Total System Care Unwanted Application

What is Total System Care?

The Total System Care program is presented as a "performance suite" that provides various tools to optimize Windows Operating Systems and improve performance.

The "bundling" method is used to promote and distribute this program, and it is thus categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Many users install these apps unintentionally together with other regular software.

Total System Care is promoted as capable of boosting computer performance, fixing errors, adding disk space, securing your privacy, and so on. When opened, it performs a general system scan and allows users to review results and then clean items (fix problems, errors, and so on).

In fact, to deal with these supposed 'issues', users are encouraged to register for Total System Care (purchase this optimization tool). This may seem to be a legitimate tool capable of delivering useful functions, however, many PUAs display fake scan results and deliver none of the features promised. Therefore, they do not resolve any problems.

PUAs are promoted using the bundling method and display fake results to trick people into purchasing 'full versions' or registering/activating software. Generally, apps promoted using these methods should not be trusted. In many cases, developers bundle several PUAs at once, and, therefore, people accidentally download and install more than one program of this type.

These apps are generally browser hijackers and adware-type apps that serve users with intrusive advertisements (banners, coupons, surveys, pop-ups, etc.) and collect browsing-related data. Targeted information usually includes geolocations, IP addresses, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on. They sometimes also record personal details.

Developers send the data to other parties who misuse it to generate revenue. Note, some of the third parties might be cyber criminals.

Threat Summary:

Name	TotalSystemCare potentially unwanted application
Threat Type	PUP (potentially unwanted program), PUA (potentially unwanted application).
Symptoms	A program that you do not recall installing suddenly appeared on your computer. New application is performing computer scans and displays warning messages about found 'issues'. Asks for payment to eliminate the supposed errors.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers.
Damage	Monetary loss (unnecessary purchase of fake software), unwanted warning pop-ups, slow computer performance.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are many applications that are similar to Total System Care including, for example, SecureDossier, One Click Booster, and Registry Scanner. PUAs are often presented as 'useful', however, developers promote them using the bundling method, provide no real value, and are installed together with other unwanted apps.

If there are PUAs installed on your system, we recommend that you remove them immediately, since they might cause privacy issues, problems with browsing safety, and so on.

Total System Care potentially unwanted application technical analysis:

• Detection names: Avast (Win32:Malware-gen), Kaspersky (HEUR:Hoax.Win32.DeceptPCClean.gen), ESET-NOD32 (a variant of MSIL/TotalSystemCare.B potentially unwanted)
• Full list of antivirus detections: VirusTotal
• Executable filename: TotalSystemCare-Setup.exe
• Sample last submitted: 2018-05-28

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Many PUAS are promoted by bundling/including them with download or installation set-ups. In summary, developers attempt to trick people into downloading and installing PUAs by hiding them in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. People who download or install software without checking setups, often inadvertently allow other programs (PUAs) to be installed or downloaded. PUAs are also proliferated using deceptive, intrusive advertisements that, once clicked, run scripts designed to download and install unwanted apps.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

We strongly recommend that you download software from legitimate, official websites and using direct links. This does not include various third party software downloaders, torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages, and so on.

Handle each software download and installation with care, do not finish the process without first checking all available "Custom", "Advanced" and other options or settings. Deselect/opt-out of additionally-included (bundled) apps and only then finish the download or installation process.

Furthermore, intrusive ads displayed on dubious pages often cause unwanted redirects to untrustworthy websites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc. Do not click them. If you encounter these ads, or the browser causes unwanted redirects, check for unwanted extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons, and remove them.

The same applies to programs installed on your computer (operating system). If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Screenshot of Total System Care application:

Total System Care installation setup:

Total System Care encouraging users to register the program:

The appearance of Total System Care (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Total System Care?
• STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove malicious plug-ins from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Removal of potentially unwanted applications:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Total System Care" and other suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove rogue extensions from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Total System Care did not install any unwanted browser extensions, however, note that some unwanted applications are installed together with adware and browser hijackers. If you experience unwanted ads or redirects when browsing the internet, continue with the removal guide below.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the totalsystemcare potentially unwanted application, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the totalsystemcare potentially unwanted application, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with totalsystemcare potentially unwanted application removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the totalsystemcare potentially unwanted application, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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