The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "PU.PCMateFreeSystemCare" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
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Threat Details:
Categories:
Description: This System Cleaner tracks all user interactions on the computer and sends it to a market research company.
Privacy Statement: Effective Date: March 28, 2019
TMRG, Inc. (?TMRG?, ?we?, ?us?, or ?our?) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comscore, Inc. (?Comscore?) and the sponsor of the following Panels: OpinionSquare, PermissionResearch, and RelevantKnowledge (each a ?Panel?). This Privacy Policy sets out the data practices for each of these Panels and their associated websites, www.opinionsquare.com; www.permissionresearch.com; and www.relevantknowledge.com, (each a ?Website?). Our online market research community has millions of participants who are interested in voicing their opinions through their survey responses and activities, as described below, and in influencing which products and services are offered on the Internet. Panelists allow their digital consumption behavior to be collected and used to produce a variety of reports about consumers? preferences and interests.
The information you contribute is used by Comscore, a globally-recognized authority on market research and digital consumption behavior trends, whose data are routinely cited by major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN. The data are extensively relied upon by the largest Internet services companies and scores of Fortune 500 companies to improve their online offerings. Comscore will not use the personal information you provide to us to advertise to you or to market products or services to you without your permission.
Voluntary participation in our Panel will allow us to send you periodic surveys and track all information about your activities on any computer on which you install our software or any device that you connect to that computer, such as the websites you visit, the information you view or enter on these websites, and the transactions that you make.
What information is collected?
Websites, Registration, and Surveys. We may collect personal information about you when you voluntarily provide us with such information, such as when you register to participate in our Panel or otherwise provide information through one of our Websites covered by this policy. We may collect such information directly from you or we may receive it from a third-party company that is acting on our behalf or that otherwise refers you to us. For example, you may provide us with personal information when you submit an online form or otherwise communicate with us through our Websites. This information may include your name, address, phone number, and email address, among other types of information, including any personal information you provide to us in a message.
We may also collect personal and other information about you through your responses to our surveys as well as through the use of cookies in our survey invitations. If you elect to participate in a survey, we require that you provide complete and accurate information about yourself and your household. We may combine any information that you provide to us in your survey responses, through our Website, and through your participation in our Panel with any other information that we collect from or about you.
We may further use cookies or other technologies to collect information about your operating system, browser type, information about your website preferences and your use of our Websites, and other information that helps us operate our Websites.
Our Panels and Software. We may also collect personal and other information about you when you choose to participate in our Panels by voluntarily downloading and enabling our software. This software allows us to monitor your digital consumption behavior on the computer on which you install our software and any devices that you connect to that computer. Our software collects this information regardless of whether you are connected to the Internet at the time. The computer and device usage information that we collect includes information about your use of any applications on your computer or connected devices, including information about the types of applications you use and general statistics about how you use them. If you allow others to use the computer on which you install the software or any connected devices, or to connect their device to your computer, information about their use of your computer or any device that is connected to your computer will also be collected.
Our software also collects information about any Internet activities that you or others engage in using your computer or any connected devices. The information that our software collects about your Internet activities may include information about your web browsing activities and any content on the websites you visit and in the applications you use, the context and location in which certain content is displayed on individual web pages, any information that is available through these websites or applications, any information that you submit to these websites and applications, select email header information from web-based emails, information about any software that you download or use, information about your computer or device, and information about your use of video streaming services.
Our software may also collect information about the activity that you undertake during secure sessions, such as filling a shopping basket, completing an application form, or checking online accounts. This may include collecting information about the content you view on the pages you visit during both normal and secure sessions, as well as any information that you submit through the websites you visit during these sessions. Our technology may use a root certificate, which may allow us to decrypt secure URLs and pages. We may also use other software-based technologies to collect this information from your device. Our software may also collect information regarding the cookies that exist on the computer or device. We make commercially reasonable efforts to automatically filter certain personal information collected from our Panelists such as password, credit card numbers, and account numbers. However, we may collect such information about our panelists. We make commercially reasonable efforts to destroy or encrypt any confidential personal information that is not filtered automatically. We also audit our processes on a regular basis to refine our collection methods to prevent the collection of this information going forward.
When we collect information transmitted during a secure session, such as any activity that takes place across the HTTPS protocol, we take reasonable precautions to protect the security of the information that we collect. For example, such information may be transmitted from your device to our software through a secure connection and then from our software to the destination server through a second secure connection.
We may use cookies and other technology to collect general hardware, software, computer or device configuration information about the computer on which you install our software or any connected device, including information about the speed of the computer processor, its memory capacity, Internet connection speed, and device type and configuration. In addition, our software may collect information about the devices connected to your computer or your network, such as the type of printer or router you may be using.
If you have created an account for the Panel in which you choose to participate, any information collected from or about you as a result of your participation in the Panel may be associated with your account, including the personal information associated with that account.
Information Collected from Third Parties. In addition to information collected through our software, we may also collect data about you from third parties, as described in more detail below. These third parties may include our service providers collecting your information on our behalf, as well as companies such as, information resellers, search engines, email providers, social networks and other application service providers whose Internet sites or applications you use. Your agreement to this Privacy Policy shall serve as your consent to allow us to request data about you from such third parties, including personal information, and to combine that information with the information that you provide to us or that we collect through your participation in the Panel.
For example, we may use third parties, including television and mobile communication service providers, website and application operators, social media platforms, consumer preference reporting companies, and credit reporting agencies, to obtain information about your online web browsing activities, your television viewing behavior (such as programs that you watch and record, your usage of your set-top box, your consumption of on-demand programming and over-the-top content, and your usage of interactive television applications), your interests, your use of credit, and your usage of applications, social media platforms, and your mobile device(s), and we may integrate such data with the data that you provide to us or that we collect from you in connection with your participation in our Panels, provided that our acquisition and processing of such information adheres to the privacy principles included in this Privacy Policy. This information may identify the content that you view on the websites that you visit or the applications you use, which may further provide Comscore with information about your affiliations, interests, and other traits. We may also share information with and receive information from third parties who help us enhance our data, such as providing additional demographic information.
How is the collected information used?
We may use the information collected through our software and your survey responses, combined with information from other sources, to make predictions and evaluations about current and future digital consumption behavior. We make this data available so that our customers may enhance their own understanding of digital consumption trends.
Additionally, we may use the personal information that you provide to us to operate and improve our products and services, including our Websites; to communicate with you; to provide you with information or services that you have requested; and to provide our products and services to our customers. We may use and disclose any information that is aggregated or de-identified so that it does not identify you personally, in our discretion.
You also agree that we may use the information we have collected from you to identify your use of search engines, email providers, social networks and other application service providers whose Internet sites you visit.
How is the information disclosed?
We make the data that we collect available to companies that are our customers, so that they may enhance their own understanding of digital consumption behavior and online commercial trends. Such reports are commonly provided in the form of aggregate data. However, we may also provide data to our customers in the form of unprocessed individual records. Our customers may combine, use, and disclose the information that we provide to them according to their own privacy policies.
We may also share any personal information that you provide to us as described below, such as:
With our vendors, consultants, agents, contractors, and other service providers that we use to support our business;
To provide you with any information or services that you request;
To respond to subpoenas, court orders, and other legal process, or as otherwise required by law;
To exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims, to enforce our contracts, to investigate, respond to and resolve problems or inquiries (including governmental inquiries), or to permit us to pursue available remedies or limit the damages that we may sustain;
In connection with an actual or potential merger, sale, acquisition, assignment, or transfer of all or part of our assets, affiliates, lines of business, or products, including at bankruptcy;
With our affiliates, subsidiaries, or parent companies; and
With your consent.
We may use and disclose any information that is aggregated or de-identified so that it does not identify you personally, in our discretion.
How to opt out of interest-based advertising and/or market research
Interest-Based Advertising Opt-Out
When you visit the Websites, we may set tags on your browser that collect data for the ScorecardResearch service, a service offered by Full Circle Studies, Inc. (?Full Circle Studies?) which is also part of the Comscore market research group. These tags may collect data about your Web browsing over time and across digital properties, including information about the possible relationships among different browsers and devices, and provide this data to third parties to improve their ad campaigns and to use for their own interest-based advertising purposes. We adhere to the Digital Advertising Alliance Self-Regulatory Principles in connection with this activity. You may visit www.aboutads.info/choices to learn more about interest-based advertising, to opt out of our collection and transfer of Web browsing data for interest-based advertising purposes, and to opt out of the collection and use of data for this purpose by other companies that participate in industry self-regulation. Please note that opting out will not stop advertising from appearing in your browser or in the applications you use. It may make the ads you see less relevant to your interests. You may also continue to receive interest-based advertising from other companies. Additionally, please note that if you use a different browser or device, erase cookies from your browser or reset your mobile device?s platform advertising ID, you may need to renew your opt-out choices.
Market Research Opt-Out
The Websites may also set tags on your browser that collect data for the ScorecardResearch service for market research purposes. You may control your level of participation in our market research programs by visiting: http://www.scorecardresearch.com/preferences.aspx. This opt-out will also prevent you from participating in other market research programs from Full Circle Studies. We will continue to identify that a user visited a website, but we will not associate that event with your browser. Additionally, if your mobile device platform offers settings to limit data collection for interest-based advertising, you can use these settings to opt out of participating in our market research programs with respect to our data collection from applications on that mobile device.
Effect of Opting Out
Please note that the browser opt-out mechanisms linked above are cookie based (i.e., a cookie must be on your computer to tell our systems that you have opted-out). If you delete, block or otherwise restrict cookies, this opt-out may not be effective. Additionally, because different computers and different Internet browsers all require their own version of the opt-out cookie, you need to perform this opt-out process on any computers and browsers that you want to be opted-out.
Third party links and services
Our Websites may contain links to third-party websites. We do not control these linked websites and this Privacy Policy does not apply to those websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any third-party website that you visit before you provide any information to that website?s owner.
What if you wish to stop participating in a Panel?
You may contact us at the support address listed below to do any of the following:
Change your communication preferences;
Stop receiving survey offers without opting out of participation in the Panel; or
Terminate your account.
To stop participating in our Panels, please remove our software from your computer. If you remove our software without changing your communication preferences, you still may be contacted for administrative purposes or for special participant opportunities.
Please note: we may continue to use information collected during the time that you participated in the Panel, but all such information remains fully subject to, and governed by, the Privacy Policy that was effective at the time the information was collected.
We do not react to Do Not Track Signals because there is no standard for how those signals are sent.
Can you review and revise your personal information?
If you would like to access, modify, and/or request deletion of any personal information you have provided to us through one of the Websites covered by this policy, you may contact us through the support form on the relevant Website, or email our support staff at the email address provided below.
How will you be notified of changes to this Privacy Policy?
We reserve the right to modify or update this Privacy Policy periodically. If we change our practices with respect to your information, we will notify you by posting a revised Privacy Policy on the relevant Websites with a new effective date, and the changes will be effective immediately upon such posting. We encourage you to revisit this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our practices with respect to your information.
International Visitors and the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks
If you visit our Websites or participate in our Panels from locations outside of the United States, please note that any information you provide to us through your use of our Websites or your participation in the Panels may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the country from which you accessed our Websites or participated in our Panels, including the United States where our central database is operated. Subject to the next paragraph below, please be aware that the United States, and other countries in which your data may be maintained, may not offer an equivalent level of protection as provided for in your country.
Comscore Inc. complies with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework and the Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information transferred from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland to the United States. To learn more, please view our EU-U.S. Privacy Shield and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Statement.
For individuals located within the European Economic Area (?EEA?): If you visit our Website or participate in a Panel or a program from locations within the EEA, please review our GDPR Privacy Policy here. Our GDPR Privacy Policy includes additional information relating to the processing of ?personal data? and the exercise of rights under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679.
Links (be careful!):
: ttp://freesystemsoftware.com/
: ttp://www.relevantknowledge.com/
Removal Instructions:
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
- The file at "<$APPDATA>\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\PCMate Free System Care.lnk".
- The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PCMate Free System Care\More Free Tools.url".
- The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PCMate Free System Care\PCMate Free System Care on the Web.url".
- The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PCMate Free System Care\PCMate Free System Care.lnk".
- The file at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PCMate Free System Care\Uninstall.lnk".
- The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCMate Free System Care\goup.exe".
- The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCMate Free System Care\PCMate Free System Care Update.exe".
- The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCMate Free System Care\PCMateFreeSystemCare.exe".
- The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCMate Free System Care\unins000.exe".
- The file at "<$STARTMENU>\PCMate Free System Care.lnk".
- The file at "<$STARTUP>\PCMate Free System Care Update.lnk".
- The file at "<$SYSDIR>\rlls.dll".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If PU.PCMateFreeSystemCare uses rootkit technologies, use the rootkit scanner integrated into Spybot-S&D 2.x or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.
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 to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
- The directory at "<$APPDATA>\PCMate Free System Care New Version Available".
- The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMFILES>\PCMate Free Registry Cleaner".
- The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\PCMate Free System Care".
- The directory at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\PCMate_Free_Registry_Clea".
- The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\PCMate Free System Care".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If PU.PCMateFreeSystemCare uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.
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 "PCMate Free Registry Cleaner" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\".
- Delete the registry key "PCMate Free Registry Cleaner" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\Eventlog\Application\".
- Delete the registry key "PCMate Free Registry Cleaner" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\Eventlog\Application\".
- Delete the registry key "PCMate Free System Care_is1" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\".
If PU.PCMateFreeSystemCare uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer, RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.
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 before requesting assistance,
- Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.
