My.com game center virus (Removal Guide) - Virus Removal Instructions
My.com game center virus Removal Guide
What is My.com game center virus?
My.com game center is an online gaming platform that gets installed on PC bundled with free games
My.com game center is a questionable third-party gaming website that allows access to free-to-play, premium, client, browser-based games, and features a convenient search by genre function. However, this app has been reported by many Steam users for stealthy infiltration via freeware bundles and peer-to-peer[1] services. Therefore, it has been classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP), which may aggressively launch a gamecenter.exe file, insert unwanted extensions on Google Chrome, and promote its service continuously.
My.com game center domain has recently switched to store.my.games and the two can appear on people’s computers interchangeably. My.com game center virus is not a correct reference since the website does not feature malicious traits. While visiting it, no offensive or misleading ads appear no the screen. Nevertheless, based on people’s reports, when installed via bundles it may act in a suspicious way. Trying to play a related game that the user willingly downloaded, the my.com game center pop-up window may show up saying “Updating… Please wait. Do not close the window.”
| Name | My.com game center |
| Classification | Potentially unwanted program (PUP) / malware |
| Related files | gamecenter.exe, store.my.games |
| Distribution | Based on research, this application is typically distributed via peer-to-peer sharing sites, third-party download websites, and games shared on Steam |
| Symptoms | AV engine may flag gamecenter.exe as potentially dangerous, the desktop app for My.com game center is created, the web browser may redirect to the gaming platform and display related advertisements |
| Danger level | This gaming platform is not malicious. However, it may expose visitors to questionable websites or promote dubious software |
| Removal process | The app can be eliminated manually: disable the related process, remove the associated freeware, and get rid of the desktop app via Contol Panel. However, sometimes manual removal fails due to missing uninstaller. In this case, a professional anti-malware might help |
| Fix software | Even though this PUP does not damage the computer on its own, it is capable of initiating setting and registry changes. Therefore, to fix malware damage, use FortectIntego tool |
As we have already pointed out, the website is not malicious. There are no malicious codes on the website, though it cannot be related to phishing, scamming, or data stealing. However, tens of people seek to find out is my.com game center safe to visit[2], especially when it comes to the system after downloading Armored Warfare or other games via Steam. As one of the users explained:
Today I installed Armored Warfare via Steam and my system went straight away in alarm mode after the full install. Malware try to infect my system via there My.com Game Center (not Valves) which runs together with Armored Warfare. I have “Dark Layer” scan on my system to protect my system from being infected. I got 10 red warning all from attempt to infect the Steam gamecenter.exe files to infect of System Idle processes.
It is very likely that Armored Warfare spreads bundled with My.com Game Center virus, but other games or software may also contain its installer under Quick installation option. The main executable of this app is gamecenter.exe, which is not malicious and normally should not be flagged as a virus by AV engines.
However, some AV engines may recognize the mentioned executable file as potentially dangerous as the scrip analysis reveal unusual behavior, for example, an attempt to initiate aggressive advertising campaigns or drop cookies without asking for the user's permission.
Although the discussed platform does not pose direct harm to the system, we will try to explain how to uninstall my.com game center completely as a help for those who installed it unwillingly. Besides, we do not recommend people relying on the content that this platform offers or displays. That's because the app might offer to download and install suspicious games or generate misleading advertisements offering useless or rogue software.
Apart from questionable ads, the My.com Game Center malware can initiate web browsers redirect to its homepage or affiliate websites on a regular basis. The app may be related to the web browser's extensions that might have changed default settings, thus you should also check Chrome or another web browser that you use and disable them. At best, reset web browser's settings to disable both extension and tracking cookies[3] that may be used by My.com launcher for spreading browsing history to third parties.
Now, after clarifying what is my.com game center capable of, we will try to explain how to perform its removal in a proper way. First of all, you should find the mycomgames.exe file in Windows Task Manager and disable it. The original uninstaller can normally be found in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\MyComGames\ folder, but in some cases, malware can get installed on C:\Windows\System32 as well. If you found it, eliminate it from the system. You should do the same with the game or software that was installed along with it.
In case you cannot remove my.com game center virus manually, then we recommend using a reliable anti-malware tool, for example SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. Besides, a full Windows repair is recommended afterward to reset setting changes, delete registry entries, and perform similar optimization tasks. FortectIntego can help in this case.
Potentially unwanted programs are distributed in a deceptive way to trick people into installing them unconsciously
Programs are classified as potentially unwanted because of stealthy infiltration techniques. Sometimes PUPs are disguised in drogue software update ads or hyperlinks that redirect to PUP download websites. However, the vast majority of PUP download cases are registered on freeware sharing websites and peer-to-peer services. The term used to describe PUP distribution is internationally known as bundling.
Software bundling is a deliberate trickery when freeware developers disguise additional downloads (add-ons, extensions, apps) under the Quick or Basic installation setup. Additional programs are pre-checked by default. The checkmark stands for a user's agreement for the installation of “optional components.” If the user fails to remove those checkmarks, unwanted programs that can later display ads, track browsing activities, and initiate whatever tasks they want, are automatically installed.
There are two ways to prevent PUPs from getting installed:
- Do not download free programs;
- Download free programs from reliable sources only and always select Advanced installation setup. Unmark additional downloads before clicking the 'Finish' button.
In addition, it's important to keep anti-malware protection activated. We recommend using a tool that has an in-built real-time protection feature. It may report in advance a malware's attempt to install on your PC without permission.
A guide on how to eliminate my.com game center virus from the system
If you have been tricked to install malware on your PC, now you should remove my.com game center virus with all related programs that it came along with. To help you with the elimination process of this sneaky app, our cybersecurity experts have prepared a step-by-step tutorial that has to be done.
For users who have less experience in malware removal and can find it difficult to look for executable files and other entries, we can give a piece of advice – use a reliable anti-malware program. It will find all potentially dangerous entries and eliminate them successfully.
If you noticed that Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or another web browser that you prefer using redirects to this unwanted gaming platform, you will have to remove my.com game center add-on from the web browser's settings.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of My.com game center virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
The my.com game center removal from Windows is usually not a difficult task to achieve. Please follow this step-by-step guide to do that:
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Eliminate PUPs from your web browser to stop advertising activities.
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Terminate my.com game center virus on Chrome with the help of these instructions.
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of My.com game center registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting malware
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
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- ^ P2P. Tech Terms. Free online dictionary.
- ^ Armored Warfare, malware infected via the My.com Game center. Try to access the Steam Client. Steam Community Forum.
- ^ Dennis Anon. How cookies track you around the web and how to stop them. Privacy. A website explaining how to guard the privacy.