Arrival Details
This Trojan 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 Trojan creates the following folders:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\PC Cleaner
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Backup
- %User Profile%\My Documents\PC Cleaner
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
PC Cleaner = "%System Root%\PCCSchedule.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\PC Cleaner
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
DisplayName = "PC Cleaner"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
Version = "4.1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
InstallationDate = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
AppStart = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
LastUpdateChecking = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
UpdateReminderDisabled = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
LogDir = "%User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
UndoDir = "%User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
ItemsToRegistryScan = "1111111111"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
ItemsToPrivacyScan = "1111"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
ItemsToRecoveryScan = "1111"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
UseExclusions = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
ShowRebootMessage = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
ShowRecycleBin = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
StartWithWindows = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
Reminder = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
StartupNotifier = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
CacheNotifier = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
s_SmartMode = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
s_SmartScan = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
s_SmartDate = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
s_Enable = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
s_Time = "{random values}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
BuildID = "PCHS_PCC4"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
UpgradeID = "PCHS_PCC4"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
InstallStat = "1"
Dropping Routine
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\CookieExclusions.txt
(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.)
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
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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
To delete the registry key this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>SOFTWARE - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
PC Cleaner - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Delete this registry value
[ Learn More ]
[ back ]
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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- PC Cleaner = "%System Root%\PCCSchedule.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- DisplayName = "PC Cleaner"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- InstallationDate = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- LastUpdateChecking = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- UpdateReminderDisabled = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- LogDir = "%User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- UndoDir = "%User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- ItemsToRegistryScan = "1111111111"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- ItemsToPrivacyScan = "1111"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- ItemsToRecoveryScan = "1111"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- s_SmartDate = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- s_Time = "{random values}"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC Cleaner
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Run - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
PC Cleaner = "%System Root%\PCCSchedule.exe" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>PC Cleaner - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
DisplayName = "PC Cleaner" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Version = "4.1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
InstallationDate = "{random values}" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
AppStart = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
LastUpdateChecking = "{random values}" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UpdateReminderDisabled = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
LogDir = "%User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UndoDir = "%User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ItemsToRegistryScan = "1111111111" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ItemsToPrivacyScan = "1111" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ItemsToRecoveryScan = "1111" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UseExclusions = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ShowRebootMessage = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
ShowRecycleBin = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
StartWithWindows = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Reminder = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
StartupNotifier = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
CacheNotifier = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
s_SmartMode = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
s_SmartScan = "1" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
s_SmartDate = "{random values}" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
s_Enable = "0" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
s_Time = "{random values}" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
BuildID = "PCHS_PCC4" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
UpgradeID = "PCHS_PCC4" - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
InstallStat = "1" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\CookieExclusions.txt
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\CookieExclusions.txt
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\CookieExclusions.txt
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
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[ back ]
Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
- %User Profile%\Application Data\PC Cleaner
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Backup
- %User Profile%\My Documents\PC Cleaner
To delete malware/grayware/spyware folders:
For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
- In the File name* input box, type:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\PC Cleaner
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Backup
- %User Profile%\My Documents\PC Cleaner
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
- Once located, select the folder then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2 to 4 for the remaining folders:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\PC Cleaner
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Backup
- %User Profile%\My Documents\PC Cleaner
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\PC Cleaner
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Backup
- %User Profile%\My Documents\PC Cleaner
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the folder.
- Repeat steps 2-3 for the remaining folders:
- %User Profile%\Application Data\PC Cleaner
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Log
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Undo
- %User Profile%\PC Cleaner\Backup
- %User Profile%\My Documents\PC Cleaner
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 7
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as PUA_PCOPTIMIZER. 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 this Knowledge Base page for more information.
