Defense Center is a malicious program that is related to the notorious rogue program Protection Center. It tries to trick users into paying for a license to its ‘full’ version. Defense Center gets installed on user systems via Trojan viruses that get downloaded from malicious websites which claim to contain malware scanning services. Once installed, it immediately blocks any legitimate security software that the user may have installed on their computer. Defense Center also runs endless fake virus scans and reports that the user’s system is infected with dangerous malicious software. It also displays fake warning pop-ups from the Windows taskbar. Meanwhile it constantly requests the user to upgrade to the ‘full’ version of Defense Center by paying for a software license, claiming that the currently installed ‘trial’ version is incapable of properly removing the detected false ‘threats’. However, no user should allow him to be tricked into buying this software, as the ‘full’ version of Defense Center is just as incapable of cleaning a computer system as the ‘trial’ version is.
It is extremely important to initiate Defense Center removal as soon as you find any signs of it being installed on your computer. In order to remove Defense Center properly, it is needed to stop its processes, unregister its DLLs, delete its files and folders and remove its registry entries.
File Removal Procedures
The first step you must take in order to delete Defense Center is to stop the following processes:
- mswinsck.exe
- wscsvc32.exe
- defcnt.exe
- uninstall.exe
Next, it is necessary to unregister the following DLL files to continue with Defense Center removal:
- fiosejgfse.dll
- defext.dll
- defhook.dll
The next step in Defense Center removal is the deletion of the following files and folders:
- %documents and settings%\all users\application data\fiosejgfse.dll
- %temp%\mswinsck.exe
- %temp%\wscsvc32.exe
- %appdata%\microsoft\internet explorer\quick launch\Defense Center.lnk
- %desktop%\Defense Center support.lnk
- %desktop%\Defense Center.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\about.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\activate.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\buy.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\Defense Center support.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\Defense Center.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\scan.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\settings.lnk
- %commonprograms%\Defense Center\update.lnk
- %programfiles\Defense Center\about.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\activate.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\buy.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\def.db
- %programfiles\Defense Center\defext.dll
- %programfiles\Defense Center\defhook.dll
- %programfiles\Defense Center\defcnt.exe
- %programfiles\Defense Center\help.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\scan.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\settings.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\splash.mp3
- %programfiles\Defense Center\uninstall.exe
- %programfiles\Defense Center\update.ico
- %programfiles\Defense Center\virus.mp3
After the above steps have been completed, your hard disk is free from files and folders belonging to Defense Center.
Registry Removal Procedures
Removing files and folders alone is not sufficient for complete Defense Center removal. In order to remove Defense Center completely, the following keys and settings should be removed from the Windows Registry:
- hkcr\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}
- hklm\SOFTWARE\Defense Center
- hklm\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Defense Center
- hklm\SOFTWARE\Paladin Antivirus
- hkcu\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “Defense Center”
- hklm\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved “{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}”
Now it is safe to say that your computer is completely safe from Defense Center. However, in order to make sure of this fact, it is recommended to conduct a full system sweep using genuine antivirus software such as Spyware Doctor with Antivirus
Conclusion
Manual Defense Center removal is not recommended for inexperienced users, as any mistake made during removal could potentially damage the operating system of the computer. Therefore inexperienced users are advised to use a legitimate antivirus program such as Spyware Doctor with Antivirus or a web-based system scanner such as www.onlinecomputerrepair.org to ensure safe Defense Center removal.