PC Accelerator Pro Virus

[gdr_11]

So, my HP Stream running Windows 10 has picked up the PC Accelerator Pro Virus. I only use this computer for presentations but the other day a client insisted on a Skype interview and after loading Skype and completing the interview, the desktop icon for PC Accelerator showed up and that was that. Regardless of how it snuck in, I need to know if there is a removal tool that will work instead of the multiple step processes I see on the web. I am not a big one for fooling around with the registry and manipulating other key setttings, so it would be nice if Hitman Pro or something similar would work.

Any suggestions?

[soul]

First try the fix from http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.aspx

If any issues, use procexp tool from sysinternals.com to identify the bad process and kill it. Then remove the entries from automatic startup using the autoruns tool (from sysinternals again).

Then do a full defender scan.

I think you may have downloaded Skype from non-official site, they look the same and can mislead. Most of the common software like vpn clients have all fake sites to trick user.

Also on WIndows 10, use Edge browser it is much safer. I avoid using any toolbars as they can steal traffic as well

[gdr_11]

Thanks, will work on this tonite. Edge sounds like a good bet too.

[stilly]

First try the fix from http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.aspx

If any issues, use procexp tool from sysinternals.com to identify the bad process and kill it. Then remove the entries from automatic startup using the autoruns tool (from sysinternals again).

Then do a full defender scan.

I think you may have downloaded Skype from non-official site, they look the same and can mislead. Most of the common software like vpn clients have all fake sites to trick user.

Also on WIndows 10, use Edge browser it is much safer. I avoid using any toolbars as they can steal traffic as well

THAT looks like the universal/ generic way of removing a virus/malware and for 99.9% of the things out there it works. That is where I would start.


OP be sure to update us on how you installed. I have not had the pleasure of meeting this thing yet but it sounds like they need an asskicking and I would like to know where it came from or what it does. Its it just another useless tool that refuses to go away and starts automatically on startup and then will not ever shut down or exit?

Yeah that cycle needs breaking. What site did you get it from?

For future reference I have gotten things CLEANLY from NINITE.COM.

Just saying...

[gdr_11]

As far as I recall, I downloaded from Skype.com. I ran the setup with no problem, then ran a test Skype session from my iPhone to my lap top. I did not use the computer again until the next day when I had a notice from my Avast security software that two of my programs had updates. I updated Flash and one other program through the Avast interface. A couple of hours later I had a Skype session and then closed the computer. A couple of days later I started it up and noticed the PC Accelerator Pro icon on the desktop. I googled it on my tablet and saw that it was malware and am still researching it. Meanwhile my computer remains off.

My best guess is that it downloaded through the updates, although I would think that updating through an anti virus interface would be safe. I have also heard that malware can be transferred through Skype sessions as well as through IM programs like Yahoo Messenger.

I am holding off doing much right now because the infected computer is running Windows 10 and I have problems doing much more than turning it on and clicking on the icons because the interface is foreign to me and I only used it for PowerPoint up til now. The thought of stumbling through a series of technical changes in Safe Mode and command strings is troubling to me since the Windows 10 interface is so different to the XP and 7 systems I am used to. I may just look for someone to clean this up for me instead.

[stilly]

Consider looking for a RESCUE DISK from kasperky or fprot or someone online, just google it, you download an image, burn it, then bootup with the CD in your drive, run it, let it update itself and it will usually do a decent job of cleaning out the crap.- USUALLY. You do not need anyone to do this for you. Most folks just need a little encouragement. You gotta have that FU and GTFO my PC mentality. Like when Ripley kicked that queen's *** in Aliens, you just gotta educate yourself with a suit powered by knowledge, punch that power button and when the screen comes up and you see that little icon, you just say "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU *****!" and then open a can of relentless whoopass on the little bugger. And if you end up nuking your computer in the process, well, mission still accomplished I guess, but even in Aliens an Android got ripped in half (too bad he was not powered by Apple...)

But you gotta have that mentality. If you boot up from a CD then you can stay plugged into the network, but if you are going to boot it up, just unplug the network cable for now.

About 65% of the time I find that by booting up in SAFE MODE and then running AUTORUNS from a USB drive I can find out what likes to start and then I can delete it from there. Autoruns is a free program by sysinternals (later bought out by MS).

When people say that things can be passed through programs, they many times do not know what they are talking about. They might mean LINKS instead of actual files because you usually have to REQUEST to DL a file and then RUN it. From where I am from, you can not just be typing to someone on IM or whatever and all of a sudden you are downloading and installing a file... I have never had that experience nor heard of it, but I also do not skype much (my background would scare folks anyways) nor do I IM. The ONLY time I got on yahoo IM to talk to someone it was to apply for a job working at home making $25/hr processing files but after I spent that $12K on all of the software if all just stopped for some reason... (yes that was a joke)

Here is somethign that I will share and I think it is LOST among all of the asshattery that goes on today because of the internets...

BACK in the day nobody EVER updated unless they HAD to. The reason was because programs were put together properly and not coded by these tatted up freakshows that live on facebook/twitter/instagram/ and whatever ELSE I missed...

So when it comes to programs you get what you want or pick a version that you like and STAY there. You NEVER update unless there is an issue or bug that is addressed by an update (not an upgrade). That was why I ran ACDSEE 2.43 in 2006 and STILL run it today. ACDSEE is NOT worth going to v 3,4,5,6,8,9, photomanager, ETC ETC. How big is ACDSEE today? Over 100MB I am sure. MEanwhile, Acdsee 2.43 was only about 3 MB in space and it did EVERYTHING you needed for images...

So just keep this in mind before you UPDATE. NEVER update unless you WANT to update.