Performance Center

Alias: Performance Center, Performance Center Trojan, Virus Performance Center, Hijacker Performance Center

Description: Modified June 14, 2010
Performance Center is a variant of Defense Center and Protection Center. Performance Center is a very pervasive fake anti-virus applications that carries with it various trojans and protection mechanisms. In order to evade removal, Performance Center employs various scare tactics as well as the ability to block major name brand antivirus products from completing their scans. Performance Center continually harasses the user with numerous warnings and messages that their computer is infected and is under attack from hackers. Performance Center is commonly installed by a trojan or manually downloaded from one of many fraudulent Fake Scanner Sites. Also, visiting an infected website can lead to the installation of Performance Center. Performance Center can block you from running programs, if that is the case, we have easy to follow special workaround instructions below.

Performance Center disables Task Manager. If you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del you get a message saying "The Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator".

Performance Center displays exaggerated fake results similar to those shown below:



Performance Center periodically displays fake balloon messages like this one:



Performance Center uses a simple but effective tactic to further obstruct you from running programs. Performance Center does this by placing a popup message on top of your program which blocks access to your program (as shown below). The way to work around this is to simply minimize all programs until only the fake message is shown, then click "Ignore" or "Cancel" on that message. You can then access your running program.






Threat type:

Hijacker - A Hijacker is a software application that takes control of your browser's settings. Usually it changes your home page and redirects it to some unknown site or modifies your search settings. It prevents you from changing back your browser's settings. An infected browser usually operates much slower.

Ransomware - Ransomware is a software application that infects a computer and asks for money to have the infection removed.

Trojan - A Trojans or Trojan Horse is any programs that installs itself secretly, quite often with sinister intent. Once installed, the trojan author (hacker) can gain complete control of the infected PC. Trojans are usually designed to steal sensitive information and/or destroy the system. Trojans can be distributed as unsolicited email attachments, or bundled with freeware and shareware programs.

Advice: Remove This is a very high risk threat and should be removed immediately as to prevent harm to your computer and / or to protect your privacy.

Detection:
SpyNoMore removes Performance Center: Yes

Threat risk: Very High Risk

Extremely dangerous malware. Uses stealth installation, randomly named entries and has the capability to self update or resurrect after incomplete removal. Almost impossible to remove manually. Category mostly consists of trojans and spyware.

Symptoms:

Performance Center takes over the infected computer and prohibits some applications (including antivirus products) from being started.

Icons appear in your Windows Tray.

Pop-up messages claiming that your computer is infected.

Performance Center may have been be installed without your consent via a trojan.

Warning balloon messages.

Performance Center Signature Details: The following information includes some of the standard signatures associated with this spyware threat. Please do not attempt to manually remove these items from your computer; Removing these items incorrectly or partially can cause your computer to experience critical errors, prevent your computer from restarting or cause loss of Internet connectivity. Should you be infected with Performance Center, you can clean your computer by downloading SpyNoMore now.

Running Process Signatures:
N/A

File Signatures:
N/A

Registered Dll (Dynamic Link Library) Signatures:
N/A

Folder Signatures:
N/A

Registry Signatures:
N/A

SpyNoMore Collected Residual File Signatures:
N/A

See Also:
Antispyware Soft
Protection Center
Antispy-guide.net
Antispy-guide.com
Sysinternals Antivirus
AV Security Suite
Antimalwaresecurity.com
Antimalware-guard.com
Antimalware-guard.net
Defense Center