Windows Efficiency Kit

What is Efficiency Kit?

Windows Efficiency Kit is a fake antivirus program, which reports non existent security infections in the hope that PC users will purchase the license key. This program is created by cyber criminals who use fake online security scanners and malicious websites to distribute this scam.

Computer users should be aware that this program has no virus scan engine or a virus definition database - it merely mimics the detection of identical security infections on each computer infiltrated.

After successful infiltration, Windows Efficiency Kit modifies the registry entries of an affected operating system, configures itself to start automatically on each system Startup, blocks execution of installed software (including Internet browsers), and disables the Task Manager. Moreover, this rogue antivirus blocks the entire desktop, thus making its removal more complicated.

This fake security scanner originates from a family of fake antivirus program called FakeVimes. PC users should be aware that this program has nothing in common with legitimate antivirus programs - it is merely a scam created by cyber criminals.

Paying for the license key of this program is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals - you will lose your money and your computer will remain infected. The correct way to deal with this program is to eliminate it from your operating system.

Windows Efficiency Kit is identical to previous variants named Windows Prime Accelerator, Windows Prime Shield, and Windows Prime Booster.

Cyber criminals responsible for creating these rogue antivirus programs maintain identical user interfaces and behavior of the fake security scanners, however, they employ different names for the software and those of the executable files, which load the fake antivirus program on users' operating systems.

PC users who have already paid for the full version ('ultimate protection') of Windows Efficiency Kit should immediately contact their credit card company and dispute the charges, explaining that they have been tricked into buying rogue antivirus software.

To avoid installation of such bogus programs, Internet users should not trust online pop-up messages that indicate security infections and suggest the download of software to eliminate supposedly 'detected' security threats - these are known methods employed by cyber criminals to proliferate fake antivirus programs.

PC users who observe Windows Efficiency Kit scanning their computers for security infections should ignore this bogus software and use this removal guide to eliminate the scam from their computers.

Screenshot of a fake security warning message blocking execution of Internet browsers:

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Quick menu:

• What is Efficiency Kit?
• STEP 1. Efficiency Kit removal - deleting svc-[random letters].exe file.
• STEP 2. Remove Efficiency Kit using a registration key.
• STEP 3. Remove Efficiency Kit using Safe Mode with Networking.

Windows Efficiency Kit removal:

Complete these steps to access your desktop:

1. Wait until Windows Efficiency Kit completes the fake security scan and click "Settings" (at the top of the main window).

2. Select "Allow unprotected Startup".

3. After selecting "Allow unprotected Startup", close Windows Efficiency Kit.

4. Access "My Computer" - double click on "My Computer" icon.

5. Navigate to C:\Users\[YOUR USER NAME]\AppData\Roaming

6. Locate a file named "svc-[random letters].exe" and click your right mouse button over this file.

7. In the opened menu, select "Rename". Change the filename of "svc-[random letters].exe" to "fake.exe".

8. After renaming the "svc-[random letters].exe" file, restart your computer. Next time the operating system boots, Windows Efficiency Kit will be inactive and will not block access to Internet.

6. Download legitimate anti-spyware software to completely remove this rogue antivirus program from your computer.

If you cannot download or run the spyware remover, try running the registry fix (link below). It enables execution of programs. Download the registryfix.reg file, double click it, click YES and then OK.

Windows Efficiency Kit removal using a registry key:

1. Click the question mark icon (at the top of the main window of Windows Efficiency Kit) and select "Register".

2. In the opened window enter this registry key: 0W000-000B0-00T00-E0001

3. After entering this registry key, Windows Efficiency Kit will mimic the removal of previously 'detected' security threats and allow execution of installed programs. Note that entering this registration key will not remove this rogue antivirus program - it simply makes the removal process less complicated.

4. Download legitimate anti-spyware software to completely remove Windows Efficiency Kit from your computer.

Windows Efficiency Kit removal using Safe Mode with Networking:

Step 1

Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer starting process press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Video showing how to start Windows XP in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Step 2

Remove proxy settings from Internet Explorer. This rogue antivirus adds a proxy to the user's Internet connection settings in order to display various errors when user attempts to access the Internet. To remove proxy settings: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. In the opened menu select "Internet Options".

In the opened window select the "Connections" tab.

In the "Connections" tab, click on "LAN settings".

If "Use a proxy server for your LAN" is checked, uncheck it and click OK.

Step 3

Download legitimate anti-spyware software to completely remove this fake antivirus program from your computer.

Step 4

After removing this rogue software, you should reset your Hosts file. Do not skip this step since Windows Efficiency Kit modifies your Hosts file and you will encounter browser redirect problems if malicious entries are not eliminated.

The Hosts file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses. When it is changed, the user may be redirected to malicious sites, despite seeing legitimate URLs in address bar.

It is difficult to determine sites are genuine when the Hosts file is modified. To fix this, please download the Microsoft Fix It tool, that restores your Hosts file to the Windows default. Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:

Other tools known to remove Windows Efficiency Kit:

• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Summary:

The fake antivirus programs (also known as "rogue antivirus programs" or "scareware") are applications that tries to lure computer users into paying for their non-existent full versions to remove the supposedly detected security infections (although the computer is actually clean). These bogus programs are created by cyber criminals who design them to look as legitimate antivirus software. Most commonly rogue antivirus programs infiltrate user's computer using poop-up windows or alerts which appear when users surf the Internet. These deceptive messages trick users into downloading a rogue antivirus program on their computers. Other known tactics used to spread scareware include exploit kits, infected email messages, online ad networks, drive-by downloads, or even direct calls to user's offering free support.

A computer that is infected with a fake antivirus program might also have other malware installed on it as rogue antivirus programs often are bundled with Trojans and exploit kits. Noteworthy that additional malware that infiltrates user's operating system remains on victim's computer regardless of whether a payment for a non-existent full version of a fake antivirus program is made. Here are some examples of fake security warning messages that are used in fake antivirus distribution:

Computer users who are dealing with a rogue security software shouldn't buy it's full version. By paying for a license key of a fake antivirus program users would send their money and banking information to cyber criminals. Users who have already entered their credit card number (or other sensitive information) when asked by such bogus software should inform their credit card company that they have been tricked into buying a rogue security software. Screenshot of a web page used to lure computer users into paying for a non-existent full version of windows efficiency kit virus and other rogue antivirus programs:

To protect your computer from windows efficiency kit virus and other rogue antivirus programs users should:

• Keep their operating system and all of the installed programs up-to-date.
• Use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
• Use caution when clicking on links in social networking websites and email messages.
• Don't trust online pop-up messages which state that your computer is infected and offers you to download security software.

Symptoms indicating that your operating system is infected with a fake antivirus program:

• Intrusive security warning pop-up messages.
• Alerts asking to upgrade to a paid version of a program to remove the supposedly detected malware.
• Slow computer performance.
• Disabled Windows updates.
• Blocked Task Manager.
• Blocked Internet browsers or inability to visit legitimate antivirus vendor websites.

If you have additional information on windows efficiency kit virus or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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