How to remove WinPC Defender (Uninstall instructions)

WinPC Defender is a rogue antispyware program, brother of the rogue named XP Police Antivirus . Like other rogue antispyware programs, it is distributed through the use trojans. Once infected with these trojans your computer will display large amount of security alerts that tells you that your computer is infected and you should download and install WinPC Defender in order to protect your computer.

WinPC Defender (more screen shoots: 1, 2)

During installation, WinPC Defender configures itself to run automatically every time, when you start your computer. Once running, WinPC Defender will scan your computer and reports false or exaggerated system security threats on the PC to trick you to buy the paid version of the rogue, in order to remove the potential and reported threats.

While the Win PC Defender is running you may see false security alerts such as the following.

Trojan Detected!
A piece of malicious code was found in your system which can replicate itself if no action is taken. Click here to have your system cleaned by Win PC Defender.

Firewall Warning
Hidden file transfer to remote host was detected.

Also WinPC Defender will hijack Internet Explorer and randomly shows a “Insecure Internet Activity” warning page, instead of the site you are trying to browse to. These alerts and warnings are a fake and should be ignored! Use the free instructions below to remove WinPC Defender and any associated malware from your computer.

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log

O2 – BHO: IEocx Class – {96ad72e4-2e2b-4ffc-a5bb-279c2714af12} – C:\WINDOWS\ieocx.dll
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [sysav] %UserProfile%\Application Data\pcdefender.exe

Use the following instructions to remove WinPC Defender

1. Remove WinPC Defender registry entries and files.

• Download Avenger from here and unzip to your desktop.
• Run Avenger, copy,then paste the following text in Input script Box:

  Registry keys to delete:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{96ad72e4-2e2b-4ffc-a5bb-279c2714af12}

  Registry values to delete:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run | Content

  Files to delete:
%windir%\ieocx.dll
%UserProfile%\Application Data\pcdefender.exe

  Then click on ‘Execute’.

• You will be asked Are you sure you want to execute the current script?. Click Yes.
• You will now be asked First step completed — The Avenger has been successfully set up to run on next boot. Reboot now?. Click Yes.
• Your PC will now be rebooted.

2. Remove WinPC Defender associated malware.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Close all programs and Windows on your computer.

Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.

If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

Once the program has loaded you will see window similar to the one below.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window

Select “Perform Quick Scan”, then click Scan. The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.

When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items

Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.
Note: If you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.

WinPC Defender creates the following files and folders.

%UserProfile%\Application Data\pcdefender.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\WinPC Defender.LNK
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\WinPC Defender.LNK
c:\WINDOWS\ieocx.dll