Windows Efficiency Master

What is Efficiency Master?

Windows Efficiency Master is a fake antivirus program, which imitates a legitimate security scanner and attempts to trick unsuspecting PC users into purchasing a 'full version'. This bogus program is created by cyber criminals who employ hacked websites and fake online security scanners to distribute their rogue antivirus program.

Commonly, Windows Efficiency Master is proliferated using a fake Microsoft Security Essentials alert message reporting non existent security threats and tricking PC users into downloading this rogue antivirus program.

Following successful infiltration, Windows, Efficiency Master modifies the registry entries of an infected operating system by disabling the Task Manager and blocking execution of installed programs.

Moreover, this fake antivirus program configures itself to start automatically on each system Startup and blocks the user's desktop. The main purpose of this rogue security scanner is to coerce PC users into purchasing 'ultimate protection' (the full version), which supposedly eliminates all 'detected' security infections.

Be aware that none of the 'detected' security threats are genuine and paying for the full version of Windows Efficiency Master is equivalent to sending your money and credit card information to cyber criminals. This program is a scam - do not buy the license.

This bogus software originates from a family of fake antivirus programs called FakeVimes. Previous variants were named Windows Safety Master and Windows Ultimate Booster. Cyber criminals responsible for releasing rogue programs from this family, do so under different names, but using identical user interfaces and functionality.

To avoid installation of these bogus antivirus programs, do not trust online security warning messages indicating 'detected' security infections and offering installation of antivirus programs. PC users should keep their operating system and installed software up-to-date and use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.

Users who observe Windows Efficiency Master scanning their computers for security infections should use this removal guide to eliminate this rogue antivirus program from their operating systems.

Fake Microsoft Security Essentials alert used to distribute Windows Efficiency Master:

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Quick menu:

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

Windows Efficiency Master removal:

Complete these steps to access your desktop:

1. Wait until Windows Efficiency Master 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 Master.

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 Master 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 Master removal using a registry key:

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

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

3. After entering this registry key, Windows Efficiency Master mimics the removal of previously-detected security threats and allows 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 Master from your computer.

Windows Efficiency Master 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 the 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, reset your Hosts file. Do not skip this step since Windows Efficiency Master 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:

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 master virus and other rogue antivirus programs:

To protect your computer from windows efficiency master 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 master virus or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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