How to remove PCMate Free Driver Backup

Easy methods to delete PCMate Free Driver Backup from PCs (Remove Potentially Unwanted Applications)

PCMate Free Driver Backup is another rough application belongs to potentially unwanted application (PUA) category. It is fake driver backup software. According to developers of this rough application, this app is capable of creating backups for video, audio, network, mouse, keyboards, Universal Serial Bus Controller and other drivers. They also claim that this application is able to store browser cookie backups, Internet Explorer favorites, registry data, etc. Developers also state that these backups created by PCMate Free Driver Backup application can be helpful in case of Operating System crashes, reinstallation and updating. But it is bogus at all.

It might possible this rough application helps you in any cases. However, it is classified as PUA that spreads self-made malware or adware in your computer and starts corrupting major genuine functions or applications of your computer without your knowledge. This dubious application promotes other System optimization software/System cleaning tools on its platform and asks you to downloaded/install these programs in your computer to improve your System performance. However, these adware type applications runs malicious advertisements campaigns means deliver lots of unwanted ads or popup on your browser.

PCMate Free Driver Backup targets Windows OS based computer and does malicious infection in your computer without your permission. Initially, it blocks all the security programs including antimalware running in your computer to avoid the detection of malicious activities related to this malware. It modifies your System registry settings that cause restarts your computer in certain intervals of times automatically. However, it can bombard your computer with other harmful malware like Trojan, worms, keyloggers, ransomware and/or other malware that can make your System useless. The main aim of attackers is to collect your crucial & confidential information and shares these collected details to other hackers or third parties to generate some incomes from them.

Distribution methods:

The potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) are generally get enters into your machine accidently from bundles of free software packages which you are downloaded from internet. Scammers or malware programmers use “Software bundling methods” to install some additional programs in your machine. These additional programs can be adware, PUAs, PUPs, worms, keyloggers, ransomware and/or other malware. So, we recommended you to choose custom/advance settings for the installation of free software packages in your computer. If these settings are not given, then you can cancel the process of installation. So, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid installing free software packages from unknown or unofficial sources.

Threat Summary

Threat Name: PCMate Free Driver Backup, PCMate Free Driver Backup PUA, PCMate Free Driver Backup adware

Threat Type: Adware, PUA, PUP

Description: This dubious application accidently install in your computer and starts infecting your machine deeply.

Distribution methods: Malicious ads or popup, fake software updaters or downloaders, suspicious hyperlinks

Motives of attackers: Aims to collect your personal information and shares it to illegal ones.

Malware removal method: To remove PCMate Free Driver Backup or related malware, we recommended you to scan your computer with powerful antivirus software.

Prevention tips:

As discussed above, you should always choose recommended custom/advance settings for the installation of free software packages in your machine. These settings will allow you to remove unnecessary programs from freeware setup during installation process. You should be alert while surfing online and avoid installing freeware from unknown official or unknown sources. Hover your mouse over any hyperlinks before click and double-check if the hyperlinks are belongs to some trustworthy domains or sources.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove PCMate Free Driver Backup:

Remove the related items of PCMate Free Driver Backup using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing PCMate Free Driver Backup issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (PCMate Free Driver Backup) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to PCMate Free Driver Backup removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to PCMate Free Driver Backup still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove PCMate Free Driver Backup plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in PCMate Free Driver Backup removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete PCMate Free Driver Backup (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.