Anyone familiar with PC Keeper and how to get rid of it?
I recently picked up a bit of fun called PC Keeper. It is pernicious, though not too vicious. It latched on the Firefox, and periodically inserts pop-ups, It may be my imagination, but it seems to have made Firefox less agile. It shows up nowhere in my files, uninstallers, program lists, etc. Any ideas how to purge this bad puppy?
+62Hello ?,
Welcome to the Webroot Community,
PCKeeper Live is apparently a legitimate program (it was reviewed by PC Mag in last September) developed by Kromtech. What you are most likely seeing is the actions of an auto-start registry entry (in the current user (HKCU) registry) which causes the program run on each boot, and I suspect that the uninstall that you keep trying is not completely removing that entry, etc.
Given this, and unless you are happy/confident searching (for most likely something 'PCKeeper'-related) and then amending the Registry (not for the faint hearted) then I would Open the Support Ticket and let the professional deal with it for you.
Do let us know how you get on and what Support respond with if you do contact them.
Kind Regards,
Welcome to the Webroot Community,
PCKeeper Live is apparently a legitimate program (it was reviewed by PC Mag in last September) developed by Kromtech. What you are most likely seeing is the actions of an auto-start registry entry (in the current user (HKCU) registry) which causes the program run on each boot, and I suspect that the uninstall that you keep trying is not completely removing that entry, etc.
Given this, and unless you are happy/confident searching (for most likely something 'PCKeeper'-related) and then amending the Registry (not for the faint hearted) then I would Open the Support Ticket and let the professional deal with it for you.
Do let us know how you get on and what Support respond with if you do contact them.
Kind Regards,
IMac 2021 27 in i5 Retina 5, iMac OS Sequoia (15.7.2), Security: iPads, ALIENWARE 15 R6, W11 Microsoft Windows Workstation, x64, Webroot® SecureAnywhere™ Internet Security Complete, Android Samsung Galaxy Ultra Note 23, Webroot Beta Tester
Sherry,
Very kind of you to reply, and thank you for your sage advice.
As for the legitimacy of PC Keeper, I read, as well, that it is not considered a virus, but the fact installed itself on my PC without my permission, and does not show up on any list of programs (not Windows, Revo uninstaller, etc.) suggests an air of illegitmacy if you ask me.
Be that as it may, I did a PC-wide search for any files with the name PC Keeper, and found none. Perhpas I should clarify the manner in which this program manifests itself: While on Firefox, only, it will spontaneously open a new FIrefox window, directing me to some site for which I have zero interest. If I am watching anything streaming -- HBO Go, Amazon Prime, etc. -- those streams are disrupted by these pop-ups. I have effectively abandoned Firefox, and use either Chrome or MS Edge to do my internet stuff, as they seem unaffected by PC Keeper.
Perhaps I am being a little to OCD about my laptop's clealiness; but I do hate uninvited guests.
Thanks again, and should you have any other ideas, please share!
Very kind of you to reply, and thank you for your sage advice.
As for the legitimacy of PC Keeper, I read, as well, that it is not considered a virus, but the fact installed itself on my PC without my permission, and does not show up on any list of programs (not Windows, Revo uninstaller, etc.) suggests an air of illegitmacy if you ask me.
Be that as it may, I did a PC-wide search for any files with the name PC Keeper, and found none. Perhpas I should clarify the manner in which this program manifests itself: While on Firefox, only, it will spontaneously open a new FIrefox window, directing me to some site for which I have zero interest. If I am watching anything streaming -- HBO Go, Amazon Prime, etc. -- those streams are disrupted by these pop-ups. I have effectively abandoned Firefox, and use either Chrome or MS Edge to do my internet stuff, as they seem unaffected by PC Keeper.
Perhaps I am being a little to OCD about my laptop's clealiness; but I do hate uninvited guests.
Thanks again, and should you have any other ideas, please share!
+62Hi ?,
The Community has this write up below that might help you concening these popups.
What you are seeing and describing sounds like it may be what we on the Community refer to as a PUA. (Potentially Unwanted Application) These are very annoying at best in that they cause pop-us, redirect your browser home page, and other behavior that may slow down the computer and direct ads your way, but they are not actually doing anything bad like damaging files or stealing information. Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools.. but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.
WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behavior that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.
For those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Trouble Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article.
For those that ARE detected by WSA, but cannot be removed automatically, you can submit a Trouble Ticket. Webroot Support will help you get these annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge, and the additional examples may help to better automatic removal of that particular PUA for all users in the future.
Hope this can help but remember support is only a ticket away and they usually respond rather quickly.;)
Best Regards,
The Community has this write up below that might help you concening these popups.
What you are seeing and describing sounds like it may be what we on the Community refer to as a PUA. (Potentially Unwanted Application) These are very annoying at best in that they cause pop-us, redirect your browser home page, and other behavior that may slow down the computer and direct ads your way, but they are not actually doing anything bad like damaging files or stealing information. Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools.. but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.
WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behavior that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.
For those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Trouble Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article.
For those that ARE detected by WSA, but cannot be removed automatically, you can submit a Trouble Ticket. Webroot Support will help you get these annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge, and the additional examples may help to better automatic removal of that particular PUA for all users in the future.
Hope this can help but remember support is only a ticket away and they usually respond rather quickly.;)
Best Regards,
IMac 2021 27 in i5 Retina 5, iMac OS Sequoia (15.7.2), Security: iPads, ALIENWARE 15 R6, W11 Microsoft Windows Workstation, x64, Webroot® SecureAnywhere™ Internet Security Complete, Android Samsung Galaxy Ultra Note 23, Webroot Beta Tester
Thank you yet again! The article, though seemingly relevant, nevertheless did not offer any solution. So, I decided to take the argument directly to the source, and went to PCKeeper's website, and chatted with a techie. He was evasive as to how this idiotic program landed and then ran for cover on my PC; instead recommending I put AdBlock on Firefox.
Which I did; though I am still left with the uncomfortable knowledge that some little spy-file made by the good people at PCCreeper, er Keeper still lurks in the background of my otherwise pristine laptop.
*sigh*
Such is life in this digital age.
Cheers, mon Sherry, and thanks again.
Which I did; though I am still left with the uncomfortable knowledge that some little spy-file made by the good people at PCCreeper, er Keeper still lurks in the background of my otherwise pristine laptop.
*sigh*
Such is life in this digital age.
Cheers, mon Sherry, and thanks again.
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