PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro

Short bio

PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro is Malwarebytes’ detection name for system optimizer aimed at Windows systems called PC Accelerate Pro.

Symptoms

Users of affected systems may see popups like these:

and they may notice this entry in their list of installed Programs and Features:

Type and source of infection

PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro is a system optimizer. These so-called “system optimizers” use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems.
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro is usually installed by users themselves under false pretences.

Protection

Malwarebytes protects users from PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro by using real-time protect

Malwarbytes blocks PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro

Remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro without further user interaction.

Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
Click on the Get started button.
Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
Click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Malwarebytes removal log

A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 7/21/2016
Scan Time: 9:04 AM
Logfile: mbamPCaccelerate.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.1.1043
Malware Database: v2016.07.20.11
Rootkit Database: v2016.05.27.01
License: Premium
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Enabled
Self-protection: Enabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 315615
Time Elapsed: 9 min, 12 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 2
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.exe, 3792, Delete-on-Reboot, [a8a3091d2c6ed3637c7edb079c65f40c]
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\InstantSupport.exe, 1492, Delete-on-Reboot, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36]

Modules: 2
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\BrowserUtils.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\Scanner.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 

Registry Keys: 8
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{48DED1A6-4444-43bA-AD0E-A9CEA7A51A5E}, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\InstantSupport, Quarantined, [3615ae78287261d53d414b8c18eb5aa6], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\PCAcceleratePro, Quarantined, [183347df613985b191f5a63159aaed13], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, HKCU\SOFTWARE\InSTab, Quarantined, [3219cc5a5248122422a343b93fc4f50b], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKCU\SOFTWARE\PCAcceleratePro, Quarantined, [24271610613931054939b027d72c54ac], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKCU\SOFTWARE\ACPTAB, Quarantined, [f952e83ea5f5a19514476c91b2510bf5], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, HKCU\SOFTWARE\INSTANTSUPPORT, Quarantined, [1e2d32f4801a3ef84d0732af4eb53bc5], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PCAcceleratePro & Instant support, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 

Registry Values: 5
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|PCAcceleratePro, "C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.exe" -startup, Quarantined, [a8a3091d2c6ed3637c7edb079c65f40c]
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|InstantSupport, "C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\InstantSupport.exe" -startup, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36]
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKCU\SOFTWARE\ACPTAB|hb, 1, Quarantined, [f952e83ea5f5a19514476c91b2510bf5]
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, HKCU\SOFTWARE\INSTANTSUPPORT|Assistent, 0, Quarantined, [1e2d32f4801a3ef84d0732af4eb53bc5]
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN\FEATURECONTROL\FEATURE_BROWSER_EMULATION|PCAcceleratePro.exe, 8888, Quarantined, [76d50c1aa6f437ff299e22c1a65dc739]

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 10
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\InstantSupport, Quarantined, [e16adc4a9a00c670aebe99294ab931cf], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport, Delete-on-Reboot, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\languages, Delete-on-Reboot, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\InstantSupport, Quarantined, [3f0c66c003973600501b14afc33f34cc], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro, Delete-on-Reboot, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro\database, Quarantined, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCAcceleratePro, Quarantined, [3f0c23035446cc6a99d34c7705fddd23], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro, Delete-on-Reboot, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\languages, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PCAcceleratePro, Quarantined, [400b41e5f8a2eb4b91de348f19e9d52b], 

Files: 43
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [a8a3091d2c6ed3637c7edb079c65f40c], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\pcinst.exe, Quarantined, [83c8b47274268caa8b6f4b97a06117e9], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\InstantSupport\InstantSupport.cfg, Quarantined, [e16adc4a9a00c670aebe99294ab931cf], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Instant Support.lnk, Quarantined, [68e32ef8c2d84fe785e8e4de4fb44cb4], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\1.txt, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\helper.exe, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\InstantSupport.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\InstantSupport64.dll, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\languages\english.lng, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\languages\russian.lng, Quarantined, [ee5d9e88d0ca0a2ca6c8af13689bca36], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Users\Public\Desktop\PCAcceleratePro.lnk, Quarantined, [f4579b8bfb9f6dc9bbc65e79758e41bf], 
PUP.Optional.InstantSupport, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\InstantSupport\Instant Support.lnk, Quarantined, [3f0c66c003973600501b14afc33f34cc], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro\dwsm.dat, Quarantined, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro\PCAccelerateProUpdater.conf, Quarantined, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro\RPCAcceleratePro.conf, Quarantined, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro\wsm.dat, Quarantined, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro\database\mirrors.dat, Quarantined, [2e1d65c11b7f84b298d4dde6d1319a66], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.cfg, Quarantined, [3f0c23035446cc6a99d34c7705fddd23], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\libeay32.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\1.txt, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\ap.ico, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\BrowserUtils.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\data, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\driverhelper.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\driverhelper64.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\DriverInstallTool.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\DriverInstallToolx64.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\helper.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\ISSetup.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\libav.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\libssl32.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\libunrar.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\libunrar_iface.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\msvcp110.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\msvcr110.dll, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAccelerateProAS.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAccelerateProUpdater.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\RPCAcceleratePro.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\Scanner.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\languages\english.lng, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\languages\russian.lng, Quarantined, [242784a223775cda8edf8e35857d29d7], 
PUP.Optional.PCAcceleratePro, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.lnk, Quarantined, [400b41e5f8a2eb4b91de348f19e9d52b], 

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

Open Malwarebytes for Windows.
Click the Detection History
Click the Allow List
To add an item to the Allow List, click Add.
Select the exclusion type Allow a file or folder and use the Select a folder button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
Repeat this for any secondary files or folder(s) that belong to the software.

If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, also add an exclusion of the type Allow an application to connect to the internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.

Traces/IOCs

You may see these entries in FRST logs:

(Installer Technology) C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.exe
 (Installer Technology) C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\InstantSupport.exe
 HKLM-x32\...\Run: [PCAcceleratePro] => C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\PCAcceleratePro.exe [8184128 2016-07-15] (Installer Technology)
 HKLM-x32\...\Run: [InstantSupport] => C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport\InstantSupport.exe [5225792 2016-07-15] (Installer Technology)
 C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Instant Support.lnk
 C:\Users\Public\Desktop\PCAcceleratePro.lnk
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\PCAcceleratePro
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\InstantSupport
 C:\ProgramData\PCAcceleratePro
 C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PCAcceleratePro
 C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\InstantSupport
 C:\Program Files (x86)\InstantSupport
 C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro

PCAcceleratePro & Instant support (HKLM-x32\...\PCAcceleratePro & Instant support) (Version: 1.0.23.2 - Installer Technology)
() C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\Scanner.dll
() C:\Program Files (x86)\PCAcceleratePro\BrowserUtils.dll