Smart PC Care – a fake PC optimization tool that is actively promoting Driver Updater

Smart PC Care is a fake system optimizer published by Connect AB Infoline Private Ltd. Once inside the system, it typically scans the system for errors and then displays hundreds of different issues detected. Its aim is to convince its victim that there is something wrong with the user's computer and that he/she has to buy the full program's version to fix these issues. However, you should never waste your money on Smart PC Care virus as it is a useless tool that will have no impact on your machine's work. The virus can also promote Driver Updater and similar tools that are useless. These two viruses can be installed manually, but in most of the cases, they infiltrate systems via software bundling or with the help of fake ads. In case you start encountering such ads repetitively, check your PC for adware[1].
| Summary | |
| Name | Smart PC Care |
| Type | Fake system optimizer |
| Distribution | Software bundling, fake ads, official website |
| Publisher | Connect AB Infoline Private Ltd |
| Symptoms | Displays continuous scans of the PC, returns bogus results |
| Main dangers | Money loss, installation of other bogus software, e.g. Driver Updater |
| Elimination | To fully delete Smart PC Care, use FortectIntego. Alternatively, you can use manual instructions below |
The truth is, there are hundreds of apps with striking similarities, for example Win PC Repair 2018 or SpeedUp PC 2018. As soon as it gets into your device, it performs a full scan. Immediately users can see hundreds of issues that are flashed in red. Smart PC Care displays problems divided into these categories:
- PUP/malware threats
- Items impacting system performance
- Software/user related problems
- Startup/uninstall and user Items
Our attention was directed towards PUP/malware threats mostly. Once expanded, this category showed 13 registry entry errors. How is that related to malware or potentially unwanted programs? The app simply does not make sense and shows bogus scan results. This is a great time not to pay attention and remove Smart PC Care virus from your computer.
Registry entries are tiny files used by Windows that hold configuration settings information for every program installed. Smart PC Care flags registry entries of Google as potentially dangerous, which is entirely not accurate. These and many other “errors” detected by this bogus app will not cause any hard or slow down your computer in any way.
It is evident that developers of Smart PC Care want your money, and they do not care about your PC's performance. Although developers do claim that their program can eliminate malware,[2] improve system performance and fix other issues, it is merely a scam. If anything, these programs are known to damage Windows registries and straight out disrupt or even corrupt the system, as experts[3] claim. Not to mention the money loss.
Thus, if you want to use a proper anti-malware tool, download and install FortectIntego or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. What is more, these applications will help you to take care of Smart PC Care removal.

PUPs are mostly spread via fake advertising and software bundles
You can get infected with Smart PC Care, Driver Updater and similar PUPs after clicking on a fake ad offering you to check your computer for malware for free. Don't fall for such lies as their aim is to trick users into downloading the malicious executable of the virus.
In addition, software bundling is yet another successful method used by hackers to spread their malware. For that, freeware/shareware and PUP developers often collaborate and offer a bundle of programs in one installer. This way, unwanted programs are distributed faster, and free software authors are getting paid for every install made. That is why you will always be prompted to use Recommended/Quick installation settings. Users do not realize that it is merely a clever marketing trick.
However, if you select Advanced or Custom installation mode, you will be able to choose which programs you want to be installed on your computer. Merely unmark all optional components and proceed with the installation. If Recommended settings are selected, users are not presented with the opportunity to get rid of add-ons, browser extensions, system optimizers and other unwanted applications.
Delete Smart PC Care instead of wasting your time and money
Smart PC Care removal should not be delayed as this application will not improve your computer's performance in any way. Just like any other fake optimization tool, it seeks to create a need of its license. Once you buy it, it just stops showing you its warning message and displays a result “Clean.”
Fortunately, you can get rid of the virus manually or automatically – both methods work just as good, so choose the one that suits you the most. If you want to remove Smart PC Care quickly, pick reputable security software for that purpose. After scanning your machine for just a few minutes, it will detect all potentially unwanted programs and fix registry key problems related to it.
If you are not keen on installing additional software on your PC, we recommend you check our manual instructions below. Make sure you follow them carefully, as failing to do that will result in virus re-infection.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

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

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

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

Remove from Microsoft Edge
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 Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
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.

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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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
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 suspicious extensions 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 dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

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

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