What is PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware? What does PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware do? Is PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware safe? Can you trust PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware? Is PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware a virus?
The PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware is a dangerous weapon used against computer users worldwide. It infects via different strategies. Our article gives an overview of its behavior according to the collected samples and available reports, also it may be helpful in attempting to remove the virus.
Threat Summary
| Name | PCMate Free Driver Backup |
| Type | Trojan |
| Short Description | The PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware is a scam program that is designed to infiltrate computer systems. |
| Symptoms | The victims may not experience any apparent symptoms of infection. |
| Distribution Method | Phishing Messages, Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Scripts and others. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss PCMate Free Driver Backup. |
PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware – Distribution Methods
The PCMate Free Driver Backup is a dangerous malware that uses the name of a potentially useful system utility. The criminals use decoy tactics to spread it to the intended targets. They make use of the name which may be attributed to a legitimate program. The criminals will create hacker-infected files and use different strategies to contaminate the victims. The most widely used approaches are the following:
- Malicious Files Integration — The virus files can be integrated in a variety of payload carriers, leading to malware bundle creations. Typical examples are macro-infected documents of popular office formats, when they are launched a prompt will appear asking them to enable the built-in scripts t correctly view the contents. This will actually trigger malware deployment. The threat can also be bundled with commonly installed applications from the Internet.
- Phishing Tactics — The criminals can construct various portal pages, advertise on social networks and online communities, and send out email messages in this fashion. Common approaches include are the use of stolen or hijacked graphics and contents associated with well-known services and companies.
- Virus Files Online Distribution — All of the generated virus files carrying the infection can be uploaded to sites that are known to be used by most Internet users. This includes download portals, forums, and various chat rooms. The virus files may also be uploaded to file-sharing networks like BitTorrent which carries legitimate and pirate files.
At any time the virus-infected copies of PCMate Free Driver Backup may be distributed using other methods as well.
PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware – Detailed Description
The PCMate Free Driver Backup malware is designed and programmed to appear like any other legitimate and useful system utility. The hackers behind it will include buttons and menus, inclusive of all relevant graphics and text.
NOTE: This guide is specific for the virus-created copies of the program, there may be a legitimate program called this way.
Usually, each distinct attack campaign will include different modules. Most of the typical examples of this type will lead to the following:
- Boot Options Changes — It can be used to install the threat as a persistent threat, the virus will be started every time the computer is powered on. It may also be programmed to block access to the recovery boot options thereby making it very difficult to follow most manual removal guides.
- Files Modification — Malware of this category can be used for various files modification, including removal, editing, moving them and etc. This is especially useful for the deleting of backups and shadow volume copies, thereby making recovery very difficult.
- Settings Changes — The main malware code may introduce different types of modifications, including editing of the Windows Registry. This can edit the existing values or create new ones for the virus. Such changes can lead to serious performance issues, the inability to start certain services and even data loss and unexpected errors.
One of the most dangerous aspects of getting infected with such threats is the ability to install other malware across popular categories. This may include ransomware threats which will encrypt target user’s data and encrypt it with a strong cipher. All of the processed files will be renamed with a given extension and the victims will be extorted to say a decryption fee.
Future versions can include other capabilities and be spread using other strategies. For this reason, detected instances should be removed at once.
Remove PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware
If you want to remove the PCMate Free Driver Backup Malware unwanted software from your computer we recommend that you use a specific anti-malware software. With such an anti-malware program, your computer will remain with better protection and stay healthy performance-wise in the future.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Preparation before removing PCMate Free Driver Backup.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for PCMate Free Driver Backup with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by PCMate Free Driver Backup on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by PCMate Free Driver Backup there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by PCMate Free Driver Backup on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
PCMate Free Driver Backup FAQ
What Does PCMate Free Driver Backup Trojan Do?
The PCMate Free Driver Backup Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like PCMate Free Driver Backup, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can PCMate Free Driver Backup Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind, that there are more sophisticated Trojans, that leave backdoors and reinfect even after factory reset.
Can PCMate Free Driver Backup Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the PCMate Free Driver Backup Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this PCMate Free Driver Backup how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on PCMate Free Driver Backup?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the PCMate Free Driver Backup threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.