PUA.Win32.PCOptimizer.AE
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
22,492,024 bytes
EXE
Yes
07 Jun 2020
Arrival Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following processes:
- "%System%\schtasks.exe" /Create /TN "Lavasoft PC Optimizer Schedule" /TR "\"%User Temp%\LPOLauncher.exe\"" /SC ONLOGON /RL HIGHEST /F
- Schtasks /Create /TN "Lavasoft PC Optimizer Schedule" /TR "\"%User Temp%\LPOLauncher.exe\"" /SC ONLOGON /RL HIGHEST /F
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It creates the following folders:
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Log
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Undo
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Backup
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application deletes the following files:
- %Windows%\Tasks\Lavasoft PC Optimizer Schedule.job
(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
DisplayName = "Lavasoft PC Optimizer"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
Version = "3.2"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
InstallationDate = "\x0c\x02+\xc7Yk\xe5@"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
ScanAtStartup = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
Reminder = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
SpeedGuard = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
AppStart = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
LastVersionChecking = "\x0c\x02+\xc7Yk\xe5@"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
LogDir = "%Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Log"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
UndoDir = "%Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Undo"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
ItemsToScan = "1111111111"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
UseExceptionList = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
ShowRebootMessage = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
s_SmartScan = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
s_SmartExec = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
s_SmartDate = "\x0c\x02+\xc79k\xe5@"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
s_SmartMode = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
s_Enable = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
s_Time = "\x0c\x02+\xc7Yk\xe5@"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
UpgradeID = "LAVASOFT_PCOPT"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\
Lavasoft PC Optimizer
BuyNowURL = "http://www.{BLOCKED}ft.com/single/purchase.php?f=PCOptimizer"
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://service.{BLOCKED}cupdate.com/rpc/sendspminstall?partner=Lavasoft&build=3.2
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.850
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Identify and terminate files detected as PUA.Win32.PCOptimizer.AE
- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 3
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- DisplayName = "Lavasoft PC Optimizer"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- Version = "3.2"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- InstallationDate = "\x0c\x02+\xc7Yk\xe5@"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- ScanAtStartup = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- Reminder = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- SpeedGuard = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- AppStart = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- LastVersionChecking = "\x0c\x02+\xc7Yk\xe5@"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- LogDir = "%Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Log"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- UndoDir = "%Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Undo"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- ItemsToScan = "1111111111"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- UseExceptionList = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- ShowRebootMessage = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- s_SmartScan = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- s_SmartExec = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- s_SmartDate = "\x0c\x02+\xc79k\xe5@"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- s_SmartMode = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- s_Enable = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- s_Time = "\x0c\x02+\xc7Yk\xe5@"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- UpgradeID = "LAVASOFT_PCOPT"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lavasoft\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
- BuyNowURL = "http://www.{BLOCKED}ft.com/single/purchase.php?f=PCOptimizer"
Step 4
Search and delete these folders
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Log
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Undo
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer\Backup
- %Application Data%\Lavasoft PC Optimizer
Step 5
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.PCOptimizer.AE. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
Step 6
Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.
- %Windows%\Tasks\Lavasoft PC Optimizer Schedule.job
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