When malware PC Scout was installed on the system, it will modify system files and create a registry entry to hook itself on Windows start-up process. PC Scout can also blocked Internet access on the victims computer and avoid antivirus programs from running. It will maliciously scan computer for threats and purposely display a fabricated and falsified information for push users to purchase the registered version of the fake security program.
Common infection of PC Scout was caused by a Trojan infection. When inside a computer, this Trojan can manipulate Internet Explorer settings and redirect Internet user to a website where PC Scout can be downloaded on computer without users approval. Remove PC Scout immediately as soon as you observed signs and sysmptoms mentioned above.
What are the Symptoms of PC Scout Infection?
A virus scan will run and pop-up warning message like:
“PC Scout detected the virus or the harmful program on your computer!
Internet Explorer is infected with worm Rootkit.Win32.Agent.pp. This worm can harm your computer.”
It will modify Windows Registry and add the following entries:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run “PC Scout”
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PC Scout
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Uninstall\PC Scout
The threat will drop the following malicious files:
- c:\Program Files\PC Scout\core.cga
- c:\Program Files\PC Scout\CoreExt.dll
- c:\Program Files\PC Scout\help.ico
- c:\Program Files\PC Scout\pcscout.exe
- c:\Program Files\PC Scout\Uninstall.exe
- c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PC Scout Support.lnk
- c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PC Scout.lnk
- c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PC Scout\PC Scout Support.lnk
- c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PC Scout\PC Scout.lnk
- c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PC Scout\Uninstall PC Scout.lnk
How to Remove PC Scout Manually
1. Restart your computer in SafeMode
– After Power-On the computer, just before Windows start, press F8
– From the selections, Select SafeMode
2. Remove Registry entries that the threat added. You MUST BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST.
– Click Start > Run
– Type in the field, regedit
– Navigate and look for the registry entries mentioned above and delete if necessary
3. Delete malicious files that the threat added:
– Base on the given location above, browse and delete the file
– If no location is given, click Start>Search> and search for the file.
– 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
– Update antivirus program
– Scan computer and delete all detected threats.
