Do you know what PCGuardian is?
Our researchers believe PCGuardian is a poorly developed computer tool because even though it promises to “make your PC stable and smooth,” it is doubtful it can complete this task with the features it has. On the contrary, there is a possibility the application could stop you from using the device normally. As you see it was noticed the software can start showing messages with false system warnings that could both disturb the user and make him believe there is something wrong with the computer when in fact there is not. Consequently, PCGuardian falls under the category of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). If the application is undesirable in your system too, have a look at the removal guide located below and erase it manually. Users can also get to know this PUP better by reading the rest of the article.
PCGuardian can be found on pcguardian.online. If you believe the information provided on this web page, the PUP could make your computer work faster and perhaps even stop it from crashing. Just like said earlier, we do not believe the software has the means to complete any of these tasks. Specialists who tested it in our internal lab say the application can erase some unnecessary data, for example, registry keys left after uninstalling programs, but they do not think the deletion of such files could make the computer work faster or solve issues that might make it crash.
Furthermore, after the application is installed, it should create quite a few Registry entries in a few separate locations. Our researchers also say it is supposed to create a folder named PCGuardian in the %APPDATA% directory. Among the various contents of this folder, there might be a specific file with a random name. It appears to be the PUP may launch this file to show the false system warning we talked about in the first paragraph. The first thing about the warning that should get your attention is the provided phone number, supposedly able to connect users to the Microsoft support team.
Calling to the support is often advisable only if there is nothing else the user could do, so the fact you are advised to call technicians right away instead of giving instructions which tool to use, etc., should raise a suspicion. Unfortunately, we fear the so-called technicians users may get to talk with might be scammers. If you look up this number on the Internet you can find it reported by some users who think some people may have used it to scam them, so how can such a reputable company as Microsoft use a number like this. For more proof, users can find the actual Microsoft number and see if it matches the one given by the false warning.
PCGuardiano screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Of course, under such circumstances, we advise against calling the so-called certified Microsoft technician because if you do you could be connected with cyber criminals and such people might try to sell you overpriced software, remote services, activation codes, or any other products and services you do not need. Plus, they may try to steal the same personal information they said could be taken by mysterious attackers mentioned on the false warning. Thus, we believe you should not take any chances with PCGuardian.
The PUP can be deleted both manually if you follow the removal guide located below this paragraph and automatically if you acquire a reputable antimalware tool you could trust. Either way, you choose, the first thing you may have to do is close the false warning since it might block the device’s screen. Therefore, if the user sees this fake alert, he should first follow the instructions until the screen gets unlocked and then either complete the rest of the steps or install an antimalware tool and let it deal with PCGuardian.
Get rid of PCGuardian
- Tap Ctrl+Alt+Delete at the same time.
- Choose Task Manager and look for a process related to the PUP.
- Mark the suspicious process and end it by clicking the End Task button.
- Exit the Task Manager.
- Press Windows Key+E.
- Open the %APPDATA% folder.
- Find a directory titled PCguardian, right-click it and choose Delete.
- Locate and erase the application’s shortcut (pcguardian.lnk) located on Desktop.
- Close File Explorer.
- Click Windows Key+R, type Regedit and tap Enter.
- Check the listed locations separately:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing - Find the keys listed below:
Pcguardian 1.0.0
Pcguardian
Pcguardian_RASAPI32
Pcguardian_RASMANCS - Right-click each key separately and press Delete.
- Navigate to the given locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall - Find the listed keys:
WMPNetworksSvcx_RASAPI32
WMPNetworksSvcx_RASMANCS
{9E1CF232-EB32-46C7-BF00-BE2BF8F9FE7E}, then press Delete to erase them. - Right-click each listed key separately and click Delete.
- Exit Registry Editor.
- Empty Recycle bin.
In non-techie terms:
PCGuardian may sound like a tool that could help you fix computer issues, but sadly, it is quite possible the application might cause them instead. Our researchers say the PUP has a working scanner and can both detected and delete old and no longer needed Registry entries of programs that were once installed. However, given some time the application could start blocking the screen by placing a fake system warning on top of it. Thus, we do not think the benefits it might provide could out weight the appearance of such irritating warnings especially when it might stop you from using the device correctly. Users who do not want to keep such suspicious software on their system may eliminate it while following the removal guide available above this text or by installing a reputable antimalware tool and performing a full system scan.