How to remove SystemOptimizer2008 (Uninstall Instructions)

Posted by Grinler on September 25, 2008 @ 02:14 PM · Views: 1,777

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What this programs does:

SystemOptimizer2008 is a rogue optimization software that display false and exaggerated results as a way to scare you into purchasing the software. This program is advertised through the use of advertisements that pretends to be online scanners that state that your computer is not running as efficiently as it should. It then prompts you to download and install SystemOptimizer2008 to fix your computer. These scanners, though, are just ads and have no way of knowing what is running on your computer and thus can be ignored.

If you decide to download and install SystemOptimizer2008, then the program will start every time your computer is rebooted. Once started, it will scan your computer and state that your computer can run more efficiently if you purchase SystemOptimizer2008 and let it optimize your computer. Not only are the problems it finds false, but the claims that they can be easily fixed by running a program are false as well. In fact, just having SystemOptimizer2008 running on your computer can make your computer slower and run less efficiently.

SystemOptimizer2008 screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 5 images you can view.

This guide will walk you through removing the SystemOptimizer2008 rogue anti-spyware program and any associated malware that may have been installed with it.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

Advanced information:

View SystemOptimizer2008 files.
View SystemOptimizer2008 Registry Information.

Entries for this program found in the Add or Remove Programs control panel:

SystemOptimizer2008 1.1.260.0

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O3 - Toolbar: SystemOptimizer2008 toolbar - {4AD56E6F-7074-41EE-8A40-583C2C76EFCD} - C:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\SCToolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [cwriter] C:\Program Files\Common Files\SystemOptimizer2008\cwriter.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Salestart] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\SystemOptimizer2008\stmon.exe" dm=http://systemoptimizer2008.com ad=http://systemoptimizer2008.com sd=http://logpc.systemoptimizer2008.com/
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SystemOptimizer2008] C:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\main.exe

Guide Updates:

09/25/08 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for SystemOptimizer2008 using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link
   
   


3. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
4. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
5. 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 you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.
   
   
6. MBAM will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main program as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform quick scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for SystemOptimizer2008 related files.
   
   
8. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. When the scan is finished a message box will appear as shown in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the SystemOptimizer2008 removal process.
   
   
10. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
11. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below. Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.
    
    
12. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.
    
    
13. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    

Your computer should now be free of the SystemOptimizer2008 program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:

Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log

Associated SystemOptimizer2008 Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SalesMon
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SalesMon\Data
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008\Data
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008\Data\Abbr
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008\Data\ActivationCode
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008\Data\InstallPath
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008\Data\ProductCode
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SystemOptimizer2008\Data\save2.db
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SystemOptimizer2008 Free
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SystemOptimizer2008 Free\Contact customer support.url
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SystemOptimizer2008 Free\SystemOptimizer2008.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SystemOptimizer2008 Free\Uninstall SystemOptimizer2008.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\SystemOptimizer2008.lnk
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008
c:\Program Files\Common Files\SystemOptimizer2008
c:\Program Files\Common Files\SystemOptimizer2008\cwriter.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\SystemOptimizer2008\stmon.exe
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Activate.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\bnlink.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\lapv.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\License.rtf
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\LowProcess.exe
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\main.exe
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\main.xml
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\pv.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Readme.rtf
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\SCToolbar.dll
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\sqlite3.dll
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\sr.log
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\support.url
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\toolbar.xml
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\unins000.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\unins000.exe
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\up.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\updater.dat
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Microsoft.VC80.CRT
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Microsoft.VC80.CRT\Microsoft.VC80.CRT.manifest
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Microsoft.VC80.CRT\msvcp80.dll
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Microsoft.VC80.CRT\msvcr80.dll
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Microsoft.VC80.MFC\mfc80.dll
c:\Program Files\SystemOptimizer2008\Microsoft.VC80.MFC\Microsoft.VC80.MFC.manifest\

Associated SystemOptimizer2008 Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{4AD56E6F-7074-41EE-8A40-583C2C76EFCD}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{4AD56E6F-7074-41EE-8A40-583C2C76EFCD}\iexplore
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SystemOptimizer2008
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SystemOptimizer2008Downloader
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\{3FC8C143-F2CC-4AB1-9AC0-8B1407302795}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\SCToolbar.DLL
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{4AD56E6F-7074-41EE-8A40-583C2C76EFCD}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\{0B187AB0-4CFF-42DA-9503-A38F6F998214}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SCToolbar.ShellBand
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SCToolbar.ShellBand.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{3FC8C143-F2CC-4AB1-9AC0-8B1407302795}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\U_GSCR_is1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Purchased Products
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SystemOptimizer2008
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform "UGSCR 1.1.260.0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "cwriter"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Salestart"