This article has been created in order to help explain what exactly is the Windows Media Center virus and show how you can remove it from your computer completely.
A new virus for Windows has been detected by security researchers to perform a wide variety of malicious tasks including to completely prevent access of the user to his computer. The malware’s primary purpose is to come on your computer, possibly by pretending to be a useful software, but is most likely a hoax antivirus program or any other similar PUP. Once such program is activated, it may trigger script which changes all of the programs on the affected computer to open Windows Media Center automatically, up to the point where you do not have any control over your computer system and everything you click on opens the software..
Threat Summary
| Name | Windows Media Center Virus |
| Type | Malware |
| Short Description | Sets Windows Media Center as a shortcut to any button or program on your computer and may perform other malicious activities as well. |
| Symptoms | Your computer’s icons all become shortcuts of Windows Media Center and each time you click on any button or try to access software via drop-down or the start menu of Windows, WMC is also opened.. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. Fake antivirus software. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Windows Media Center Virus. |
Windows Media Center Virus – How Did I Get It
The main way which is used for the Windows Media Center virus is to be executed on your computer as a result of having an unwanted program that may currently be residing In it. Such unwanted software aims to get victims to download and and install it, while they are thinking that their computer is compromised. A good example via which such fake antivirus and PC optimizer programs enter on your computer is fake messages, that often claim your computer is at risk, such as the one in the image underneath:
These types of messages often appear on your computer if you have visitied a website or if you have adware programs on your computer that display different types of advertising, such as pop-ups, banners and other form of ad-supported contents.
In addition to this, it is also common for unwanted programs to be spread as a result of being bundled well within the installers of third-party programs. These installers often aim to convince victims that the unwanted programs are advertised as a free extra to help improve your browsing experience, but in most cases that is not the situation. Also, in most cases these programs are well concealed within the “Advanced” or “Custom” installation steps when you install such free software from third-party websites. This is why, every time you download your favorite media player or other free software, we do recommend that you check each installation steps for bundled apps, because some of those are PUPs which effectively lead to viruses, like the Windows Media Center virus.
Windows Media Center Virus – Purpose and Activity
Windows Media Center virus is not actually related in any way to the original Windows Media Center by Microsoft. The malware only uses the software as it set’s it on your computer as a default program to open everything with it, by heavily modifying Windows. This ultimately results in the icons of each of your programs to be appearing as Windows Media Center objects, which appear like the following image shows:
Once clicked on, the apps basically act as shortcut to the original Windows Media Center and open the program:
And what is worse is that nothing on the computer works excep that you can open programs via the Run window, but then again, you still have to start it, using the hotkeys Windows Button + R. After having successfully crippled a computer system, the Windows Media Center virus may start to perform various different types of actvities on the victim’s computer, like most malware does:
- It may download other viruses on your computer.
- Collect your keystrokes.
- Download other adware on your computer.
- Install cryptocurrency miner viruses.
- Take screenshots of your desktop.
- Steal saved passwords and files from your PC.
In addition to all of those activities on your computer, the Windows Media Center virus does other nefarious actions as well. One of those actions is to delete your antivirus program and stop it from functioning. This activity results In the Windows Media Center virus to stay on your PC for longer periods of time.
Remove Windows Media Center Virus from Your Computer
In order to delete this virus from your PC, we do recommend that you isolate it first. One of the ways to do that is to follow the manual or automatic removal instructions underenath. Usually experts do advise to install an advanced anti-malware software for a faster and more effective removal process, but in this situation your computer is not able to open any program what so ever. This is why you will need to boot your computer into Safe Mode with networking, preferably by following the manual removal instructions below and then stop Windows Media Center as a service, after which revert the settings changed by the virus back to normal. To do that, you will need to open System Restore of Windows and get your compuer back to the restore point before this occurred. After this, as many security professionals do advise, you can check for malware, preferrably by installing an advanced anti-malware software. It will not only automatically take care of any nefarious programs installed on your computer, but will also protect your PC in the future as well.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Windows Media Center Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Windows Media Center Virus on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Windows Media Center Virus in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Windows Media Center Virus from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Windows Media Center Virus from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Windows Media Center Virus from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Windows Media Center Virus from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable Windows Media Center Virus Push Notifications in Your Browsers.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
About the Windows Media Center Virus Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Windows Media Center Virus how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Windows Media Center Virus?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Windows Media Center Virus threat is backed with VirusTotal https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1.Browser Redirect – What Is It?
2.Adware Is Malicious, and It Uses Advanced Techniques to Infect
3.The Thin Red Line Between Potentially Unwanted Programs and Malware
4.The Pay-Per-Install Affiliate Business – Making Millions out of Adware
5.Malicious Firefox Extensions Installed by 455,000 Users Blocked Updates
How to Remove Windows Media Center Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Windows Media Center Virus
Step 2: Uninstall Windows Media Center Virus 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 Windows Media Center Virus 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 Windows Media Center Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
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.
Step 4: Scan for Windows Media Center Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.
Video Removal Guide for Windows Media Center Virus (Windows).
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of Windows Media Center Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Windows Media Center Virus 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:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3.In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Windows Media Center Virus:
4.Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5.In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Windows Media Center Virus. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Windows Media Center Virus. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- 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 Windows Media Center Virus 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:
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Windows Media Center Virus. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
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 Windows Media Center Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Windows Media Center Virus, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Windows Media Center Virus (Mac)
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove Windows Media Center Virus 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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Erase Windows Media Center Virus 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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Uninstall Windows Media Center Virus 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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove Windows Media Center Virus 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 Windows Media Center Virus will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate Windows Media Center Virus 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.
Remove Push Notifications caused by Windows Media Center Virus from Your Browsers.
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Windows Media Center Virus FAQ
What is Windows Media Center Virus?
The Windows Media Center Virus threat is adware or browser redirect virus. It may slow your computer down siginficantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What are the symptoms of Windows Media Center Virus?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and has poor performance in general.
Symtpom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts reccomend that you check your computer for viruses.
What types of Unwanted Programs are there?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to do if I have a "virus" like Windows Media Center Virus?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most adware or unwanted program threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them from your browser and computer. One reccomended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you. There are many anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter is one of the reccomended anti-malware apps, that can scan your computer for free and detect any viruses, tracking cookies and unwanted adware apps and eliminate them quickly. This saves time when compared to doing the removal manually.
How to secure my passwords and other data from Windows Media Center Virus?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our website, where you can also ask any questions and comment underneath the articles about your computer problems. We will try to respond as fast as possible.
My labtop cannot connected to the network. And I can’t Download SpyHunter. All my applications in my PC look like a file with Windows Media Center icon.( I didn’t find the reason & solution )… ♂️