Removal instructions for PrivacyControl

[Metallica]

What is PrivacyControl?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PrivacyControl is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.

How do I know if I am infected with PrivacyControl?

This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:

You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:

And see these warnings:

How did PrivacyControl get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.

How do I remove PrivacyControl?

Our program Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.

• Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
  
• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    

  [*]Then click Finish.

  [*]If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

  [*]Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.

  [*]When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.

  [*]Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Reboot your computer if prompted.

  [*]When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of PrivacyControl?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes PrivacyControl completely.
  

How would the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application has helped you eradicate this malicious software. If your current security solution let this infection through, you might please consider purchasing the FULL version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware for additional protection.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware would have protected you against the PrivacyControl rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PrivacyControl] C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe -boot

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
	  Adds the file PrivacyControl.lnk"="11:23 28/02/10 1860 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl
	  Adds the file PrivacyControl.lnk"="11:23 28/02/10 1860 bytes
	  Adds the file PrivacyControl on the Web.lnk"="11:23 28/02/10 1860 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log
	  Adds the file 2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_39 AM_513.log"="11:23 28/02/10 307 bytes
	  Adds the file 2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_38 AM_957.log"="11:23 28/02/10 263 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Registry Backups
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings
	  Adds the file Settings.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes
	  Adds the file SelectedFolders.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes
	  Adds the file ScanInfo.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes
	  Adds the file IgnoreList.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes
	  Adds the file CustomScan.stg"="11:23 28/02/10 0 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl
	  Adds the file PrivacyShell.dll"="21:09 27/12/09 1220608 bytes
	  Adds the file PrivacyControl.url"="08:02 12/08/08 55 bytes
	  Adds the file PrivacyControl.exe"="21:10 27/12/09 9023488 bytes
	  Adds the file Launcher.exe"="21:09 27/12/09 679936 bytes
	  Adds the file DataBase.ref"="14:41 23/09/08 33722 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer
	  Adds the file 81438.msi"="11:23 28/02/10 9968128 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}
	  Adds the file Icon.exe"="11:23 28/02/10 9023488 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PrivacyShellExt]
	  "(Default)"="'{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PrivacyShellExt]
	  "(Default)"="'{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{D9A9DE7F-A259-4BC1-A348-87BC1053C4E8}]
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}]
	  "AppID"="'{D9A9DE7F-A259-4BC1-A348-87BC1053C4E8}'"
	  "(Default)"="'PrivacyShellExt Class'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}\InprocServer32]
	  "ThreadingModel"="'Apartment'"
	  "InprocServer32"="z`]csY25=?3.T.E}(SZ+>S)H0OZ(m+A'8_CgX-iFz.."
	  "(Default)"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyShell.dll'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\PrivacyShellExt]
	  "(Default)"="'{6D642CFA-40F8-4AE0-9144-538BC1D725E4}'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1]
	  "AntiSpywareApplication"=""
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1]
	  "Clients"=":.."
	  "AuthorizedLUAApp"="0"
	  "InstanceType"="0"
	  "AdvertiseFlags"="388"
	  "Assignment"="1"
	  "Version"="33947648"
	  "Language"="1033"
	  "PackageCode"="'DC318F87E28B7AC40BBD3DEF30B8C07C'"
	  "ProductName"="'PrivacyControl'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\SourceList]
	  "LastUsedSource"="n;1;C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\7zS28.tmp\."
	  "PackageName"="'PrivacyControl.msi'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PrivacyControl]
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders]
	  "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl\"=""
	  "C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\"=""
	  "C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}\"=""
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UpgradeCodes\
CC05FA1695E7D5145B281262735CDF21]
	  "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"=""
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\609BF03B91FE93446A5AF852A3FC170C]
	  "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\6109791A227D5F7409DDAFDA119F3791]
	  "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.url'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\C533CC970BD6B1E4B802BE1C98D262DF]
	  "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyShell.dll'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\D179EEB5F2EC76441886BCCA10B0C24A]
	  "40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1"="'01:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
\PrivacyControl'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\Usage]
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\Patches]
	  "AllPatches"=""
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\40BA368E5E8FF584EB9F6AA516F6DBA1\InstallProperties]
	  "DisplayName"="'PrivacyControl'"
	  "Language"="1033"
	  "Version"="33947648"
	  "WindowsInstaller"="1"
	  "VersionMinor"="6"
	  "VersionMajor"="2"
	  "URLUpdateInfo"=""
	  "URLInfoAbout"=""
	  "UninstallString"="MsiExec.exe /X{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}."
	  "EstimatedSize"="10702"
	  "Size"=""
	  "Readme"=""
	  "Publisher"="'2Squared Software'"
	  "NoModify"="1"
	  "ModifyPath"="MsiExec.exe /X{E863AB04-F8E5-485F-BEF9-A65A616FBD1A}."
	  "InstallSource"="'C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\7zS28.tmp\'"
	  "InstallLocation"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\'"
	  "InstallDate"="'20100228'"
	  "HelpTelephone"=""
	  "HelpLink"=""
	  "DisplayVersion"="'2.6.0.0'"
	  "Contact"=""
	  "Comments"=""
	  "AuthorizedCDFPrefix"=""
	  "LocalPackage"="'C:\WINDOWS\Installer\81438.msi'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl]
	  "Start"="'Yes'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl\Settings]
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl\RegInfo]
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl]
	  "update_option"="0"
	  "log_option"="0"
	  "exit_option"="1"
	  "scan_ampm"="0"
	  "scan_minute"="0"
	  "scan_hour"="2"
	  "scan_day"="0"
	  "scan_schedule"="0"
	  "general_browserwarning"="1"
	  "general_autostart"="1"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "PrivacyControl"="'C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe -boot'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44
Database version: 3805
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

2/28/2010 11:41:15 AM
mbam-log-2010-02-28 (11-41-15).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 102483
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 24 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 3
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 6
Files Infected: 15

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6d642cfa-40f8-4ae0-9144-538bc1d725e4} (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\privacycontrol (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Registry Backups (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.exe (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyShell.dll (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\DataBase.ref (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\Launcher.exe (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.url (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl on the Web.lnk (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PrivacyControl\PrivacyControl.lnk (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log\2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_38 AM_957.log (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Log\2010 Feb 28 - 11_23_39 AM_513.log (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\CustomScan.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\IgnoreList.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\ScanInfo.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\SelectedFolders.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PrivacyControl\Settings\Settings.stg (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PrivacyControl.lnk (Rogue.PrivacyControl) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.

We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
  
• Malware Execution Prevention
  

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.