Friday
2013-05-08, 12:54
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
pups
Description:
Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer is supposed to be a software that can optimize the computer by removing various unneeded registry entries. It requires a paid registration to be able to fix these issues. Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer looks exactly like PC.Accelerateur.fr which "downgrades" the found issues after a paid registration. User benefit is questionable, products are mostly marketing with very few substance. Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer can also be installed by fraudulent installers without any user consent.
Removal Instructions:
Autorun:
Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.
Entries named "PC Speed Maximizer" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMLauncher.exe".
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "PC Speed Maximizer_is1".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\Hilfe.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\PC Speed Maximizer entfernen.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\PC Speed Maximizer im Internet.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\PC Speed Maximizer.lnk".
The file at "<$DESKTOP>\PC Speed Maximizer.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\HomePage.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\PCSpeedMaximizer.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPM_Setup.iss".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMGuard.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMLauncher.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMReminder.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMSchedule.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMSmartScan.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMUninstaller.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\sqlite3.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\Startw3i.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$APPDATA>\PC Speed Maximizer".
The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!
Registry:
You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
Delete the registry key "PC Speed Maximizer" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
If Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
pups
Description:
Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer is supposed to be a software that can optimize the computer by removing various unneeded registry entries. It requires a paid registration to be able to fix these issues. Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer looks exactly like PC.Accelerateur.fr which "downgrades" the found issues after a paid registration. User benefit is questionable, products are mostly marketing with very few substance. Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer can also be installed by fraudulent installers without any user consent.
Removal Instructions:
Autorun:
Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.
Entries named "PC Speed Maximizer" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMLauncher.exe".
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "PC Speed Maximizer_is1".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\Hilfe.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\PC Speed Maximizer entfernen.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\PC Speed Maximizer im Internet.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer\PC Speed Maximizer.lnk".
The file at "<$DESKTOP>\PC Speed Maximizer.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\HomePage.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\PCSpeedMaximizer.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPM_Setup.iss".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMGuard.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMLauncher.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMReminder.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMSchedule.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMSmartScan.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\SPMUninstaller.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\sqlite3.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer\Startw3i.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$APPDATA>\PC Speed Maximizer".
The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Speed Maximizer".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PC Speed Maximizer".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!
Registry:
You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
Delete the registry key "PC Speed Maximizer" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
If Avanquest.PCSpeedMaximizer uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.