How to remove Security Central (Uninstall instructions)

Security Central is a fake security application also known as rogue antispyware program. It usually installed itself onto your computer without your permission and knowledge, through the use trojans which pretend to be flash player updates or even video codecs required to watch a video online. When the trojan is started, it will install Security Central onto your computer.

During installation, Security Central will register itself in the Windows registry to run automatically every time when you logon into Windows. Once installed, it will simulate a system scan and label legitimate Windows files as worms, trojans and malware that will not be cured unless you first purchase the program. This is of course nothing more but a scam, all of these “infected” files are clean and the scan results are a fake. So, you can safety ignore all that Security Central gives you.

What is more, Security Central blocks the ability to run any programs, including antivirus and antispyware programs. The following alert will be shown when you try to run Malwarebytes Anti-malware:

mbam.exe cannot start
File mbam.exe is infected by W32/Blaster.worm
Please activate Security Central to protect your computer.

While Security Central is running, it will display numerous nag screens, fake security alerts and notifications from Windows task bar that stats:

Trojan detected!
Malicious code has been detected in your system. It can
replicate itself if no action is taken.
Click here to have your system cleaned by Security Central.

FIREWALL WARNING
Hidden file transfer to remote host has been detected

Security Warning!
Malicious program has been detected.
Click here to protect your computer.

WARNING!
Security Central has found 15
suspicious and UNWANTED files on your computer.

However, all of these alerts, screens and pop-ups are fake and like false scan results should be ignored! As you can see, Security Central is scam and designed with one purpose to scare you into purchasing so-called “full” version of the program. Do not be fooled into buying the program!

If you are infected with this malware, then use these removal instructions below, which will remove Security Central and any other infections you may have on your computer for free.

More screen shoots of Security Central

Symptoms in a HijackThis Log

O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [Security Central] C:\Program Files\Security Central\Security Central.exe

Use the following instructions to remove Security Central (Uninstall instructions)

Download HijackThis from here. Once Save dialog opens, please rename HijackThis.exe to iexplore.exe as shown below.

Save Dialog – HijackThis.exe

Save Dialog – iexplore.exe

Click Save button to save it.

Run HijackThis. Click “Do a system scan only” button. Now select the following entries by placing a tick in the left hand check box, if present:

O4 – HKLM\..\Run: [Security Central] C:\Program Files\Security Central\Security Central.exe

Once you have selected all entries, you will see a screen similar to the one below.

HijackThis

Close all running programs then click once on the “fix checked” button. Close HijackThis.

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 Anti-Malware Window

Select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan, it will start scanning your computer for Security Central 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.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items

Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected for start Security Central 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.

Security Central creates the following files and folders

C:\Program Files\Security Central
C:\Documents and Settings\comp\Start Menu\Security Central
C:\Program Files\Security Central\Security Central.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\comp\Start Menu\Security Central\Security Central.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\comp\Desktop\Security Central.LNK
C:\Documents and Settings\comp\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Security Central.LNK

Security Central creates the following registry keys and values

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\security central