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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • System tools
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Oct 2020

How to remove PC Accelerator

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

Ugnius Kiguolis · The mastermind

PC Accelerator is a doubtful Windows optimization tool that can display bogus scan results

PC Accelerator scan result

PC Accelerator is a Windows optimization utility developed by Software Marketing Ltd. It has an active download website PC-Accelerator.com, though it has recently been found spreading bundled with other freeware. Due to this founding and some questionable activities that it performs on the system, cybersecurity experts from viruset.no[1] and other reputable security vendors included PC Accelerator to the list of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).[2] 

Name PC Accelerator
Developer Software Marketing Ltd
Classification PUP
Danger level Low. It's more irritating and useless than dangerous
Distribution Software bundling
Distinctive features Regular system scans, pop-up alerts reporting multiple system's problems
Removal method The quickest way to eliminate the whole package of PC Accelerator is to run a scan with FortectIntego

PC Accelerator virus promises to address Windows errors, eliminate junk files, protect the system from crashes, update drivers automatically, and ensure steady performance. The whole pack of functions is not free of charge. People can install only a free trial version for free, which will examine the system but won’t fix or improve anything. The full version of this app costs €39,95, which would be a proper sum of money for a reliable optimization program. However, PC Accelerator’s reliability is highly questionable.

The increasing number of threads where people complain about its performance and ask for help to remove PC Accelerator from Windows 10 and other OS versions prompted experts to test the tool. It has been found that this optimizer performs its tasks as scareware.[3] 

If you are not familiar with the term, scareware is a rogue tool, which seeks to trick its users into believing that the system needs serious maintenance and the urge to purchase a license of a tool. PC Accelerator virus is that kind of app. As soon as its free trial version is installed, it launches its scanner and provides a report. Typically, it lists hundreds or even thousands of files, registry entries, and app as problematic and indicates numerous errors.

Keep in mind that most of the content indicated in the report are the names of randomly chosen system’s files. That’s a catch used to foist paid version of the optimizer. It will not improve the system in a significant way. However, it will stop the regular system’s scanners and exaggerated scan results.

Even if you did not install the PC Accelerator purposely, but it started scanning the system out of nowhere, it’s a clear sign that you have recently installed a freeware bundle. This dubious application is currently spreading like a “recommended attachment” or various free apps.

PC Accelerator PUP displays untrustworthy scan results

Experts recommend people to remove PC Accelerator virus not because it’s malicious. Naming it a virus is not the right term to use because the tool cannot harm the system. All it can do is to take up free space on your PC and pretend to be optimizing the system.

It is possible to remove PC Accelerator in two ways. You can get rid of it manually by following the manual removal tutorial at the end of this article. However, a much easier way to eliminate PC Accelerator is to run a scan with anti-malware tool, and remove virus damage with FortectIntego.

PC optimizers distributed by Bundling are classified as PUPs

The main reason why legitimate apps fall for the international classification of PUPs is distribution via freeware. Attached as optional downloads and disguised under Quick or Basic installation options, unwanted apps manage to infiltrate the system without being noticed.

This doubtful optimization utility has been revealed spreading by bundling either. Once installed, it initiates the system’s scans and urges people to pay for the license. To prevent such and similar installers, you should be cautious when installing free apps. Here’s a couple of tips you should keep in mind:

  • Select freeware download source carefully;
  • Initiate research about a freeware before downloading it;
  • Select Advanced or Custom installation option;
  • Read Privacy Policy and License Terms carefully;
  • Check each window disclosed on the installation wizard;
  • Opt out of “recommended downloads” that are pre-checked by default.

A guide on how to remove PC Accelerator from Windows

PC Accelerator removal can be initiated in a standard way, i.e., via Control Panel. Usually, it provides an official uninstaller, so launching it should be enough to uninstall the PUP completely.

However, if it was installed by bundling, it might not be the only PUP installed on your PC in a stealthy manner. To check that and eliminate all unwanted programs and their components, we would recommend you to remove PC Accelerator with the help of anti-malware.

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.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

If this app has been installed along with a bunch of other apps that corrupted your web browser, you can use the following instructions explaining how to restore the previous browser's settings.

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