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How to remove Control Center (Uninstall instructions)

Myantispyware team November 17, 2009    

Control Center is a fake Windows optimization program that distributed through the use of malware. When installed, Control Center configures itself to run automatically every time, when you start your computer. Once running, Privacy Center starts scanning the computer and list a variety of problems on your computer. All of these problems are fake, so you can safely ignore all that the programs gives you.

Control_Center
Control Center

While Control Center is running your computer will display a fake warning from your windows taskbar.

Warning!
One or several components reported some problems!
Traces of discreditable files (for example, the history of visiting
porno sites) and security vulnerability have been found. Click
this notification to eliminate vulnerability immediately!

The warning is a fake and should be ignored! As you can see, the program is designed only for one to trick you into buying the software. Instead of doing so, use these removal instructions below in order to remove Control Center and any associated malware from your computer for free.

More Control Center screen shoots



Symptoms in a HijackThis Log

O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [agent.exe] %UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\agent.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [agent.exe] %UserProfile%\Application Data\Control-Center\ccagent.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [ccagent.exe] %UserProfile%\Application Data\Control Manager\ccagent.exe

Use the following instructions to remove Control Center (Uninstall instructions)

Please read the article: How to reboot computer in Safe mode and reboot your computer in the Safe mode with command prompt.

Once Windows loaded, command prompt (black window) opens. Type regedit as shown below.


Command prompt

Press Enter. Registry editor opens. Navigate to the following keys by expanding the + at left of each key at left:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Software
Microsoft
Windows NT
CurrentVersion
Winlogon

In right part of window, double click to Shell.
In the open window remove all text and type

Explorer.exe

You will see window similar to the one below.


Registry Editor

Press OK. Close Registry editor and reboot computer.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Close all programs and Windows on your computer.

Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.

If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

Once the program has loaded you will see window similar to the one below.

malwarebytes-antimalware1
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window

Select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan, it will start scanning your computer for Control Center infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.

When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below. Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.

Control_Center_remover
Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items

Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected for start Control Center removal process. When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.

Note: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.

Control Center creates the following files and folders

%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images\05.png
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images\06.png
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images\08.png
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images\09.png
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images\10.png
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\settings.ini
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\Uninstall.exe
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\guide.html
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\faq\images\07.png
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\agent.exe
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\cc.exe

Control Center Windows Registry modifications

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\control center
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\agent.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
“Shell”=”%UserProfile%\Application Data\CC\cc.exe”

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Author: Myantispyware team

Myantispyware is an information security website created in 2004. Our content is written in collaboration with Cyber Security specialists, IT experts, under the direction of Patrik Holder and Valeri Tchmych, founders of Myantispyware.com.

9 Comments

  1. Jingocon
    ― January 16, 2010 - 5:40 pm  Reply

    How do I download the malware thing initially? I can’t bypass the message to get online to get to that link or anything. (I am typing this from my laptop).

  2. Patrik
    ― January 17, 2010 - 1:26 am  Reply

    Try boot your computer in the Last good configuration.

  3. Linda
    ― January 18, 2010 - 2:41 pm  Reply

    Go to “settings” (top right). Change the settings to allow computer to run in an “unprotected” state. It’ll warn you that this is an absolutely horrible idea, of course, but your computer will run normally enough to get rid of the problem!

  4. porkchop
    ― February 9, 2010 - 1:43 am  Reply

    i had to alt+control+delet
    close out the control center program.. then you can click on the file tab in the tastkbar top left.. i still cant get it off my computer,but this will help you get started..

  5. Virginia
    ― February 23, 2010 - 3:55 pm  Reply

    I have this annoying bug in my PC at home…
    I’ve discovered all the tricks to get around it to complete my projects. But when Internet Explorer is open, The pop-ups are such a nuisance the I rarely bother to go online.
    @porkchop- It wouldn’t even let me Contol/alt/delete… I would have to do a hard boot.
    Also I removed it from Control Panel, Add/Remove programs, numerous times the I see it start up again.
    Thank you and I hope this works.
    Virginia

  6. Patrik
    ― February 24, 2010 - 12:30 am  Reply

    Virginia, if above guide does not help you, then ask for help in our Spyware removal forum.

  7. Computerfikzer
    ― April 5, 2010 - 8:57 pm  Reply

    The part about removing the “explorer.exe” from shell does not work. When you reboot the problem is still there. When you reboot to safe mode, you dont even get your safe mode win xp interface, just a black screen with “safe mode” in the corners. To go back to square one, boot in safe mode with command prompt, type in regedit, then retype “explorer.exe” back into shell.

  8. Frank
    ― April 24, 2010 - 12:18 pm  Reply

    Not a question about instructions, tho’ I may have one later, but since so much is known about this ‘malware’ why are they allowed to do it?

    This company has stolen – converted if you will – my property.

    I cannot consent to something unknowingly, that is not legal consent.

    Why aren’t the owners in jail or something?

  9. Mike
    ― April 28, 2010 - 9:37 am  Reply

    The location for the explorer.exe to enter in was in the HKCU location for me not the HKLM as stated above.

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