Advanced PC Shield 2012

What is Advanced PC Shield 2012?

Advanced PC Shield 2012 is a fake computer security scanner - a bogus program derived from the same family of misleading programs as Windows XP Antivirus 2012, Windows Vista Internet Security 2012, and many others. It is an updated version of a previously widespread form of spyware.

Advanced PC Shield 2012 is a fake program distributed by various misleading websites and controlled by Internet criminals.

Your computer might be infected with this bogus program by downloading video codecs from non legitimate sources. Another common way of propagating fake programs such as this is by displaying fake security scans directly in your browser.

Do not trust online security scans, since these processes will often install a fake program such as Advanced PC Shield 2012 onto your computer. To further trick you into believing that Advanced PC Shield 2012 is a legitimate program, you will be presented with a fake window of Windows Security Center encouraging you to purchase this program in order to protect your computer.

Ignore the security scans displayed by this software, since they do not actually scan your computer - this process is merely imitated to make you believe that your computer is highly infected with malware. This program mimics the detection of spyware on your computer, and you should not try to remove the 'detected' files manually.

If you do, you may be unable to boot your operating system. Ignore the pop-up messages displayed by Advanced PC Shield 2012 and use this removal guide to remove it from your computer immediately.

The following security warning messages are displayed by Advanced PC Shield 2012:

"Tracking software found! Your PC activity is being monitored. Possible spyware infection. Your data security may be compromised. Sensitive data may be stolen. Prevent damage now by completing a security scan."

"Severe system damage! Spyware and viruses detected in the background. Sensitive system components under attack! Data loss, identity theft and system corruption are possible. Act now, click here for a free security scan."

"Virus infection! System security was found to be compromised. Your computer is now infected. Attention, irreversible changes may occur. Private data may be stolen. Click here now for an instant anti-virus scan."

"Application has been attacked with the virus! Advanced PC Shield 2012 detect 'GMER' corrupted by 'Backdoor.Destroy' Click here for immediate security scan."

Do not trust this program, it is fake security software. Use this removal guide to completely remove Advanced PC Shield 2012 from your computer.

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Quick menu:

• What is Advanced PC Shield 2012?
• STEP 1. Remove Advanced PC Shield 2012 using a registration key.
• STEP 2. Remove Advanced PC Shield 2012 manually by deleting files and registry entries.
• STEP 3. Remove Advanced PC Shield 2012 using Safe Mode with Networking.

Automatic Advanced PC Shield 2012 virus removal:

IMPORTANT! Before downloading: Click the "Registration" button located on the top right corner of the Advanced PC Shield 2012 program window, and when registration window opens, enter this  registration key: 8945315-6548431 in the "Reg key" field and click "Activate":

If the installation of the spyware remover fails, or you cannot open the .exe files, you can try our Customized installer, developed by our technicians to bypass spyware infections and install removers regardless. This is a DOS program, that most of spyware does not block.

If You Cannot open your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera):

Advanced PC Shield 2012 is difficult to remove, since it hijacks web browsers, modifies registry settings, and disables execution of programs. For these cases, our developers designed a custom installer useful when you cannot browse the Internet or execute .exe files.

It starts like an MS-Dos program, runs some registry fixes, and then initiates execution of the installer. This installer has been tested on the Windows 7, Windows Vista, and XP operating systems infected with the most common spyware infections.

To use this installer, click the Windows logo button (Start)

In the Search field, enter this link:  www.pcrisk.com/installer.com and then press ENTER.
Advanced PC Shield will generate a fake warning after pressing ENTER. Please ignore it and click "No, stay unprotected..." on this message.

File download dialogue will appear reporting that you are downloading the file, installer.com. Click Run, wait for download to finish, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Windows may warn you that opening unknown files may be unsafe. Please ignore these warnings.

If your browser works, you can use this button to download the customized installer

Manual Advanced PC Shield 2012 removal instructions

Some spyware can block the downloading of spyware removers. If you cannot download it using the default location, try one of the alternative download locations below:

• Location 1 (the file is renamed to "iexplore.exe", since most spyware does not block this file)
• Location 2

If installation of the remover fails, please  try downloading the customized installer, developed by our technicians to bypass spyware infections. Download customized installer

If you still cannot download or run the spyware removing software, please perform these steps:

Step 1
Download the registry fix for Advanced PC Shield 2012 malware. This fix removes registry entries that disallow execution of programs in some variants of this spyware.

To download it, click the link below. After downloading, double click the win7_av_fix.reg file, click Yes when asked, and then click OK.

Step 2
Some variants of this spyware modify system proxy settings, disabling Internet access or performing website address redirection to malicious or phishing websites. To reset proxy settings to the default, download and run this tool:

Step 3
Advanced PC Shield 2012 modifies the system Hosts file. This file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses.

When it is changed, the user may be redirected to malicious sites, despite observing legitimate URLs in address bar. When the Hosts file is modified, it is difficult to determine whether the site is genuine. To fix this, please download the Microsoft FixIt tool, that restores your Hosts file to the Windows default.

Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. The download link is below:

Step 4
That's It! You can now try to download the Spyware remover or install and run it if already downloaded.

Advanced PC Shield 2012 virus manual removal instructions (advanced users):

If you are unable to remove Advanced PC Shield 2012, you can use these manual removal instructions. Use them at your own risk, since if you do not have strong computer knowledge, you could harm your operating system.

Use them only if you are an experienced computer user. (Instructions on how to end processes, remove registry entries...)

1. Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK.

During your computer starting process press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Here is a video demonstrating how to start Windows in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows XP users:

Windows Vista / 7 users:

Windows 8 users:

2. Download the registry fix file. After saving the file to your desktop, double click fix.reg and then click YES to confirm.

3. Open Internet Explorer, click Tools and select Internet Options. Select "Connections".

 

 

4.Click LAN settings, if 'Use a proxy server for your LAN' is checked, uncheck it and press OK.

 

 

 

 

End these Advanced PC Shield 2012 processes:

[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe

Remove these Advanced PC Shield 2012 registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe “(Default)” = ‘exefile’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe “Content Type” = ‘application/x-msdownload’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\DefaultIcon “(Default)” = ‘%1? = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%1? %*’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command “IsolatedCommand” = ‘”%1? %*’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\runas\command “(Default)” = ‘”%1? %*’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\runas\command “IsolatedCommand” – ‘”%1? %*’
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%1? %*’
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%1? %*’
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe”‘
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%Program Files%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe” -safe-mode’
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%Program Files%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe”‘
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command “IsolatedCommand” = ‘”%1? %*’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command “(Default)” = ‘”%1? %*’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command “IsolatedCommand” = ‘”%1? %*’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile “(Default)” = ‘Application’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile “Content Type” = ‘application/x-msdownload’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\DefaultIcon “(Default)” = ‘%1?
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = ‘”%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random].exe” /START “%1? %*’

Delete these Advanced PC Shield 2012 files:

%System%\drivers\.sys
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Buy Advanced PC Shield 2012.lnk
%LocalAppData%\.exe
%StartMenu%\Programs\Advanced PC Shield 2012\
%StartMenu%\Programs\Advanced PC Shield 2012\Buy Advanced PC Shield 2012.lnk
%StartMenu%\Programs\Advanced PC Shield 2012\Launch Advanced PC Shield 2012.lnk

5. Download Recommended Spyware Remover or other tool to fully remove Advanced PC Shield 2012  from your computer.

Other tools known to remove Advanced PC Shield 2012:

• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Summary:

The fake antivirus programs (also known as "rogue antivirus programs" or "scareware") are applications that tries to lure computer users into paying for their non-existent full versions to remove the supposedly detected security infections (although the computer is actually clean). These bogus programs are created by cyber criminals who design them to look as legitimate antivirus software. Most commonly rogue antivirus programs infiltrate user's computer using poop-up windows or alerts which appear when users surf the Internet. These deceptive messages trick users into downloading a rogue antivirus program on their computers. Other known tactics used to spread scareware include exploit kits, infected email messages, online ad networks, drive-by downloads, or even direct calls to user's offering free support.

A computer that is infected with a fake antivirus program might also have other malware installed on it as rogue antivirus programs often are bundled with Trojans and exploit kits. Noteworthy that additional malware that infiltrates user's operating system remains on victim's computer regardless of whether a payment for a non-existent full version of a fake antivirus program is made. Here are some examples of fake security warning messages that are used in fake antivirus distribution:

Computer users who are dealing with a rogue security software shouldn't buy it's full version. By paying for a license key of a fake antivirus program users would send their money and banking information to cyber criminals. Users who have already entered their credit card number (or other sensitive information) when asked by such bogus software should inform their credit card company that they have been tricked into buying a rogue security software. Screenshot of a web page used to lure computer users into paying for a non-existent full version of advanced pc shield 2012 rogue and other rogue antivirus programs:

To protect your computer from advanced pc shield 2012 rogue and other rogue antivirus programs users should:

• Keep their operating system and all of the installed programs up-to-date.
• Use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
• Use caution when clicking on links in social networking websites and email messages.
• Don't trust online pop-up messages which state that your computer is infected and offers you to download security software.

Symptoms indicating that your operating system is infected with a fake antivirus program:

• Intrusive security warning pop-up messages.
• Alerts asking to upgrade to a paid version of a program to remove the supposedly detected malware.
• Slow computer performance.
• Disabled Windows updates.
• Blocked Task Manager.
• Blocked Internet browsers or inability to visit legitimate antivirus vendor websites.

If you have additional information on advanced pc shield 2012 rogue or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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