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PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a system optimizer called PC SpeedCAT.
Users may notice this entry in their list of installed programs and features:
They may see these icons in their startmenu, the taskbar and on their desktop:
PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat uses a multitude of Scheduled Task to gain persistence:
Users will see a notice like this one once they decide they want to fix the found problems:
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.
Malwarebytes protects users from PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat by using real-time protection.
and by blocking access to their domain:
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.PCSpeedCat without further user interaction.
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)
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.
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.
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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