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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • System tools
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Oct 2019

How to remove Universal PC Care

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Julie Splinters · Anti-malware specialist

Universal PC Care is the fake system optimization tool that uses intentional false-positive results stating about problems with the device

Universal PC CareUniversal PC Care is the application promoted on various advertisements and even websites with claims about useful features and convincing optimization functions. Unfortunately, this is nothing but a potentially unwanted tool without any cleanup functions in the first place, but content delivered by the program and possible scenarios can lead to privacy issues.

This bogus Universal PC Care application is designed to convince people that their devices are infected or have any problems, so the victim of this infection is eager to call the technical support number or even purchase the full version of the tool that costs up to $39.95. This amount may be more significant if you decide to call the provided 855-446-9808 (or any other) phone number to get help directly from the alleged technicians because scammers can ask to pay the bigger fee themselves, or the toll-free number costs a fortune later when you get your phone bill.

Your system is not affected by any malware, although scan with Universal PC Care tool claims the opposite. This PUP itself is not malicious or considered a virus because it cannot alter the system folders, corrupt files, or disrupt the performance in any crucial or malicious way. The biggest issue is the PUA distribution that resembles adware-type threats and persistence that is achieved by adding registry entries and other files on the computer. 

Name Universal PC Care
Type Potentially unwanted system tool
Developer PCVARK
Claims Promotional content claims that this tool can clean and optimize your device, remove malware, fix errors and improve the performance
Symptoms The tool shows false-positive results stating about various issues and tries to sell you the licensed version, tricks into calling the support number or even installs other tools directly on the machine
Cost of the full version $39.95
Danger Content claims to offer cleaning functions and optimizing features, but installed full version does nothing instead and can affect the speed even more. Calling the provided number exposes to scammers and leads to privacy issues[1]
Distribution The rogue tool gets promoted and distributed via other freeware installers, unreliable sites, other PUPs related to the developer. Software bundling[2] is the issue related to the distribution of such apps
Elimination You need a real system tool that can run the check on the machine and remove all PUPs, more serious malware, and improve the performance. Try FortectIntego for the job

Universal PC Care is the program that has many copies or even related apps, for example, Universal PC Mechanic that is almost identical. Such rogue tools are addressed by many researchers and software developers as a serious security issue because social engineering that these programs are based on is not that simple or harmless.

Although the Universal PC Care virus is not the proper term used to describe the rogue tool, the virus detection rate shows that 37 AV tools from 69 can indicate the program as malicious. These detection results may vary from file to file that is uploaded to the scanner[3] but, the initial installer file is detected with these names:

  • Win32:Malware-gen;
  • PUA/UniversalPCCare.B;
  • Program.Unwanted.4148;
  • Riskware/DeceptPCClean;
  • Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT;
  • W32.Deceptor.Universalpccare;
  • Trojan.Gen.2.

Universal PC Care, as other PCVARK products, is designed to promote the licensed version of the tool or push other applications. This system optimizer tries to trick you into buying the software un purpose by claiming it can remove those issues presented before you. However, those operations are not possible, and the installed program is nothing but a parasite to your machine. Universal PC Care tool

Choosing sources of your software, programs, and even in-browser applications, is crucial for the security of your device or even privacy. We already mentioned that such programs like this rogue tool Universal PC Care are loaded on the machine without your interference and can install adware without your knowledge too.

Such content associated with ad-supported sites is exposing you to malicious material and can lead to issues with your information gathering, money loss when you pay for the service or tool instead of going for the Universal PC Care removal right away.

If you already clicked on a promotional advertisement or downloaded something from the suspicious source, immediately go online to find a tool that can help to eliminate the threat. You should be sure that you need to remove Universal PC Care once it appears on the screen with a scanning process offering or with results about those issues. FortectIntego can launch the system cleaning process on the machine and help you.

However, you should note that Universal PC Care removal should be followed by additional system scan and cleaning. Since it comes silently and can alter registry, startup preferences, or add content on the PC without your permission, you should go through those places and fix corrupted keys, altered preferences. Manual interference with Windows Registry is not recommended, so we have a few automatic virus termination tips below the article.Universal PC Care virus

System optimizers and other rogue tools have different methods of getting installed

It is unfortunate, but such system tools come without your knowledge and, in most cases, permission. This is because the software bundling method is one of the more common when it comes to potentially unwanted programs. The particular category of system tools that claim to take care of your computer focus on distribution methods that can false the legitimacy and usefulness – official websites.

Since the developer of this application is not new in this industry, the official page looks trustworthy and convincing when all those pop-ups with help offers show up ant the page itself displays all the features and offers to download a free version or purchase a full.

However, such PUPs also can come as additional installation setup parts or pre-packed with freeware you get from the internet. Unfortunately, this behavior is not properly disclosed and when you are not choosing Advanced or Custom options, you automatically allow all that content to get installed on the computer. So always go for Advanced installation options and choose the provider carefully, as extperts[4] always note you to.

Delete the useless Universal PC Care PUP

You should rely on the fact that this is not a Universal PC Care virus, but keeping the tool installed is not valuable. This software is downloaded from the internet, and this happens due to not paying enough attention. However, that also means that other PUPs or files get loaded on the machine during one process.

You need a thorough scan with anti-malware tool, so all the issues can be fixed and malware terminated. Tools like anti-virus applications are the ones that can remove Universal PC Care alongside other programs and corrupted files or associated intruders once and for all.

Even when the PUA affects your device, alters settings, adds new registry keys, and so on, automatic Universal PC Care removal with the anti-malware program can fix all the issues and improve the performance further. Make sure to choose a reliable program and trustworthy source for the freeware.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

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