What Is RocketPC Performance Monitor?
The RocketPC Performance Monitor is a suspicious, trojanized program targeting computer users worldwide. It infects mainly via phishing email messages. 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 | RocketPC Performance Monitor |
| Type | Trojan |
| Short Description | The RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor. |
RocketPC Performance Monitor Malware – Distribution Methods
The RocketPC Performance Monitor malware is a dangerous application that is being spread across the Internet posing as a legitimate system utility application. Even though a legitimate version might exist from a quality vendor most of the captured samples have been found to be dangerous.
Threats of this type can be spread using different mechanisms, usually several of them are used at once in order to raise the number of affected clients. There is no information known about the attackers as well, it is probable that they are an experienced team of criminals as the threat has been positioned through various channels.
Some of the typical mechanisms are the following:
- Phishing Email Messages — The criminals will craft email messages that impersonate well-known companies, products and services. Stolen multimedia content of all types is used in order to coerce the recipients into thinking that they are receiving notifications about software products. The typical case involves messages that state that the recipient’s computer is under risk and that they need to apply a software or security update. The RocketPC Performance Monitor malware can be either linked or directly attached to the emails. Any interaction with content like in-text links, images and videos can lead to the infection.
- Malicious Sites — The other widespread mechanism is the creation of fake sites that impersonate download portals, search engines, news sites and other Internet pages which are usually used by computer end users in order to find new software products. They are hosted on similar sounding domain names and use self-signed security certificates in order to appear as legitimate sources.
- Infected Documents — Malicious macros can be the cause of many malware infections. They can be inserted into all popular document formats: presentations, spreadsheets, rich text documents and databases. As soon as they are opened by the victims a prompt will appear asking the users to enable the interactive content. The quoted reason is to correctly view the contents of the files. When the macros are run the virus infection will happen.
- Application Installers — The other popular strategy is to insert the relevant code into the setup files of software that is commonly installed by end users. The hackers typically choose targets such as system utilities, creativity suites, productivity and office applications as well. The way this is done is by taking the legitimate files from their official sources and modifying them with the necessary code.
- File Sharing Networks — Peer-to-peer networks which are widely used by end users in order to share both legitimate and pirate content are one of the most common places where RocketPC Performance Monitor malware can be acquired. At the moment the most popular software is BitTorrent.
- Browser Hijackers — Another technique which is used by the criminals is to cause large campaigns via malicious browser redirects. They are mostly uploaded to the relevant browser repositories with fake user reviews and developer credentials. The posted descriptions promise new feature additions and performance optimizations. As soon as they are installed the RocketPC Performance Monitor malware will be deployed. Other changes that the victims can expect include modifications to the browser settings — this is done in order to redirect the victims to a hacker-controlled page.
Over time other mechanisms can be utilized.
RocketPC Performance Monitor Malware – Detailed Description
The signatures associated with the RocketPC Performance Monitor malware confirm that this is a case of an infected application. The vendor name quoted in the software’s description and installation package is “Solvusoft”. The infections happen as soon as the package is executed. In order to coerce the victims into believing that they are installing a legitimate application as it includes a logo image containing a “Gold Microsoft Partner”.
When the installation has completed it will automatically start the application which will start scanning the computer system for any “issues”. Various warning, including pop-ups and prompts will be shown stating that their security is under threat. In order to fix their computers the users are coerced into paying for a paid license. This is done by “registering” their installed service. In order to register the programs the hackers behind the malware will request information such as the following: personal information, banking card information, address details and etc.
The analysis of the captured samples has revealed that as soon as the application is installed it will also interact with the Windows operating system by setting up a scheduled task. This will automatically start the program as soon as the operating system is booted. In many cases this also disables access to the recovery boot options, menus and other mechanisms which are used by the victims via the manual user removal guides. Intrusive advertising is also shown which is a clear sign fraudulent software. They can entice the users into installing other threats. Other behavior that can follow after the RocketPC Performance Monitor malware has been installed is the following:
- Information Tracking — The victims can be tracked interactively via software and scripts which are installed by the application. Common malware of this category are programmed to directly expose the identity of the victims. This is made possible by searching for strings such as a person’s name, address, phone number, interests and account credentials. If it interacts with the Windows Volume Manager it can also access any removable storage devices and available network shares.
- Machine Identification — The engine can craft an unique ID which is assigned to each individual machine. It is generated via an algorithm that uses information such as the installed hardware components, user settings and certain operating system environment values.
- Windows Registry Changes — By accessing the Windows Registry the relevant engine can create new strings for itself or modify existing ones. This is especially dangerous as the made changes can practically render the compromised computers non-working due to performance issues. Certain services, program features and expected output can fail to start and loss of data is often reported.
- Security Bypass — The virus engine can search for any installed security software that can interfere with the proper virus execution. This includes the likes of anti-virus software, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and virtual machine hosts.
- Additional Payload Delivery — One of the most common tactics employed by hackers is to send out virus files via infections like this one. This is done so because the engine may have already bypassed the relevant security mechanisms that are installed in place.
We anticipate that future versions might include other options as well, including newer design and distribution tactics.
Remove RocketPC Performance Monitor Malware Completely
To remove RocketPC Performance Monitor Malware manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal tutorial written down below. In case this manual removal does not get rid of the miner malware completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor.
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 RocketPC Performance Monitor with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor 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.
RocketPC Performance Monitor FAQ
What Does RocketPC Performance Monitor Trojan Do?
The RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor, 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 a factory reset.
Can RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this RocketPC Performance Monitor 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 RocketPC Performance Monitor?
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 RocketPC Performance Monitor threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.