Home Spyware Database "PC-Cleaner Removal Guide"

PC-Cleaner Removal Guide

PC-Cleaner Description

PC-Cleaner is a corrupt anti-spyware program that is designed to lure gullible computer users out of their money. PC-Cleaner may be brought into your computer system by a Trojan without your consent and authorization. After PC-Cleaner is executed, it will display fake threat notifications in hopes of tricking you into purchasing its full version to remove the threats it "detected". PC-Cleaner is a fraud, and cannot perform any anti-spyware tasks whatsoever. Immediate removal of PC-Cleaner is strongly recommended.

How can I Detect PC-Cleaner?

The most common spyware removal tactic is to uninstall PC-Cleaner by using the "Add/Remove Programs" utility. However, as there may still be hidden PC-Cleaner files, it's possible that PC-Cleaner will reappear after reboot. Follow the PC-Cleaner detection and removal methods below.

PC-Cleaner Automatic Detection (Recommended)

Is your PC infected with PC-Cleaner? To safely & quickly detect PC-Cleaner, we highly recommend you...

Download SpyHunter's Malware Scanner.

SpyHunter's free version is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter's malware scanner detects PC-Cleaner on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove PC-Cleaner and other malware threats.

PC-Cleaner Manual Removal Instructions

Below is a list of PC-Cleaner manual removal instructions and PC-Cleaner components listed to help you remove PC-Cleaner from your PC. Backup Reminder: Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

Note: This manual removal process may be difficult and you run the risk of destroying your computer. We recommend that you use SpyHunter's malware detection tool to check for PC-Cleaner.

Step 1 : Use Windows File Search Tool to Find PC-Cleaner Path

1. Go to Start > Search > All Files or Folders.
2. In the "All or part of the the file name" section, type in "PC-Cleaner" file name(s).
3. To get better results, select "Look in: Local Hard Drives" or "Look in: My Computer" and then click "Search" button.
4. When Windows finishes your search, hover over the "In Folder" of "PC-Cleaner", highlight the file and copy/paste the path into the address bar. Save the file's path on your clipboard because you'll need the file path to delete PC-Cleaner in the following manual removal steps.
5. "PC-Cleaner" files can be found in the directory path(s):
6. %AppData%\PC-Cleaner %ProgramFiles%\PC-Cleaner
   Read more about How to Find PC-Cleaner with File Search Tool

Step 2 : Use Windows Task Manager to Remove PC-Cleaner Processes

1. To open the Windows Task Manager, use the combination of CTRL+ALT+DEL or CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
2. Click on the "Image Name" button to search for "PC-Cleaner" process by name.
3. Select the "PC-Cleaner" process and click on the "End Process" button to kill it.
4. Remove the "PC-Cleaner" processes files:
5. PCCleaner_Installer_eng[1].exe PC-Cleaner.exe
   Read more about How to kill PC-Cleaner Processes

Step 3 : Use Registry Editor to Remove PC-Cleaner Registry Values

1. To open the Registry Editor, go to Start > Run > type regedit and then press the "OK" button.
2. Locate and delete the entry or entries whose data value (in the rightmost column) is the spyware file(s) detected earlier.
3. To delete "PC-Cleaner" value, right-click on it and select the "Delete" option.
4. Locate and delete "PC-Cleaner" registry entries:
5. 59C2348A-4473-471A-B095-6CAEFAF953E8 Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu2\Programs\PC-Cleaner SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved\59C2348A-4473-471A-B095-6CAEFAF953E8 AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\pcsd.dll ABDC6955-BF9F-461C-A0D6-DFB06542C4A0 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\pcsd.dll SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved\ABDC6955-BF9F-461C-A0D6-DFB06542C4A0 51F54472-54D9-4634-9791-A3FC5A65F4DF SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved\51F54472-54D9-4634-9791-A3FC5A65F4DF 4D6725C5-32F7-4179-B42C-1D10BBE0A0F0 SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved\4D6725C5-32F7-4179-B42C-1D10BBE0A0F0 B4982923-BC21-4CBF-9521-E0CA261F06DD 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\pcsd AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\pcsd PC-Cleaner SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved\B4982923-BC21-4CBF-9521-E0CA261F06DD
   Read more about How to Remove PC-Cleaner Registry Entries

Step 4 : Use Windows Command Prompt to Unregister PC-Cleaner DLL Files

1. To open the Windows Command Prompt, go to Start > Run > type cmd and then click the "OK" button.
2. Type "cd" in order to change the current directory, press the "space" button, enter the full path to where you believe the PC-Cleaner DLL file is located and press the "Enter" button on your keyboard. If you don't know where PC-Cleaner DLL file is located, use the "dir" command to display the directory's contents.
3. To unregister "PC-Cleaner" DLL file, type in the exact directory path + "regsvr32 /u" + [DLL_NAME] (for example, :C\Spyware-folder\> regsvr32 /u PC-Cleaner.dll) and press the "Enter" button. A message will pop up that says you successfully unregistered the file.
4. Search and unregister "PC-Cleaner" DLL files:
5. pcsd.dll
   Read more about How to Remove PC-Cleaner DLL Files

Step 5 : Detect and Delete Other PC-Cleaner Files

1. To open the Windows Command Prompt, go to Start > Run > type cmd and then press the "OK" button.
2. Type in "dir /A name_of_the_folder" (for example, C:\Spyware-folder), which will display the folder's content even the hidden files.
3. To change directory, type in "cd name_of_the_folder".
4. Once you have the file you're looking for type in "del name_of_the_file".
5. To delete a file in folder, type in "del name_of_the_file".
6. To delete the entire folder, type in "rmdir /S name_of_the_folder".
7. Select the "PC-Cleaner" process and click on the "End Process" button to kill it.
8. Remove the "PC-Cleaner" processes files:
9. PCCleaner_Installer_eng[1].exe PC-Cleaner.exe PC-Cleaner.lnk Uninstall PC-Cleaner.lnk Start PC-Cleaner.lnk Register PC-Cleaner.lnk pcsd.dll PC-Cleaner
   Read more about How to Delete Harmful Files

PC-Cleaner Recommendation

RECOMMENDED: To avoid the unnecessary risk of damaging your computer, we highly recommend you use a good malware remover to track PC-Cleaner and automatically remove PC-Cleaner as well as other spyware, adware, trojans, and virus threats in your PC.

If you believe you have PC-Cleaner installed on your computer, check for PC-Cleaner with SpyHunter's Malware Scanner.

SpyHunter's free version is only for malware detection. To remove PC-Cleaner and other malware threats, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool. Since new PC-Cleaner files are constantly being released, it is normally advised to run SpyHunter's scanner weekly to get the latest updates on PC-Cleaner and other malware threats.

To learn more on PC-Cleaner, see our PC-Cleaner resource section below.

PC-Cleaner Technical Details

The following PC-Cleaner components and their MD5s:

More PC-Cleaner Resources

What is Spyware?

PC-Cleaner is a type of Spyware.

Spyware is any malware or software used to spy or track your computer activity. While some spyware is not malicious and is intentionally installed by parents or employers to monitor Internet activity, spyware may be installed maliciously. Often spyware can come bundled with downloads of free software, and may track your Internet activity or may steal usernames and passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal financial information.

Think you have PC-Cleaner? Run SpyHunter's malware scan and automatically detect PC-Cleaner on your PC.

Back to Top

PC-Cleaner Prevention Rules

Protect your computer from PC-Cleaner and other spyware by following these four easy prevention rules.

Rule #1: Keep your Windows Security up-to-date

Microsoft provides updates weekly and can always be downloaded manually from the Microsoft website.
Tip: Regularly visit Windows Update and set your computer to receive security & critical updates automatically.

To get Microsoft Update, go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and select "ALL High-Priority Security Updates" from the list.

Then open IE and go to Internet Options > Security > Internet, then press "Default Level", then OK. Now press "Custom Level."

Rule #2: Download and install a reliable anti-spyware software

A good anti-spyware software that recognizes current PC-Cleaner spyware as well as other forms of spyware can can be the answer to all your security issues. Listed below is an anti-spyware program that can effectively reverse the damage of your computer and detect PC-Cleaner automatically.

Download SpyHunter's Malware Scanner

SpyHunter's free version is only for malware detection. To remove PC-Cleaner and other malware threats, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool.

Rule #3: Install and keep your firewall turned on

A firewall is essential for a complete protection of your PC. Make sure that your firewall is always turned on. A firewall can prevent unwanted software like PC-Cleaner from infecting your computer.

Rule #4: Keep your anti-spyware definitions up-to-date

Since new PC-Cleaner files can be created every day, it is important to keep your anti-spyware program up-to-date. Your anti-spyware scanner should have an update feature where with a click of a button you can get new spyware definitions instantly. Often, an anti-spyware software will open an update window reminding you that there are new updates available.

Back to Top

PC-Cleaner Screenshots

View PC-Cleaner screenshots below and see for yourself how PC-Cleaner looks like. Learn how to recognize PC-Cleaner when it infects your machine.

(click on PC-Cleaner image to enlarge)

Back to Top

Publication Date

User Comments

Back to Top