How to remove defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe malware

Defcnt.exe is the core part of rogue antispyware program called Defense Center. Defcnt.exe infiltrate computers through the use of trojan (autmgr32.exe and wscsvc32.exe are components of the trojan). When the trojan is downloaded and started, it will download defcnt.exe and other components of Defense Center and save it to %ProgramFiles%\Defense Center folder (where %ProgramFiles% is the C:\Program Files by defaults). After that, the same trojan will register defcnt.exe in the Windows registry to run automatically when you login to Windows.

When defcnt.exe is started, it will simulate a system scan and “detect” numerous infections (trojans, adware or malware). Of course, this is a scam, the malicious program want to force you to believe that your computer is infected in order to trick you into purchasing the full version of Defense Center. Important to know, the fake security application is unable to find the infections, as will not protect you from possible infection in the future. So, do not trust the scan results, simply ignore them.

While defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe are running, it will block the Windows Task Manager and most legitimate Windows applications, flood your computer with nag screens, fake Windows Security Center, fake security alerts and notifications from your Windows taskbar. Some of the alerts::

Warning! Network attack detected!
Network intrusion detected!
Your computer is being attacked from a remote PC.

Danger
Unauthorized access to your computer! Click on the message
to install up-to-date antivirus software.

Danger!
Harmful viruses detected on your computer. This malicious
software may harm your computer. Click on the message to
ensure the protection of your computer.

Danger!
A security threat detected on your computer. This malicious
program may steal your private data. Click on the message to
ensure the protection of your computer.

Warning! Adware detected!
Adware module detected on your PC!

Danger!
It is strongly recommended to protect your computer against
security threats. Click on the message to ensure the
protection of your computer.

However, like false scan results, all of these warnings and alerts are a fake and should be ignored

Last but note least, the trojan (autmgr32.exe) which installs defcnt.exe malware, will also download and install a variant of TDSS trojan. This trojan is very dangerous because it can block most antivirus and antispyware applications from running and redirect you from sites that you want to visit on a completely other.

As you can see defcnt.exe is very dangerous and can lead to a complete paralysis of your computer, as well as leakage of your personal data in the hands of the authors of the malicious program. Need as quickly as possible to check your computer and remove all found components of this malware. Use the removal guide below to remove defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe, TDSS trojan and any associated malware from your computer for free.

Use the following instructions to remove defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe malware

Step 1. Repair “running of .exe files”.

Click Start, Run. Type command and press Enter. Command console “black window” opens. Type notepad as shown below

Command console

Press Enter. Notepad opens. Copy all the text below into Notepad.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

You will see window similar to the one below.

Notepad

Save this as fix.reg to your Desktop (remember to select Save as file type: All files in Notepad.) Double Click fix.reg and click YES for confirm.

If you can`t create fix.reg, then download fix.zip from here, unzip it. Double Click fix.reg and click YES for confirm.

Step 2. Remove TDSS trojan-rootkit

Download TDSSKiller from here and unzip to your desktop.

Open TDSSKiller folder. Right click to tdsskiller and select rename. Type a new name (123myapp, for example). Press Enter. Double click the TDSSKiller icon to start scanning Windows registry for TDSS trojan. If it is found, the you will see a screen similar to the one below.

TDSSKiller

When TDSSKiller will prompt you to press “Y”, type Y and press Enter. Your computer will be rebooted.

Step 3. Remove defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe associated malware.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Once downloaded, close all programs and windows on your computer.

Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MalwareBytes Anti-malware onto your computer. 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.

MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

As MalwareBytes Anti-malware will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main menu. You will see window similar to the one below.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window

Make sure the “Perform quick scan” option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.

When the scan is finished a message box will appear that it has completed scanning successfully. Click OK. Now click “Show 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 all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected” button to remove defcnt.exe and autmgr32.exe trojan. MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated files and registry keys and add them to the programs’ quarantine. When MalwareBytes Anti-malware has finished removing the infection, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.

Note 1: if you can not download, install, run or update Malwarebytes Anti-malware, then follow the steps: Malwarebytes won`t install, run or update – How to fix it.

Note 2: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.

Note 3: your current antispyware and antivirus software let the infection through ? Then you may want to consider purchasing the FULL version of MalwareBytes Anti-malware to protect your computer in the future.

Defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe malware creates the following files and folders

C:\Program Files\Defense Center
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\defhook.dll
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\defcnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\about.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\activate.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\buy.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\help.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\scan.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\settings.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\splash.mp3
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\uninstall.exe
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\update.ico
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\def.db
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\defext.dll
C:\Program Files\Defense Center\virus.mp3
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\About.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Activate.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Buy.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Scan.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Settings.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Update.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Defense Center Support.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Defense Center.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Defense Center.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Defense Center Support.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Defense Center.lnk
%Temp%\autmgr32.exe
%Temp%\wscsvc32.exe

Defcnt.exe, autmgr32.exe, wscsvc32.exe malware creates the following registry keys and values

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Defense Center
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies \System\DisableTaskMgr
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies \System\DisableTaskMgr