2.4'"
"date"="'2/4/2012'"
"eng"="'2012.01.16.1'"
"RMT"="1"
"RST"="1"
"ASH"="1"
"com"="'pcmaster'"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"PCMaster Antispyware"="'C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmp.exe'"


Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.60.1.1000
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2012.02.04.01

Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 NTFS
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
{username} :: MBAM-D3E8C91ACC [administrator]

2/4/2012 10:58:12 AM
mbam-log-2012-02-04 (10-58-12).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 152737
Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 19 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 2
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcm.exe (Rogue.PCMaster) -> 884 -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcms.exe (Rogue.PCMaster) -> 1692 -> Delete on reboot.

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 2
HKCU\Software\PCMaster Antispyware (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PCMASTER_IS1 (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Detected: 2
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run|PCMaster Antispyware (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Data: C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmp.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PCMaster_is1|URLInfoAbout (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Data: http://www.pc-master.co.kr -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 1
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Delete on reboot.

Files Detected: 27
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcm.exe (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcms.exe (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmp.exe (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\PCMasterSetup.exe (Rogue.PCMaster) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\pcmaster.not (Rogue.Trace) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcm.dat (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmc.dll (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcml.exe (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmmonitor.exe (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmr.exe (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pcmu.exe (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\ph.dat (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm01.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm02.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm03.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm04.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm05.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm06.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm07.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm08.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm09.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm10.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm11.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm12.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pm13.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\pmnd.pdb (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PCMaster Antispyware\rm.vrm (Rogue.PCAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

(end)

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.

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