Defense Center is a bogus antispyware program that is installed via trojans and uses scare tactics, such as fake security alerts, to trick unsuspecting users into buying its full version.
Needless to say the full version of this bogus program is as useless as the trial version. Contrary to its claim, Defense Center (including its full version) does not remove any malware from your computer.
To ensure normal functioning of your Windows computer, it is recommended that you promptly uninstall Defense Center.
Remove Defense Center
The best way to remove Defense Center or any other malware from your computer is by running a thorough virus scan using a piece of reliable antivirus software.
Download and install a reliable antivirus product, such as StopZilla, and use it to remove Defense Center.
It is possible that Defense Center may prevent you from downloading any new protective tool (Defense Center does so to prevent you from uninstalling it). If this is the case, then you need to first terminate all Defense Center processes. To achieve this, perform the following steps:
- Press Ctrl+Shft+Esc to open the Windows Task Manager window.
- Click the Processes tab.
- Select the following processes one-by-one and click the End Process button to terminate them.
- Uninstall.exe
- spam001.exe
- spam003.exe
- defcnt.exe
- troj000.exe
After you have terminated these processes, open your web browser and download a genuine antivirus software, such as StopZilla. Once you have installed a computer protective program, reboot Windows in Safe Mode and run a complete malware scan.
The steps listed below take you through on how to restart Windows in the Safe Mode:
- Restart your computer.
- Press and hold the F8 key as your computer reloads.
- Select Safe Mode using the arrow keys in the Windows Advanced Boot Menu and then press Enter.
Now, run a malware scan on your computer to remove Defense Center.
How to Remove Defense Center Manually
The steps listed in this section take you through how to remove Defense Center manually.
To remove Defense Center manually, you need to complete the following tasks:
Task 1 – Terminate Defense Center Processes
Open Windows Task Manager and end the following processes:
- Uninstall.exe
- spam001.exe
- spam003.exe
- defcnt.exe
- troj000.exe
Task 2 – Unregister Defense Center DLL files
Run the regsvr32 /u [Dllfilename] command to unregister the following DLL files:
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\defhook.dll
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\defext.dll
Task 3 – Delete Defense Center Files
Use the Windows Explorer to locate and delete the following files:
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites\_favdata.dat
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\defcnt.exe
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\def.db
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\buy.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\activate.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\about.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\help.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\scan.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\Uninstall.exe
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\splash.mp3
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\settings.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\update.ico
c:\Program Files\Defense Center\virus.mp3
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Defense Center Support.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Defense Center.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\youporn.com.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\troj000.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\spam003.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\spam001.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\pornotube.com.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\nudetube.com.lnk
%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\Defense Center Support.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Update.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Settings.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Scan.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center\Defense Center.lnk
Task 4 – Delete Defense Center Folders
Locate and delete the following folders:
c:\Program Files\Defense Center
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Defense Center
Note: %UserProfile% is a variable and points to your current user’s profile folder. By default, for Windows 7/Vista/XP the path is C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]
Task 5 – Delete Defense Center Registry Entries
Important: The steps illustrated below require you to edit the registry. It is imperative that you back up the registry before making any changes, as this allows you to restore the registry to its previous working state should anything go wrong. You may use a professional registry tool, such as RegGenie, to back up the registry and perform other essential registry maintenance activities.
Run the regedit command to open the Registry Editor. Next, use the Find command under the Edit menu of the Registry Editor to locate and delete the following registry entries:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-861567501-152049171-1708537768-1003_Classes\secfile
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Defense Center
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Defense Center
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Program Groups
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System “DisableTaskMgr” = “1″
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “Defense Center”
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system “DisableTaskMgr” = “1″
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved “{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}”