SafePcAv

Last Update: June 4, 2012 by webmaster , Comments: 0

SafePcAv is another fake antivirus program designed to steal money from its innocent victim. It uses deceiving tactics on the security status of the computer. Commonly, it will declare that PC is severely infected with viruses. SafePcAv is unsafe and should be removed from computer immediately.

Once inside the system, SafePcAv attempts to connect to a remote computer to download additional malware that will enhance its presence on the affected system. SafePcAv can disable antivirus programs by ending its running process. SafePcAv Trojan also blocks Internet access particularly to security websites to prevent users from downloading any removal tool. Since it has no add/remove components during its installation, SafePcAv will force user to obtain the license copy of this software just to remove it from a computer.

Type	Rogue
Sub-Type	FakeAV
OS Affected	Windows XP, Windows Vista

What are the Symptoms of SafePcAv Infection?

A virus scan will run that will display fake results to attract users into purchasing SafePcAv activation key and serial.

It will modify Windows Registry and add the following entries:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “[random].exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “SafePcAv”
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SafePcAv
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SafePcAv
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SafePcAv

SafePcAv threat will drop the following malicious files:

• %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Desktop\SafePcAv.lnk
• %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SafePcAv
• %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SafePcAv\1 SafePcAv.lnk
• %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SafePcAv\2 Homepage.lnk
• %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SafePcAv\3 Uninstall.lnk
• %Program Files%\SafePcAv Software
• %Program Files%\SafePcAv Software\SafePcAv
• %Program Files%\SafePcAv Software\SafePcAv\SafePcAv.exe
• %Program Files%\SafePcAv Software\SafePcAv\main_config.xml
• %Program Files%\SafePcAv Software\SafePcAv\uninstall.exe
• %Temp%\[random].exe
• %WINDOWS%\system32\[random].exe

Follow these Procedures to Remove SafePcAv

Procedure 1: Manual Removal

For users with technical skills in dealing with computer problems, executing this manual removal is enough to stop the malware. However, we highly recommend running anti-malware scan to remove other hidden files. For users who are not tech-savvy, you must skip this step. Start on Procedure 2 and proceed onwards. Automatic removal takes longer to accomplish but is less difficult to execute.

1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Networking

- After turning On the power of the computer, just before Windows start, press F8.
- From the selections, choose Safe Mode with Networking. Please use keyboard's arrow up/down to navigate between selections and press Enter to proceed.

2. Remove Registry entries that the threat added. You MUST BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST.
- Press [Windows Key] + [R] on your keyboard.

- Type regedit in the Open box.
- Navigate and look for the registry entries mentioned above and delete if found.

3. Delete malicious files that the threat added:
- Base on the given location above, browse and delete all SafePcAv files.
- If cannot be deleted, press Ctrl+Alt+Del to access Task Manager.

- See if the file is running in the process. If it is, select the file and click End Process. Perform file delete again.

4. Scan computer with Antivirus Program
- Connect to the Internet and update your anti-virus program.
- Run a scan on the computer and delete all detected threats.

Procedure 2: Scan and remove SafePcAv files with SuperAntiSpyware

We have provided a tool that you can use to remove SafePcAv from the computer in a much simpler way. Click the Download SAS button below to obtain the free version from their official server.

1. Download the portable version of SuperAntiSpyware.

2. Save the file on your hard drive. SAS portable is using random filename so that it can elude malware from blocking your download. When finished downloading, double-click on the file to install the program.
3. There is no need to change anything on the setup process. Just install the program with its default configuration.

4. During installation, SuperAntiSpyware will check for database update from their server. It needs an Internet connection during this process.
5. After the setup. SAS will run and is now ready to scan the computer for harmful components related to SafePcAv.
6. Click on Scan your Computer... to begin the process.

7. When done scanning, it will display a list of identified infected items. You may remove it directly or place them in quaratine folder.
8. You may now restart the computer.

Protect your PC from SafePcAv or Similar Attack

Turn On Security Features of your Internet Browser

Internet Explorer - Activate SmartScreen Filter

Internet Explorer versions 8 and 9 has this feature called SmartScreen Filter. It helps detect phishing web sites and protect you from downloading malicious files online. You may have avoided SafePcAv virus if this has been active on your PC. To turn on SmartScreen Filter, follow these steps:

1. Please open Internet Explorer.
2. On top menu, select Tools (IE 9). For IE 8, please look for Safety menu.
3. Select SmartScreen Filter from the drop-down list and click on Turn on SmartScreen Filter.

4. Please restart Internet Explorer.

Google Chrome's Enable Phishing and Malware Protection

With Google Chrome's Phishing and Malware Detection feature, you will have lesser risks browsing the web. It will display a warning when the site you are trying to visit is suspicious. To enable Phishing and Malware Protection, please do these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the Customize and control Google Chrome (3-Bars Icon) located on top right corner of the browser.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down list.
4. Once on the settings page, click on Show advanced settings... at the bottom of the page to see the rest of the Chrome setup.
5. Locate Privacy section and mark 'Enable phishing and malware protection'.

6. Please restart Google Chrome. New settings keep your browser safe while surfing the web.

Mozilla Firefox - Block Attack Sites and Web Forgeries

Phishing and Malware Protection is a built-in feature on Firefox version 3 or later. It warns you when a page you are trying to visit contains phishing content or an attack site designed to drop threats on the computer. To help you keep safe while browsing the Internet using Firefox, please follow this guide:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. On top menu, click on Tools. Then select Options from the list.
3. Select Security and put a check mark on the following items:

• Warn me when sites try to install add-ons
• Block reported attack sites
• Block reported web forgeries

Your PC Protector Paladin Antivirus