XPostFacto
VIP Member
I have Windows 8. Last August when I tried to update Zonealarm, I was told that it couldn't be updated and that I would have to start buying the software. I then began using Windows Defender because I had heard that the Windows 8 firewall and anti-virus were superior to any of the other AV manufacturers.
In the past month or so, I have seen a lot of annoyng popup ads on archery and firearms as well as any other site I have researched. Windows Defender did find that I had some malware called Dueal4me. I tried to uninstall it, but it wouldn't uninstall. As a result, I went into the folder, Program Data in Windows 8 and deleted the app. Then I removed all indication of it in my registry. I then found something called CoupUPDate and did the same with that one as well as a third one, called PCScanner. I got to thinking that maybe not having Zonealarm wasn't a good thing. I was still running Zonealarm on my laptop and never had a problem with strange unwanted software. Well, finally, I had enough and downloaded Zonealarm this morning. It installed and immediately after a scan discovered I was infected with the Performance Optimizer malware. I noticed upon finding it in my Program Data file that it was installed on September 29, 2014, the same date that I downloaded the DLC game, Freedom Cry for Assassins Creed IV, Blackflag. Looks like I got some unwanted trash that rode piggyback on the DLC. Well Zonealarm did nothing but quarantine Performance Optimizer so it wouldn't be a problem. I tried to uninstall Performance Optimizer, but the app would not let me remove itself, so I had to go into Program Data and the registry and clean out all mention of this file.
Here is what Symantec says about Performance Optimizer and the wild claims this application makes. It is advertised as a way to speed up PC's and remove unwanted malware. This is a hoax. If you install it as a demo, it will scan your system and find all kinds of things wrong with it, all bogus, just to get you to buy their software, all the time, pushing their own brand of malware. Strange thing is I never installed it. It installed itself. Watch out folks. I know that I will never buy anymore downloads from Ubisoft.
PerformanceOptimizer Technical Details Symantec
In the past month or so, I have seen a lot of annoyng popup ads on archery and firearms as well as any other site I have researched. Windows Defender did find that I had some malware called Dueal4me. I tried to uninstall it, but it wouldn't uninstall. As a result, I went into the folder, Program Data in Windows 8 and deleted the app. Then I removed all indication of it in my registry. I then found something called CoupUPDate and did the same with that one as well as a third one, called PCScanner. I got to thinking that maybe not having Zonealarm wasn't a good thing. I was still running Zonealarm on my laptop and never had a problem with strange unwanted software. Well, finally, I had enough and downloaded Zonealarm this morning. It installed and immediately after a scan discovered I was infected with the Performance Optimizer malware. I noticed upon finding it in my Program Data file that it was installed on September 29, 2014, the same date that I downloaded the DLC game, Freedom Cry for Assassins Creed IV, Blackflag. Looks like I got some unwanted trash that rode piggyback on the DLC. Well Zonealarm did nothing but quarantine Performance Optimizer so it wouldn't be a problem. I tried to uninstall Performance Optimizer, but the app would not let me remove itself, so I had to go into Program Data and the registry and clean out all mention of this file.
Here is what Symantec says about Performance Optimizer and the wild claims this application makes. It is advertised as a way to speed up PC's and remove unwanted malware. This is a hoax. If you install it as a demo, it will scan your system and find all kinds of things wrong with it, all bogus, just to get you to buy their software, all the time, pushing their own brand of malware. Strange thing is I never installed it. It installed itself. Watch out folks. I know that I will never buy anymore downloads from Ubisoft.
PerformanceOptimizer Technical Details Symantec