System Protection Tools is a rogue antispyware program from the Virus Doctor rogues family as Total Anti Malware Protection, Advanced Antispyware Solution, Best Virus Protection, etc. Thus program may look legitimate malware removal tool, but remember, its only an imitation! In reality, the malicious software blocks legitimate Windows applications, detects fake infections and displays various fake error messages that your computer is infected with a lot of viruses in order to frighten you into purchasing this useless application. Do not pay for the bogus software! Simply ignore all that it will display you and remove System Protection Tools from your computer as quickly as possible!
System Protection Tools is promoted and distributed through advertisements that are disguised as online malware scanners. If you clicks on such ads, it will simulate a system scan and lists a lot of false infections. Then it will suggest to download and install the rogue to remove these infections and protect your computer. Of course, the scan results are all fake, because these fake scanners couldn’t possibly detect malware or viruses on your computer! Moreover, this fake security tool may be also distributed through trojans, social networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc) and spam emails. So, please be careful when opening attachments and downloading files or otherwise you can end up with a rogue program on your computer.
Once started, System Protection Tools will configure itself to run automatically every time when Windows loads. Next, it will add a few entries into the HOSTS file so that when you open Google, Yahoo or Bing, you will be redirected to various misleading websites. The rogue will also drop several fake malware files that absolute harmless but, later during the scan, they will be detected as security threats. Of course, the scan look realistic and legitimate, you should never trust it! System Protection Tools want to trick you into thinking that your computer in danger and make you believe you must buy the full version of the software. Remember, the program pretends to be an antivirus software, but in reality is unable to detect or remove any infections and nor will be protect you from legitimate future threats. So you can safely ignore the false scan results.
While System Protection Tools is running, it will block the Windows Task Manager and most antivirus and antispyware tools. Moreover, it will display a variety of fake security warnings and alerts that attempt to make you think your computer is infected with all sorts of malicious software. Some of the alerts are:
System alert
System Protection Tools has detected potentially harmful software in
your system. It is strongly recommended that you register
System Protection Tools to remove all found threats immediately.
System alert
Suspicious software which may be dangerous has been
detected on your PC. Click here to remove this threat
immediately using System Protection Tools.
System warning
No real-time malware, spyware and virus protection was
found. Click here to activate.
Warning! Identity theft attempt detected
Hidden connection IP: 128.154.26.11
Target: Microsoft Corporation keys
Warning
Warning! Virus detected
As you can see, all of these warnings states the same: the system is infected. In case you want to fix it, System Protection Tools will prompt you to pay money. However, like false scan results above, all of these security messages are just a fake and has been displayed to trick you into purchasing so-called full version of the fake security program. So, you should ignore all of them.
As you can see, the program is a totally scam. It is neither able to detect, nor to remove any threats from the system. System Protection Tools has been created with one purpose is to steal your money and leave you in a trouble. Thus, do not be fooled into buying the program! Instead of doing so, follow the removal guidelines below in order to remove System Protection Tools and any associated malware from your computer for free.
Use the following instructions to remove System Protection Tools (Uninstall instructions)
It is possible that the rogue will not allow you to run a malware removal tools, then you will need to reboot your computer in Safe mode with networking.
Restart your computer. After hearing your computer beep once during startup, start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press the F8 key when the Boot Menu appears.
Instead of Windows loading as normal, Windows Advanced Options menu appears similar to the one below.
Windows Advanced Options menu
When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Safe mode with networking and then press ENTER.
System Protection Tools virus changes Internet Explorer proxy settings to use a malicious proxy server that will not allow you download or update security software. So, you should complete this step to fix this problem.
Run Internet Explorer, Click Tools -> Internet Options as as shown in the screen below.
Internet Explorer – Tools menu
You will see window similar to the one below.
Internet Explorer – Internet options
Select Connections Tab and click to Lan Settings button. You will see an image similar as shown below.
Internet Explorer – Lan settings
Uncheck “Use a proxy server” box. Click OK to close Lan Settings and Click OK to close Internet Explorer settings.
Now you should download Malwarebytes Anti-malware and remove all System Protection Tools 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. Once installation is complete, you will see window similar to the one below.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window
Now click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for System Protection Tools associated malware. 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”. Make sure all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected”.
System Protection Tools may change the Windows system HOSTS file so you need reset this file with the default version for your operating system.
Please download OTM by OldTimer from here and save it to desktop. Run OTM, copy, then paste the following text in “Paste Instructions for Items to be Moved” textarea (under the yellow bar):
:Commands
[resethosts]
Click the red Moveit! button. Close OTM.
Your system should now be free of the System Protection Tools virus. If you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.
System Protection Tools removal notes
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: 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.
System Protection Tools creates the following files and folders
%UserProfile%\Application Data\System Protection Tools
%UserProfile%\Application Data\System Protection Tools\cookies.sqlite
%UserProfile%\Desktop\System Protection Tools.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\System Protection Tools.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\System Protection Tools\Instructions.ini
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\System Protection Tools.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\System Protection Tools.lnk
%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM]
%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM]\SP[RANDOM].exe
System Protection Tools creates the following registry keys and values
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run | System Protection Tools
