PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

Short bio

PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a system optimizer called PC SpeedCAT.

GUI PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

The GUI of PC SpeedCAT

Symptoms

Users may notice this entry in their list of installed programs and features:

PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat installed

PC SpeedCAT installed

They may see these icons in their startmenu, the taskbar and on their desktop:

icons PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

icons PC SpeedCAT

PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat uses a multitude of Scheduled Task to gain persistence:

Scheduled Tasks PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

Scheduled Tasks PC SpeedCAT

Users will see a notice like this one once they decide they want to fix the found problems:

PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat buy to fix

PC SpeedCAT buy to fix

Type and source of infection

System optimizers use intentional false positives or exxagerated results to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems.
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat is usually installed by users as a result of aggressive advertising and under false pretences.

install PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

install instructions on the PC SpeedCAT website

Protection

Malwarebytes protects users from PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat by using real-time protection.

block PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

Malwarebytes blocks PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat

and by blocking access to their domain:

block pcspeedcat.com

Malwarebytes blocks pcspeedcat.com

Remediation

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

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

Malwarebytes removal log

A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 9/4/18
Scan Time: 9:37 AM
Log File: 5bce62ab-b015-11e8-9ba1-00ffdcc6fdfc.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.5.1.2522
Components Version: 1.0.391
Update Package Version: 1.0.6635
License: Premium

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

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 251839
Threats Detected: 66
Threats Quarantined: 66
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 33 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Module: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Key: 17
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LG_DailyTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{2EB28B39-AD74-42EB-B354-49B69D35158F}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\PLAIN\{2EB28B39-AD74-42EB-B354-49B69D35158F}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LogonTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{25221DC8-AFDB-455F-A923-9CF374ABE329}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\LOGON\{25221DC8-AFDB-455F-A923-9CF374ABE329}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_DailyTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{7C845A7B-D799-4112-916E-23C1B782B09D}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\PLAIN\{7C845A7B-D799-4112-916E-23C1B782B09D}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_WeeklyTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{C526BFF2-A994-4F38-B6E4-14FF3B98DE81}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\PLAIN\{C526BFF2-A994-4F38-B6E4-14FF3B98DE81}, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\PCAT_SPCTAPP@RUNNER, Quarantined, [1466], [336649],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{ACC08640-6432-4FEB-96A5-C98010DF90B0}, Quarantined, [1466], [336649],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\PLAIN\{ACC08640-6432-4FEB-96A5-C98010DF90B0}, Quarantined, [1466], [336649],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\PCSpeedCat_is1, Quarantined, [1466], [336651],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\SPEEDCAT\PCSpeedCat, Quarantined, [1466], [336652],1.0.6635

Registry Value: 5
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{25221DC8-AFDB-455F-A923-9CF374ABE329}|PATH, Quarantined, [1466], [382507],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{2EB28B39-AD74-42EB-B354-49B69D35158F}|PATH, Quarantined, [1466], [382507],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{7C845A7B-D799-4112-916E-23C1B782B09D}|PATH, Quarantined, [1466], [382507],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{ACC08640-6432-4FEB-96A5-C98010DF90B0}|PATH, Quarantined, [1466], [382502],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{C526BFF2-A994-4F38-B6E4-14FF3B98DE81}|PATH, Quarantined, [1466], [382507],1.0.6635

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 8
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\Registry\2018-09-04_09_36_16.412, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\NetOpt\2018-09-04_09_36_16.412, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\Registry, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\NetOpt, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\PROGRAMDATA\SPEEDCAT\PCSPEEDCAT, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\SPEEDCAT\PC SPEEDCAT, Quarantined, [1466], [336643],1.0.6635

File: 36
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LG_DailyTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LogonTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_DailyTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_WeeklyTask, Quarantined, [1466], [336647],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\NetOpt\2018-09-04_09_36_16.412\{accfd266-dd55-44bd-a25a-a209b5b2774f}.dat, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\Registry\2018-09-04_09_36_16.412\{accfd266-dd55-44bd-a25a-a209b5b2774f}.reg, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\cfg.dat, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\firstscan.dat, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\previousissues.dat, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\systemInfo.dat, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\ApplicationData\user_session.dat, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\header120.bmp, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\header144.bmp, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\header96.bmp, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\left120.bmp, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\left144.bmp, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\left96.bmp, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcat_en.xml, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcat_en_url.xml, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcat_global-config.xml, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcat_resources.rcc, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcat_resources_en.rcc, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcat_widgets.xml, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\pcspeedcat.zip, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\base\prodGuide.xml, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\payloadSetup-nv.exe, Quarantined, [1466], [336763],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\SPEEDCAT\PC SPEEDCAT\SUPPORT.URL, Quarantined, [1466], [336643],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\SpeedCat\PC SpeedCat\PC SpeedCat.lnk, Quarantined, [1466], [336643],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\SpeedCat\PC SpeedCat\Uninstall PC SpeedCat.lnk, Quarantined, [1466], [336643],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\SpeedCat\PC SpeedCat\Web Help Center.url, Quarantined, [1466], [336643],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\USERS\PUBLIC\DESKTOP\PC SPEEDCAT.LNK, Quarantined, [1466], [336645],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\QUICK LAUNCH\USER PINNED\TASKBAR\PC SPEEDCAT.LNK, Quarantined, [1466], [336646],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\PCAT_SPCTAPP@RUNNER, Quarantined, [1466], [336649],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\SPEEDCAT.SETUP.EXE, Quarantined, [1466], [336653],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\TEMP\IS-AQ2U3.TMP\TEMPORARY\ACAT-SETUPIT-ND.EXE, Quarantined, [1466], [336653],1.0.6635
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\TEMP\IS-AQ2U3.TMP\DOWNLOADED\PAYLOADSETUP.EXE, Quarantined, [1466], [336653],1.0.6635

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 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:

() C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\PCSpeedCat.exe
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_WeeklyTask
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_DailyTask
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LG_DailyTask
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LogonTask
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\PCAT_SPCTApp@Runner
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\PC SpeedCat.lnk
C:\ProgramData\SpeedCat
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\SpeedCat
C:\ProgramData\Errors
C:\ProgramData\DumpFiles
C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCat
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\SpeedCat-Logs

PC SpeedCat (HKLM-x32\...\PCSpeedCat_is1) (Version: 2.1.9 - SpeedCat)
Task: {25221DC8-AFDB-455F-A923-9CF374ABE329} - System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LogonTask => C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\PCSpeedCat.exe [2018-03-20] ()
Task: {2EB28B39-AD74-42EB-B354-49B69D35158F} - System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_LG_DailyTask => C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\PCSpeedCat.exe [2018-03-20] ()
Task: {7C845A7B-D799-4112-916E-23C1B782B09D} - System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_DailyTask => C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\PCSpeedCat.exe [2018-03-20] ()
Task: {ACC08640-6432-4FEB-96A5-C98010DF90B0} - System32\Tasks\PCAT_SPCTApp@Runner => PCSpeedCat.exe
Task: {C526BFF2-A994-4F38-B6E4-14FF3B98DE81} - System32\Tasks\PCAT_{username}_PCSpeedCat_RS_WeeklyTask => C:\Program Files (x86)\SpeedCat\PCSpeedCat\PCSpeedCat.exe [2018-03-20] ()

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