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Pest Detector 4.1

  5th November 2010

Pest Detector 4.1 - More than a Pesky Problem

When your computer takes the time to notify you, via a pop up message, that you've been infected, you probably take the threat pretty seriously, right? What if your computer were wrong, though? More importantly, what if it weren't your computer trying to contact you at all, but a rogue program attempting to convince you to take unnecessary steps? It seems like a frightening scenario, but it happens every day with rogue antispyware software, and Pest Detector 4.1 is just one of the many programs that has the ability to create these kinds of messages on your computer.

Pest Detector 4.1 - A Closer Look

Considered to be rogue antispyware instead of a traditional virus, this program can create a number of different unwanted actions within your computer. You might see lots of security notifications, an inability to open certain programs, and even scans of your computer. We'll look at each of those in more detail in just a moment.

Because this is a rogue security application instead of an actual virus, your current antivirus solution might not solve the problem for you. Antivirus software downloads updates that help to define what the code behind a virus actually looks like. Because the code behind a virus and that behind a rogue security application look very different, your antivirus software simply won't be able to recognize Pest Detector 4.1. A more comprehensive security product is the only type of software that can actually recognize it for what it is.

Many individuals believe purchasing the full version of this software, as you'll be prompted to do, will help to eliminate the problems you may begin noticing on your machine. This, however, is not the case. It's only rogue antispyware, not a solid solution to any problems, and the coding embedded in this program can't truly give you the level of protection you need while you're online.

Looking for the Right Signs

Pest Detector 4.1 can make become fairly obvious, as long as you know what to look for. Here are a few of the most common signs you'll probably notice if this program is installed on your machine.

• Slower Boot Up Process: One of the most common initial signs of this program is a slow boot speed. Because the program can turn on as soon as you flip the switch on your laptop or desktop, things tend to run a bit slower, and what's more is that before you even see your full programs list, you'll probably see a set of false scan results displayed on your screen. It's important to note that you may see these scan results throughout the day on your computer, but they are often the first thing to pop on. Keep in mind that the virus and malware entries on the scan results list can look very realistic and quite frightening, but Pest Detector 4.1 isn't actually finding those results on your machine. You're just seeing what the program wants you to so that you'll purchase the full version.
• In addition to loading as soon as your computer does, Pest Detector 4.1 can also stop other applications from loading on your machine. Many other individuals think this is a result of the program simply consuming too many of the system's resources, but this is hardly the case. The program can actually shut programs down even before they have a chance to begin loading. When this happens, you're likely to see an error message that says something like:

The application [program name].exe was launched successfully but it was forced to shut down due to security reasons.
This happened because the application was infected by a malicious program which might pose a threat for the OS.
It is highly recommended to install the necessary heuristic module and perform a full scan of your computer to exterminate malicious programs from it.

It is very important, however, that you don't purchase the full version of the Pest Detector 4.1 or even delete the application you were trying to run. In most cases, it's not actually infected with anything.

• One final aspect you may notice is the pop up messages your computer continually displays after this program is installed. Keep in mind that the entire goal is to get you to buy the full version, so the program will show you warning messages again and again in an attempt to convince you that Pest Detector 4.1 is the only way to get rid of computer problems. The messages you may see displayed include:

Warning! Running trial version!
The security of your computer has been compromised! Now running trial version of the software! Click here to purchase the full version of the software and get full protection for your PC

Warning! Database updated failed!
Database update failed!
Outdated viruses database are not effective can't guarantee adequate protection and security for your PC! Click here to get the full version of the product and update the database!

Installation History

The chances are very good that the actually installation of this program started with a warning you may have seen while you were browsing online. Most individuals report they saw a Microsoft Security Essentials alert while online, and it suggested they'd been infected with a Trojan. Often it says "Microsoft Security Essentials Alert" in the top left corner of the pop up ad, and just below that is a red bar with the text "Potential Threat Details." You probably also saw a window just beneath that that said "Unknown Win 32/Trojan" was detected on your machine, and its alert level is "Severe." Usually you have the option to "Clean Computer," or "Scan Online," but that only leads to a list of programs that will help you scan your computer. While many of these are legitimate programs, the ones with the links and the text "Free Install" beside them aren't. All of those are clones of Pest Detector 4.1, and they include: Red Cross Antivirus, Peak Protection 2010, AntiSpy Safeguard, and Major Defense Kit. Clicking, naturally, installs the Trojan that leads to this program itself.

Removing Pest Detector 4.1

The safest option you have is to remove Pest Detector 4.1, and there are two basic ways to do it. You can download a reliable antispyware program from a good company. There are many of these online and in stores these days, and two good choices are PC Tool's Spyware Doctor and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Malwarebytes has free malware removal) . No matter which program you choose, though, install it and update it immediately, then scan your machine. It will remove Pest Detector 4.1 and help to protect you in the long run.

Your other option is to manually remove the program by deleting the associated files and registry keys. Even after you've done this, you may still want to scan your computer with a good antispyware program, but if this seems like the best option for you, a list of associated files and registry keys appears at the end of this article. Note that this type of removal can be tough for individuals who haven't done it before, so if you wish, you can email us for more detailed instructions. You will have to remove hidden files and folders too, so it may involve changing some Windows Explorer settings temporarily.

Pest Detector 4.1 is not only annoying, but it can create the potential for security holes on your machine. It's best to delete all traces of the program at your earliest opportunity.

Associated Files and Registry Keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PAV

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnonBadCertRecving" = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnOnPostRedirect" = "0"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "tmp"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce "SelfdelNT"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon "Shell" = "%UserProfile%\Application Data\antispy.exe"

%UserProfile%\Application Data\PAV\

%UserProfile%\Application Data\antispy.exe

%UserProfile%\Application Data\defender.exe

%UserProfile%\Application Data\tmp.exe

%UserProfile%\Application Data\hotfix.exe

%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\[random characters].bat

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\antispy.exe

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\defender.exe

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\tmp.exe

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\hotfix.exe

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