How to remove SP Center malware (Uninstall Instructions)

SP Center is a rogue security product that misinforms users about the security of their computers and claims to be a simple one-click solution to protect your PC. The rogue program pretends to scan your computer for malicious software, tracking cookies and registry errors and claims to find infected files or critical registry errors. It claims to have three protection modules: cookie guarder, surf protector and registry doctor. By the way, SP Center from the same family as Control Center. SPCenter reports false scan results, mainly false registry errors, tracking cookies, spyware signatures, system slowdows and Windows start-up failures. Then it prompts to pay for a full version of the program to fix these problems and to protect your computer against malware. In reality, though, SP Center is nothing more but a scam. And, of course, it won't fix any problem or remove any infected file simply because they don't exist. Besides, it will give you a false sense of security. Without a doubt, don't buy this rogue program. If you have already bought it then please contact your credit card company and dispute the charges. After that, please follow the removal instructions below to remove SP Center from your computer for free using legitimate anti-malware software.




(Thanks to rogueamp)

If you choose to fix supposedly found problems you will get Antivirus software error message. It will claim that you have requested the function that requires installed antivirus software.



If you click on the "Install antivirus" button you will get another window with a form that you supposedly have to fill-in in order to get your activation code.



While running, SP Center will also display fake security warnings. The text of this warning is:

Warning!
SP Center did not find any antivirus software on this computer! Traces of discreditable (for example, the history of visiting adults sites) and security exposure have been found. Click this notification to eliminate vulnerability immediately!

Furthermore, this fake program may block legitimate anti-malware software and hijack Internet Explorer. It may also hide your Desktop icons and Windows task bar. In such case, please click Ctrl+Shift+Esc. Windows Task Manager will open. Click File -> New Task (Run...). Type in: explorer.exe and hit OK. All your icons should be in their places again. Then download MalwareBytes' Anti-malware, SUPERAntispyware or Spyware Doctor and run a full system scan. Don't forger to update anti-malware software before scanning your computer. If you can't download any program in normal mode hen please reboot your computer is safe mode with networking. For more details please follow the SP Center removal instructions below. If you have any questions or additional information about this malware please leave a comment. Good luck and be safe online!

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SP Center removal instructions (in Safe Mode with Networking):

1. Reboot your computer is "Safe Mode with Networking". As the computer is booting tap the "F8 key" continuously which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode with Networking" and press Enter key. Read more detailed instructions here: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm


NOTE: Login as the same user you were previously logged in with in the normal Windows mode.

2. Download anti-malware software from the list below and run a full system scan.

• MalwareBytes Anti-malware 
• SUPERAntispyware 
• Spybot S&D 
• Spyware Doctor

NOTE: before saving the selected program onto your computer, please rename the installer to iexplore.exe or winlogon.exe. With all of these tools, if running Windows 7 or Vista they MUST be run as administrator. Launch the program and follow the prompts. Don't forget to update the installed program before scanning.

3. New threats appear every day. In order to protect your PC from such (new) infections we strongly recommend you to use ESET Smart Security.

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SP Center removal instructions in Normal mode:

1. Download Process Explorer iexplore.exe. Double click to open it. Look for SP Center in the process list and terminate its process(es): ap.exe and sp.exe.
2. Download  anti-malware software from the list below. Update it and run a full system scan.

• MalwareBytes Anti-malware 
• SUPERAntispyware 
• Spybot S&D 
• Spyware Doctor

NOTE: before saving the selected program onto your computer, please rename the installer to iexplore.exe or winlogon.exe. With all of these tools, if running Windows 7 or Vista they MUST be run as administrator. Launch the program and follow the prompts. Don't forget to update the installed program before scanning.
3. New threats appear every day. In order to protect your PC from such (new) infections we strongly recommend you to use ESET Smart Security.

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SP Center associated files and registry values:

Files:

• C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe
• C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\CCenter\sp.exe

Registry:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "ap.exe"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache "C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\CCenter\ap.exe"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache "C:\Documents and Settings\A[User Name]\Application Data\CCenter\sp.exe"
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon shell "C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\CCenter\sp.exe"

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