Personal Security is a rogue antispyware program from the same family as widely spread Cyber Security, which is also a fake antispyware program. It is distributed mostly through the use of trojans that may come from fake online malware scanners and misleading websites. When the trojan is downloaded and installed, it will install Personal Security onto computer and will register the fake antispyware in the Windows registry to run automatically when computer starts.
When installed, Personal Security will begin to scan your computer and list a variety of infections that will not be fixed unless you first purchase the program. All of these infections are fake and do not actually exist on your computer, so you can safely ignore them.
While Personal Security is running, you will be shown nag screens, notifications from Windows task bar and other pop-ups. Some of the alerts:
Security Center
Security Center reports that ‘Personal Security’ is inactive.
Antivirus software helps to protect your computer againts
viruses and other security threats. Click here for the
suggested actions. Your system might be at risk now.
Personal Security – vulnerable file(s) found!
Personal Security has identified that some documents nd files can be vulnerable to viruses.
You may lose your personal data and infect other network computers.
Personal Security Alert!
Protect your PC from violent virus attack!
The rogue will also show fake Windows Security Center that will suggest you register Personal Security. Of course, all of these warnings and suggestions are fake and should be ignored!
As you can see, Personal Security is a scam and should be removed from the system as soon as possible. Use these Personal Security removal instructions below in order to remove this infection and any associated malware from your computer for free.
More screen shoots of Personal Security
Symptoms in a HijackThis Log
O2 – BHO: &Security Update – {35A5B43B-CB8A-49CA-A9F4-D3B308D2E3CC} – C:\WINDOWS\system32\win32extension.dll
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [PSecurity] C:\Program Files\PSecurity\psecurity.exe
Use the following instructions to remove Personal Security (Uninstall instructions)
Step 1.
Download Avenger from here and unzip to your desktop.
Run Avenger, copy, then paste the following text in Input script Box:
Drivers to delete:
NDISRD
Registry keys to delete:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{35A5B43B-CB8A-49CA-A9F4-D3B308D2E3CC}
Folders to delete:
%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\PSecurityUninstall
%ProgramFiles%\PSecurity
%ProgramFiles%\PersonalSec
%ProgramFiles%\PersSecurity
Files to delete:
%WinDir%\system32\win32extension.dll
%WinDir%\system32\drivers\NDISRD.sys
%WinDir%\tasks\PersonalSec.job
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.
Step 2.
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, it will start scanning your computer for Personal Security infection. This procedure can take some time, 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. Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items
Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected for start Personal Security removal process. 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.
Personal Security creates the following files and folders
C:\Program Files\Common Files\PSecurityUninstall
C:\Windows\system32\win32extension.dll
C:\Program Files\PSecurity
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\NDISRD.sys
Personal Security creates the following registry keys and values
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{35A5B43B-CB8A-49CA-A9F4-D3B308D2E3CC}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\PSecurity
Rebecca, right click to Avenger.zip and select Extract All.
Hi, i had been infected with this personal security thing too… my desktop icons cant be seen but wallpaper still thereand i cannot actually run any program beside ie, and my computer… i am using windows vista and i tried downloading avanger but the program do not seems like it’s running after the download i unzip but it do not pop out any program basically i cannot uninstall it ! HELP !
Perfect. Thanks so much!
Leo, rename Avenger.exe to myapp.exe and try run it again.
thank youuuuuuuuuuu! BIG HELP!
Aww man.Thx, this was quite a nasuance.Best wishes ^^
I am a bit worried. Should I trust Avenger and Malware Byte?
Fred, you can trust them.
The instructions for removal works!!!! Thanks!!!!
I thought this was just another “catch”. Thank you for the help provided through this webpage!!!!
Thank you!
thanks very much. the pop up came just as i was clicking and unfortunately i pressed install. Gone now thanks to you guys appreciated.
lISTEN i DID DON WANT TO PURCHASE SOME SOFTWARE i DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY BUT COULD NOT GET OUT OF IT. YOU TOOK 29.90 AND THE granosoftshop.COM TOOK OUT 79.90 ON 01/11/2010. i DESPERATELY NEED THESE MONEY BACK THE COMPUTER IS SHOT AND i NEVER ORDERED THIS AND CAN’T GET TO YOU PEOPLE ANY WAY. lISTEN i WAS JUST DIAGNOISED WITH lUKEMKIA AND i NEED ALL THE MONEY i CAN GET. THIS CAused 100.00 of dollars in Over draftd. Will you bPlease reimburse me. Mt Number is 414-331-6884
Please Lois Dominiak I need help where do I go?
Alhamdulillah it is working , i remove it , thank you ,,
lois Dominiak, i can`t help you here, because I do not have any contact with “Personal Security” virus writers.
Thank you Michael D…your solution worked within seconds!!
Avenger is so awesome! Thank you SOOO MUCH!
Same here, I tried numerous times to get rid of the Personal Security software with now luck. Then I read the comment posted by Michael Ditkowsky AND IT WORKED THE FIRST TIME UNDER WITH MY PC UNDER SAFE MODE. Thanks Mike…
1. Open My computer, choose Disk C;
2. Find Program Files=>Common Files=>PSecurityUninstall=>Uninstall
3. Run the file Uninstall.lnk
Dear Friends, thank you for posting the fix for PersSecurity malware. I ran Avenger, followed the instrux, malwarebytes, etc. It worked! I couldn’t be happier. Thank you. ~ Brian D. Baker
Patrik, Recently removed “Security Center” malware from a PC at work. Our users don’t have admin rights. How did this install without admin rights? FYI, “security center” appeared in start menu for all users. Thanks.
AnthonyH, a hardisk of the computer is formatted in NTFS or FAT ?
hi need your help please where do i find input script box. thankyou
“input script box” is the big text area in the Avenger window.
can i remove the personal security with another computer. My internet is not working
gabbywicks, anyway you need download the suggested tools above, then move them to your infected PC using a flash or cd disk, then follow the steps above.
Awesome….truly great !!!!!
it works
n 1 more suggestion from me……incase dis personal security has disabled all ur applications and nuthin is runnin (jus like my case) start in safe mode n do the above process…!!!!
Thanks guys! This worked a treat for me, i will be reccomending your site to everyone i know. I had been trying to remove xp security for 24 hours,to no avail, then came across your great site – what a godsend!
Boy, this Personal Security issue was not fun. It was blocking everything on my desktop, and the ability to download-run programs, access websites, etc to fix the situation. It even blocked my anti-virus security software. I read one of the posts here which suggested the following:
1. Open My computer, choose Disk C;
2. Find Program Files=>Common Files=>PSecurityUninstall=>Uninstall
3. Run the file Uninstall.lnk
To my absolute amazement, and major relief it worked with no issues what so ever. It was like my computer came back to me the way it was before this issue happened within seconds.
Thank you thank you thank you to all who provided this suggestion and feedback!! I am extremely grateful!! If anyone is reading this before they try any steps to remove Personal Security, I highly recommend you trying this first! It will save you a boat load of time!!
I just wanted to add something to my previous post. Initially, before PS blocked my anti-virus security software, I did a full system scan and my security software detected it. I followed their suggestion to clean my computer and it said it was gone. However, PS was still showing up on my computer, and it started really causing problems. I then did the steps I mentioned in my previous post. So not sure if it was a combination of doing both things, or if I could have just done the steps. I guess if it were to happen again I would do both just to be sure.
Thank you Mike Ditkowsky you are the only one to hit it on the head I wasin big trouble til I followed your instructions and Viola off it came and it had me good.