How to remove Windows Cleaning Toolkit (Virus Removal Guide)
Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus
The Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus (also found as Windows Cleaning Toolkit PRO, Windows Cleaning Toolkit Ultimate, WindowsCleaningToolkit) is dangerous malware categorized as scareware and spyware (or rogue software) that is reported to install to a computer system without user consent and cause many complications relating to the invasion of privacy and cyber crimes including credit theft, extortion, and identity theft.
The Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus may also cause other issues for computer and internet users concerning the loss of computer functionality as Windows Cleaning Toolkit is essentially considered a rogue Microsoft Windows Anti-Malware or Antivirus program. Windows Cleaning Toolkit performs fake registry and system scans concluding in fraudulent scan results that claim a numerical amount of errors or issues are found in order to scare victims into purchasing or activating to Windows Cleaning Toolkit ultimate protection. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT.
Once Windows Cleaning Toolkit is installed, to protect it’s self from being eradicated the fake Windows Cleaning Toolkit program will terminate legitimate programs used to remove it and block access to legitimate and helpful websites. It does this by displaying an alert message that claims the program has become infected with a computer virus or that the website visited is under a virus attack and may crash your system and that the legitimate program has been blocked from accessing the internet. An example of these message is detailed below:
Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe is suspected to have infected your PC. This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.
The fake program also displays messages that claim the computer is infected or faces security issues. The messages displayed by the fake Windows Cleaning Toolkit software should be ignored as they are fraudulent. These fake messages are meant to scare computer users into activating the fake Windows Cleaning Toolkit Ultimate package.
Error Trojan activity detected. System data security is at risk. It is recommended to activate protection and run a full system scan. Torrent Alert Recommended: Please use secure encrypted protocol for torrent links. Torrent link detected! Receiving this notification means that you have violated: - the copyright laws. Using Torrent for downloading movies and licensed software shall be prosecuted and you may be sued for cybercrime and break of law under the SOPA legislation.
The Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus may also install third-party software including Conduit Toolbar and other items. The third-party items are often attached to internet browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer as a browser add-on, browser helper object (BHO), and extension and are used to change existing internet browser settings. In turn this causes affected internet browsers to start up on and redirect to unwanted websites.
The Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus and similar rogue software raise many privacy concerns and are often categorized as spyware. Some reports indicate that Windows Cleaning Toolkit and associated parties may include users to marketing and mailing lists without user consent. Some users have reported unwanted email spam, junk mail, and even telephone calls from telemarketers concerning their recent computing and browsing activity.
Some may refer to this software as the Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus due to the deceptive marketing tactics used by the developer and distributors; however, this program is not technically a computer virus.
How does the Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus get onto a computer?
Windows Cleaning Toolkit can be manually and voluntarily downloaded from a variety of malicious locations; However, Windows Cleaning Toolkit malware is known to install to a computer system without user consent and will often bundle with third-party downloadable content such as freeware, shareware, codecs, and torrents.
Windows Cleaning Toolkit malware and related items may also download to a computer without user authorization via malicious advertisements, email spam, and compromised social media content. The fake Windows Cleaning Toolkit software is often present in exploit kits hidden on malicious websites.
Remove Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus
Remove Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus- Automatically remove Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus – Scan for and automatically remove rogue Windows Cleaning Toolkit software
- Manually remove Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus – Remove/Uninstall Windows Cleaning Toolkit and third-party malware if allowed
1. Auto Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus removal
Use the instructions below to automatically remove Windows Cleaning Toolkit scareware and third-party malware.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes is a legitimate Anti-Malware product.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, make sure to do so.
3. On the first tab labeled “Scanner” select the Perform full scan option and click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting the computer system.
4. Once the malware scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a notice stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected) or click the Delete button to remove quarantined files.
CCleaner
CCleaner can be used to automatically repair internet browser settings startup up settings, and uninstall stubborn and possibly rogue Windows Cleaning Toolkit software.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform.
2. Once installed, open the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Something to look for might include the title “Windows Toolkit.”
4. To automatically uninstall rogue Windows Cleaning Toolkit software and unwanted programs, navigate to the Uninstall tab and located software in the list of installed programs. Uninstall the programs as selected.
2. Manual Windows Cleaning Toolkit virus removal
Use the instructions below to manually uninstall Windows Cleaning Toolkit software using generic removal procedures (if allowed), as well as third-party malware that may have installed alongside rogue Windows optimization software.
How to uninstall Windows Cleaning Toolkit
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.
3. In the list of installed programs, search for Windows Cleaning Toolkit and other potentially unwanted software. Once located, double click the unwanted programs or highlight them in the list and click the Uninstall button.
