| Name | Smart PC Cleaner |
| Type | Anti-malware technology, possible indication of malware. |
| Short Description | Smart PC Cleaner is designed to detect malware without it being included in any database. False positives are possible. |
| Symptoms | Flooding the user with ‘intrusion detected’ type of notifications. |
| Distribution Method | Via clicks on malicious sites or bundling. |
| Detection tool | Download SpyHunter, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By Smart PC Cleaner |
Cyber-threat investigators report a fraudulent PC optimizing tool including a hard drive defragmenter, going by the name Smart PC Cleaner. This software claims to improve users’ computers by optimizing data and defragmenting their hard drives. But, according to experts from enigma the software is designed with the goal to generate income using its victims’ fear. This software is reported to display solely warning messages, instead of performing any actual optimization or file cleaning from the computer. This tool is said to exhibit a scareware-like behavior which aims to place fear into the user and trick him into purchasing a licensed version of the software.
How Did I Get Smart PC Cleaner In My PC?
Different methods exist which let this mysterious optimizer in your machine. There is the scenario that you may have clicked on an ad, claiming you have a virus or may have been redirected to a download page, allegedly related to www.smart-pc-cleaner.com which automatically initiated a download and install on your computer. You also may have downloaded a free program, like a media player, document converter, pdf reader, video downloader and others from an unfamiliar third-party site. Usually, such sites may include many apps, like Smart PC Cleaner, without any restrictions in the setup programs of the software they provide as a part of a marketing scheme to generate profits. It is an extremely useful tactic, and many report it to handle most unnoticed malware and non-malware ‘ninja’ installations on PCs.
Smart PC Cleaner – How Does It Work?
This program operates in an ingenious manner. Once installed on the computer, Smart PC Cleaner may begin to either display fake warning messages of outdated drivers or non-optimized objects in an intrusive way. Security researchers have established that this application may be a part of a malware attack on its own. This fraudulent bunch of code is believed to be a clone of similar software, called Virus Doctor. More to it than that, this application may slow computers down with fraudulent system scans or by running background processes.
Also, experts believe that this particular program may engage in actions that are connected with gaining various permissions on the user PC. Once it has such power over your machine, the program might disable your AV or add itself as a firewall exception. Either way, this rogue PC Optimizer tool is not to be trusted, malware researchers advise.
Removing Smart PC Cleaner
This particular program may modify certain settings or run background processes in the task manager that may prevent it from uninstalling because it may be actively running even when closed, and you cannot delete software while its running. First, it is a should to boot your computer in Safe Mode, and then open your Task Manager and close any suspicious processes, related to Smart PC Cleaner. Then a simple scan with an advanced malware protection program is all that you need for removing Smart PC Cleaner from your computer.
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool.Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool / How to Uninstall SpyHunter
1. Start Your PC in Safe Mode to Remove Smart PC Cleaner.
For Windows XP, Vista, 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 systems:
Step 1: Open the Start Menu
Step 2: Whilst holding down Shift button, click on Power and then click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, the aftermentioned menu will appear. From there you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu you can choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: Click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You should choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
2. Remove Smart PC Cleaner automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
To clean your computer with the award-winning software Spy Hunter –
It is highly recommended to run a system scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.
- Guide 1: How to Remove Smart PC Cleaner from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Smart PC Cleaner from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Smart PC Cleaner from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Smart PC Cleaner from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Smart PC Cleaner from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Smart PC Cleaner from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Smart PC Cleaner from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Smart PC Cleaner from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Smart PC Cleaner
Step 2: Uninstall Smart PC Cleaner and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Smart PC Cleaner 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 Smart PC Cleaner 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.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Smart PC Cleaner from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Smart PC Cleaner and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Smart PC Cleaner via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Smart PC Cleaner from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Smart PC Cleaner from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Smart PC Cleaner from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Smart PC Cleaner from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Smart PC Cleaner will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Smart PC Cleaner from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
