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PC Gold Optimizer and system repair (by Alliance Tech Group) is a type of software that offers you, at first sight, beneficial capabilities, such as boosting PC performance, blocking unwanted URLs, and real-time antivirus protection. Although it might seem that it is useful to add this kind of software to your system, it is considered to be a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) since it is spreading using controversial methods. Besides, the benefits of its paid version are debatable.
Although it is not fully proven that PC Gold Optimizer and system repair is a type of malware it raises some suspicions. This software offers tools such as malware cleaner, registry cleaner, startup optimizer, junk cleaner, and some other. Its main capability is to scan the user’s system for potential faults, threats, and viruses. However, even though it might detect some issues, you need to pay the full price of the product to start dealing with those problems.
So far there is little proof whether PC Gold Optimizer and system repair use fake scan results to trick users into buying a full license, but there is a possibility of that being true. Another fact to mention is that PUAs such as this come together with other potentially unwanted apps such as adware software or browser hijackers. To put it shortly, adware is a type of software that promotes a set of certain advertisements and browser hijackers are designed to change your default browser settings in a specific way to push for fake search engines.
Moreover, potentially unwanted apps also might have data-collecting capabilities that contradict any privacy policy. Sensitive data like geolocation, search history, or usage patterns might be collected and sold to ad networks. Furthermore, most of this data is person-identifiable so it is a real concern for personal information safety. In essence, even though this kind of software might be advertised as a useful program, it might pose threats to your PC security.
Name | PC Gold Optimizer and System Repair |
Type | PC Optimizer, Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) |
Developer | The Alliance Tech Group |
Promoted functions | Claims to be capable of removing malware, junk files, repair Windows registry and update drivers |
AV Detection names | ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (Symantec), W32.Deceptor.Pcgold.Optimizer (Webroot), Misleading:Win32/Lodi (Microsoft) |
Symptoms | Appears on computer without user’s knowledge after being installed via bundleware, starts system scans and urges to purchase a license key to fix detected issues |
Distribution | Software bundles (freeware), pop-up ads |
Removal | Remove using malware removal software and repair caused damage on Windows system using RESTORO |
Scan your system for FREE to detect security, hardware and stability issues. You can use the scan results and try to remove threats manually, or you can choose to get the full version of software to fix detected issues and repair virus damage to Windows OS system files automatically. Includes Avira spyware/malware detection & removal engine.
There are a couple of ways that are used by the developers of this kind of software to distribute it through the internet. Sometimes it might get installed by clicking on suspicious-looking ads that are capable to install a certain program on your PC. However, that is rarely the case – most of the time you might get PUA such as PC Gold Optimizer and system repair through software bundling. To explain it shortly, software bundling is a type of distribution method that attaches PUAs to other potentially unwanted apps or even some beneficial and wanted programs.
However, most of the time this happens when downloading software illegally and, most important, inattentively. PUAs might also get into your system through so-called ‘chain infections’. For example, if your system’s security has been breached and you have some sort of malicious program in it, it might trigger the download and installation processes of other harmful programs, including PUAs.
Of course, one might think what precautions should be taken in order to avoid these kinds of headaches and keep your system safe. Firstly, we highly suggest you only download from official sites instead of using various file-sharing networks and websites such as zMule, Torrent, etc. It is important to realize that if someone offers software that is pay-to-use for free – it seldom comes without a price.
Besides, when downloading and installing any type of software from the internet, pay close attention to the installation process steps. Especially you should mind the Advanced/Custom options since there might be an option to install a PUA. By rushing through installation, ordinary users tend to leave a gap for PUAs to be installed. We also recommend you do not open any suspicious-looking emails (as well as files attached to them) that are sent to you. Clicking on random ads when surfing on the internet might also end in a bad fashion since some of them might be harmful as well.
Luckily, since you are reading this article, we provide you with a short guide on how to remove PC Gold Optimizer and system repair or any PUA for that matter. We recommend you use a robust and trustworthy malware removal tool to terminate all malware from your system. For cleaning left modifications to your Windows files and repairing PC problems, we recommend using RESTORO. To remove PC Gold Optimizer and system repair from your system follow the steps given below:
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PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair Removal Tutorial
To remove the unwanted program from your computer, use these instructions below to uninstall associated programs or apps from your Windows or Mac computer. Then scroll down for instructions how to clean each affected web browser individually.
Windows 10/8.1/8 users
Click on the Windows logo to open Windows menu. In search, type control panel and select the matching result. Then go to Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users
First, open Windows menu by clicking on the icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Then go to Control Panel and find section called Programs. Click on the Uninstall a program option under it.
Windows XP users
In Windows XP, click Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
Uninstall unwanted programs
Once in Programs and Features, look through the list of installed programs. You can click on Installed on tab to sort the programs by their installation date.
Right-click on suspicious programs you can't remember installing and choose Uninstall. Follow instructions provided by the Uninstall Wizard, click Next and finally Finish to uninstall the unwanted program from your PC.
Remove PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair from Mac
Remove using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
Remove PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions
Change Start Page settings
Change default search settings
Remove push notifications from Chrome
If you want to get rid of the annoying ads and so-called push-notifications viruses, you must identify their components and clean your browser. You can easily remove ads from Chrome by following these steps:
Reset Google Chrome browser
Remove PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair from Mozilla Firefox
Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox
Change Firefox Homepage
Alter preferences in Firefox
Remove annoying push notifications from Firefox
Suspicious sites that ask to enable push notifications gain access to Mozilla's settings and can deliver intrusive advertisements when browsing the Internet. Therefore, you should remove access to your browser by following these simple steps:
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Remove PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair from Microsoft Edge
Remove suspicious extensions:
Change MS Edge Start Page and default search engine:
Turn off push notifications in Edge
If you keep receiving pop-up ads or other promotional content while browsing on Microsoft Edge, your browser might be corrupted by a potentially unwanted program (PUP). You have to clean it — follow these easy instructions:
Clear browsing data
Remove PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair from Safari
Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions
Change Safari Homepage and default search engine
Remove push notifications on Safari
Some suspicious websites can try to corrupt your Safari by asking to enable push notifications. If you have accidentally agreed, your browser will be flooded with various intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. You can get rid of them by following this quick guide:
Reset Safari
Remove PC GOLD Optimizer and system repair from Internet Explorer
TIP: If you are still using IE, we strongly advise using Microsoft Edge or a different browser because Microsoft is no longer providing technical or security support for IE browser.
Remove suspicious extensions from IE
Change default search provider and remove suspicious ones
Change IE Home Page
Block pop-up notifications on Internet Explorer
Suspicious websites can gain access to your Internet Explorer browser through push notifications. If you enable them even by accident, you will start receiving numerous annoying ads and other advertising content while browsing. The easiest way to remove push-notification viruses is by performing the following steps:
Reset Internet Explorer
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense
If you're looking for an all-in-one system maintenance suite that has 7 core components providing powerful real-time protection, on-demand malware removal, system optimization, data recovery, password manager, online privacy protection and secure driver wiping technology. Therefore, due to its wide-range of capabilities, System Mechanic Ultimate Defense deserves Geek's Advice approval. Get it now for 50% off. You may also be interested in its full review.
Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.
Matt Corey is passionate about the latest tech news, gadgets and everything IT. Matt loves to criticize Windows and help people solve problems related to this operating system. When he’s not tinkering around with new gadgets he orders, he enjoys skydiving, as it is his favorite way to clear his mind and relax.
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