Friday
2015-04-20, 12:09
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "PU.PCTechHotline" 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:
PU.PCTechHotline installs a personal support assistant on the users desktop which offers links to technical telephone or technical online support. A symbolic picture of the supporter is attached to the top of every desktop window. The annual plan for this remote service costs $220 (in April 2015).
Privacy Statement:
http://www.pctechhotline.com/privacy
Links (be careful!):
: ttp://www.pctechhotline.com/scopeofservice
: ttp://www.pctechhotline.com/serviceoverview
Removal Instructions:
Quicklaunch area:
Please remove the following items from your start quick launch area text to the "Start" button in the taskbar at the bottom.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Quicklaunch symbols named "PC Tech Hotline.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotline.exe".
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 "PCTechHotline" and pointing to "*.exe*".
Entries named "PCTechHotline" and pointing to "?<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotline.exe? /STARTUP".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$COMMONDESKTOP>\PC Tech Hotline.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Tech Hotline\PCTechHotline.com.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotline.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotlineSvc.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHdesk.64.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHdesk.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHHook.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHHook.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\unins000.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\unins000.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\unins000.msg".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If PU.PCTechHotline uses rootkit technologies, use the rootkit scanner integrated into Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) 2.x 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 "<$APPDATA>\PC Tech Hotline\skin".
The directory at "<$APPDATA>\PC Tech Hotline".
The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Tech Hotline".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\Update".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If PU.PCTechHotline 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 "{6E30A318-C2A8-4874-9C44-30EB821658BA}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
Delete the registry key "{A0B0DA25-DD15-4739-92A3-62D3424F043A}_is1" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotline" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotline" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotlineSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotlineSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotlineSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\".
If PU.PCTechHotline 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:
PU.PCTechHotline installs a personal support assistant on the users desktop which offers links to technical telephone or technical online support. A symbolic picture of the supporter is attached to the top of every desktop window. The annual plan for this remote service costs $220 (in April 2015).
Privacy Statement:
http://www.pctechhotline.com/privacy
Links (be careful!):
: ttp://www.pctechhotline.com/scopeofservice
: ttp://www.pctechhotline.com/serviceoverview
Removal Instructions:
Quicklaunch area:
Please remove the following items from your start quick launch area text to the "Start" button in the taskbar at the bottom.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Quicklaunch symbols named "PC Tech Hotline.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotline.exe".
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 "PCTechHotline" and pointing to "*.exe*".
Entries named "PCTechHotline" and pointing to "?<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotline.exe? /STARTUP".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$COMMONDESKTOP>\PC Tech Hotline.lnk".
The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Tech Hotline\PCTechHotline.com.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotline.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTechHotlineSvc.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHdesk.64.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHdesk.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHHook.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\PCTHHook.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\unins000.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\unins000.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\unins000.msg".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If PU.PCTechHotline uses rootkit technologies, use the rootkit scanner integrated into Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) 2.x 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 "<$APPDATA>\PC Tech Hotline\skin".
The directory at "<$APPDATA>\PC Tech Hotline".
The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PC Tech Hotline".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline\Update".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCTechHotline".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If PU.PCTechHotline 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 "{6E30A318-C2A8-4874-9C44-30EB821658BA}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
Delete the registry key "{A0B0DA25-DD15-4739-92A3-62D3424F043A}_is1" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotline" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotline" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotlineSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotlineSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\".
Delete the registry key "PCTechHotlineSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\".
If PU.PCTechHotline 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.