PC Privacy Dock

Posted: June 19, 2015

Threat Metric

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The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

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Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

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% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	283

First Seen:	June 19, 2015
Last Seen:	January 17, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

PC Privacy Dock is a system cleaning utility that claims to be capable of clearing out unwanted and potentially invasive files, such as cookies. However, PC owners using PC Privacy Dock for its ostensible purpose will be redirected to a software registration process, which requires payment. If you have no interest in purchasing this product, malware experts recommend removing PC Privacy Dock, ideally with some form of a trustworthy PC security solution (such as an anti-adware or anti-malware scanner).

The PUP that Docks Where It Wilt

PC Privacy Dock is one of a handful of Potentially Unwanted Programs developed, promoted and distributed by Tweakology Technologies, an India-based software company. This small company includes websites and products that sometimes detect as threatening due to their suspicious content or behavior. However, most PC security institutions identify PC Privacy Dock, like other Tweakology applications, as being potentially unwanted, rather than malign.

PC Privacy Dock's marketing describes this program as a tool for deleting 'digital footprint' data, such as your Web-browsing history, thus ensuring an extra layer of privacy. Malware experts found free scans provided by PC Privacy Dock's trial version including large numbers of questionable issue detections, regardless of the status of the machine being scanned. PC Privacy Dock's primary motivation is to encourage the premium registration of its software, which, in theory, lets PC Privacy Dock remove all of the detected privacy risks.

Although some PC users may install PC Privacy Dock from a Tweakology company site, malware experts recently saw campaigns distributing PC Privacy Dock non-consensually. These June 2015 attacks included additional, unwanted software with PC Privacy Dock, using unidentified distribution mechanisms.

PC Privacy Dock also includes a self-updating component that may initiate contact with its servers (such as tweaklogy.com or tweakology.net) in the background, as well as installing updates to PC Privacy Dock automatically. Finally, like many PUPs, PC Privacy Dock configures itself to launch by default with your operating system's startup routine.

Disembarking PC Privacy Dock from Your Hard Drive

Along with its other characteristics, PC Privacy Dock also includes a self-updating component that may initiate contact with its servers (such as tweaklogy.com or tweakology.net) in the background. The same component also may install updates to PC Privacy Dock automatically, which is a distinct security risk. Finally, like many PUPs, PC Privacy Dock configures itself to launch automatically with your operating system's startup routine. When considered as a whole, PC Privacy Dock doesn't undertake sufficiently invasive actions for being rated as threatening, but its scan results and recommended actions should be viewed with caution.

Deleting PC Privacy Dock, or any Potentially Unwanted Program, normally should take place with the assistance of PC security software or a PC repair technician. Cases where PC Privacy Dock manages to install itself automatically also may be viewed as likely attempts by other threats to compromise your system. As a result, you may see some symptoms beyond those described in this report.

Despite its claims of privacy protection, PC Privacy Dock ultimately distinguishes itself not at all from other 'system scanners' that offer results geared towards their profit margins.

Technical Details

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

File name without pathPC Privacy Dock.lnkHKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\PCPrivacyDockSoftware\PCPrivacyDockLanguageSOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\PCPrivacyDock_RASAPI32SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\PCPrivacyDock_RASMANCSSoftware\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\PCPrivacyDock

Additional Information

The following directories were created:

%APPDATA%\PC Privacy Dock%LOCALAPPDATA%\PC_Privacy_Dock%PROGRAMFILES%\PC Privacy Dock%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\PC Privacy Dock