Download Registry Mechanic
Faustina Bartsch
With a few and easy steps Registry Mechanic will scan your entire registry for any invalid entries and provides a list of the registry errors found. Then, you can choose to selectively clean each item or automatically repair them all. For your convenience and protection Registry Mechanic can also make a backup of any repairs made so that you can easily recover any changes if required.
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The Registry Mechanic program supposedly allows computers to run faster and also cleans them. According to the developers, it can improve computer performance by removing junk files, fixing and cleaning the registry, and optimizing browsers. In fact, this is a malicious program known as Trojan.Clicker, a tool used for 'click fraud'. Registry Mechanic is simply a name used to disguise the real purpose of this program.
This malicious program can be downloaded from a website that may seem legitimate and official, however, legitimate websites do not promote malware. When installed, Registry Mechanic starts a background process that can be identified as "EpizyCleanup" in Task Manger.
This process is a disguised Trojan.Clicker that performs click fraud, however, in some cases, this malicious program could be used to proliferate other computer infections. Click fraud is an illegal way to generate revenue on the Internet through PPC (Pay-per-click) advertising.
In summary, programs such as Trojan.Clicker imitate legitimate advertisement clicks and generate traffic to various sites. The more ads they click, the greater revenue they generate for hosts of websites on which these ads are displayed. They can drain an advertiser's budget by increasing the cost of advertising.
Therefore, an advertiser might use this technique to sabotage their competitors. Clicks generated by programs such as Trojan.Clicker are illegal and, therefore, should not be used. In many cases, people are unaware that they have such a program running on their systems and unintentionally help fraudsters to generate revenue.
Registry Mechanic is not the only program operates as Trojan.Clicker malware. A number of other examples are Microsoft Cleaner and Registry Doctor. Generally, these programs are promoted using deceptive methods - in this case, through a deceptive website that seems official.
In addition to unofficial pages, malicious programs can be proliferated using other dubious software download sources such as Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule etc), free file hosting or freeware download websites, third party downloaders and other similar channels.
Other deceptive ways to distribute malicious programs are spam campaigns, trojans, fake updating and software 'cracking' tools. Cyber criminals use spam campaigns to proliferate their viruses by sending emails with files attached to them.
These attachments are usually Microsoft Office documents, PDF docs, archives such as RAR, ZIP, executables (i.e., .exe files), JavaScript files, and so on. If opened, these files cause download and installation of high-risk malware. Trojans are malicious programs that proliferate other programs of this kind - they cause chain infections.
People who use software 'cracking' tools to avoid having to purchase installed software (pay for activation) often unintentionally allow these tools to download and install malware. Therefore, cyber criminals often employ them to proliferate viruses.
Browse the web, install, download and update software properly. Do not open attachments that are presented in irrelevant/dubious emails received from unknown email addresses. The same applies to web links presented in them.
Keep installed software updated, however, use implemented functions or tools provided by official developers, and not third party tools. All software should be downloaded from official websites and using direct links. None of the sources mentioned above can be trusted.
The same applies to software 'cracking' tools - using them is illegal and they are often used by cyber criminals who attempt to trick people into downloading/installing malware. Finally, have reputable anti-spyware or anti-virus software installed and to ensure that it is enabled.
To remove this malware we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button.
Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button.
You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".
After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.
These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.
I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.
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System Requirements and Interface
Compatible with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP PCs, PC Tools Registry Mechanic requires 50MB of disk space and an internet connection for registering the software and receiving updates.
The Clean-Up Process and Performance Enhancement
Clicking the large "1-Click" button began the cleanup process, which took just seconds to complete. PC Tools Registry Mechanic found over 90 registry and privacy issues that were soon remedied. I also used the app to remove unwanted and unused software from the PC.
Should You Use PC Tools?
PC Tools Registry Mechanic did a decent job of improving our testbed's overall performance, but there are more potent options. Plus, in the age of the multi-computer household, the installation limitations seem outdated; if you want to install it on more than three PCs, you have to buy two licenses, which will cost nearly $60. PC Tools Performance Toolkit 2011 is a solid tune-up utility, but its model is outdated, and there are better choices out there, including both PC Tools' own Performance Toolkit and Editors' Choice winner SlimWare Utilities SlimCleaner, which is free.
System Requirements and Interface
Compatible with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP PCs, PC Tools Registry Mechanic requires 50MB of disk space and an internet connection for registering the software and receiving updates.
The Clean-Up Process and Performance Enhancement
Clicking the large \"1-Click\" button began the cleanup process, which took just seconds to complete. PC Tools Registry Mechanic found over 90 registry and privacy issues that were soon remedied. I also used the app to remove unwanted and unused software from the PC.
Should You Use PC Tools?
PC Tools Registry Mechanic did a decent job of improving our testbed's overall performance, but there are more potent options. Plus, in the age of the multi-computer household, the installation limitations seem outdated; if you want to install it on more than three PCs, you have to buy two licenses, which will cost nearly $60. PC Tools Performance Toolkit 2011 is a solid tune-up utility, but its model is outdated, and there are better choices out there, including both PC Tools' own Performance Toolkit and Editors' Choice winner SlimWare Utilities SlimCleaner, which is free.