PC App Store Adware

What is PC App Store?

PC App Store is a deceptive application claiming to keep installed software up-to-date. This functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, this program is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

The developers of this rogue app employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of third party applications together with the chosen software) to install PC App Store without users' consent.

After infiltration, PC App Store generates pop-ups that offer various software updates, however, the update process includes installation of additional programs (mostly adware) that are usually hidden under the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options. Therefore, accepting these updates exposes your system to risk of infection.

Many adware-type applications claim to provide various useful features and yet none deliver any real value. For instance, ShoppinGate, Coupons Vault, SmartWallet, and Shopzy claim to save time and money while shopping online, however, they often redirect to rogue websites, display intrusive advertisements, and gather various Internet browsing-related information.

The type of collected data usually includes geolocations, language settings, operating system and browser types (including data: websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, cookies, web beacons, and history). In addition, many advertisements are generated such as banners, pop-ups, coupon, and in-text ads.

Be aware that these displayed ads often redirect to bogus websites containing infectious content and the collected data (which may be personally identifiable) is shared with third parties. Therefore, having adware-type applications installed on your system can lead to further high-risk computer infections and/or serious privacy issues.

Although PC App Store is not technically a virus or malware, it is used to distribute rogue applications, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall this application from your system.

Research shows that most adware is distributed using small 'download programs' (also called 'download clients', 'download managers', 'installers', and so on) on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, softonic.com, downloads.com, and many others.

Download programs are used by these websites' as free services and traffic monetization tools, since they offer installation of additional programs together with the chosen software. According to the developers, these promoted apps are 'legitimate and virus-free', however, reckless download and installation of freeware risks system infection with adware or malware.

This situation can be avoided by closely analysing each step of the free software download procedure and ensuring that no additional applications are included.

Furthermore, downloaded software should be installed with the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any hidden apps listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you have installed PC App Store, the following removal guide will help you to eliminate this PUP from your system.

Deceptive free software installer used in PC App Store adware distribution:

Deceptive software update offer displayed by PC App Store adware:

Deceptive software download/update installers that include third party applications:

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Quick menu:

• What is PC App Store?
• STEP 1. Uninstall PC App Store application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove PC App Store related adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove PC App Store related adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove adware from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove unwanted extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

PC App Store adware removal:

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 "PC App Store", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes intrusive online ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove PC App Store adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, PC App Store did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

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 pc app store pup, 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 "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the pc app store pup, 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with pc app store pup 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 pc app store pup, 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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