Removal instructions for Total PC Defender

[Metallica]

What is Total PC Defender?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Total PC Defender 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 Total PC Defender?

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 Total PC Defender get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was posing as a flash player.

How do I remove Total PC Defender?

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.

Note: sometimes the rogue hooks into explorer.exe on a reboot. This results in Windows starting without so much as a taskbar.

To resolve this and be able to start with the instructions above you will have to delete one file in safe mode.

• Restart your Computer
  
• Continously tap F8
  
• Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
  
• Ensure that the Safe mode with Networking option is selected.
  
• Press Enter.
  
• Close any open browsers and click Start > Run.
  
• Copy or type "%ProgramFiles%\Total PC Defender" in the Run box and click OK to execute.
  
• In the folder you see now rightclick and delete Total PC Defender.exe
  

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Total PC Defender?

• The rogue intercepts calls to your task manager. You can download Process Explorer. Run it and click "Options" > "Replace Task Manager". Enjoy the added value that Process Explorer has over your standard Task Manager.
  
• This program can change the way users logon on a computer running Windows 2000 (Professional or Server). Since it is impossible for us what your preferred settings were, you may have to change them back manually. The entry can be changed by enabling the Disable CTRL+ALT+DEL requirement for logon Group Policy (Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options)
  

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 name of the rogue 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\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Total PC Defender] C:\Program Files\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
	  Adds the file Total PC Defender.lnk"="11:58 27/12/09 714 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
	  Adds the file Total PC Defender.lnk"="11:58 27/12/09 732 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Total PC Defender
	  Adds the file Total PC Defender.lnk"="11:58 27/12/09 738 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\Total PC Defender
	  Adds the file Total PC Defender.exe"="11:58 27/12/09 1247744 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system]
	  "DisableTaskMgr"="1"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
	  "DisableCAD"="1"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "Total PC Defender"="'C:\Program Files\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\89A5C8B324CDEB65877F2A302685B03D]
	  "????"="'??????????????????????????????????????????????????????'"
	  "????"="'?????????????????'"
	  "FR"="'0'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
	  "DisableTaskMgr"="1"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
	  "DisableTaskMgr"="1"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.42
Database version: 3438
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

12/27/2009 12:12:59 PM
mbam-log-2009-12-27 (12-12-59).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 93858
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 27 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 2
Folders Infected: 2
Files Infected: 4

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\total pc defender (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableTaskMgr (Hijack.TaskManager) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableTaskMgr (Hijack.TaskManager) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Total PC Defender (Rogue.TotalPCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\Total PC Defender (Rogue.TotalPCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.lnk (Rogue.TotalPCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Total PC Defender.lnk (Rogue.TotalPCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Total PC Defender.lnk (Rogue.TotalPCDefender) -> 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):

• IP-blocks
  
• Execution protection
  

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.