XP Protection Center Threat Level:

XP Protection Center — AKA XPProtectionCenter — is more fake antivirus/anti-spyware software.

You can thank a Trojan or scam website for installing XP Protection Center onto your computer. Once XP Protection Center is in, XP Protection Center tries to trick you into buying the “full” version of XP Protection Center with fake system warnings, and by noting harmless files as dangerous.

Before you set fire to your PC to stop XP Protection Center popups, I’ll show you how to get rid of XP Protection Center for free.

Do You Have XP Protection Center?

When you’re infected with badware — whether it’s XP Protection Center, spyware, adware, a Trojan, or a virus — there are a few key symptoms. Have you noticed…

• Slow computer performance: It just takes one parasite like XP Protection Center to slow your computer dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot, or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, you may be infected with XP Protection Center.
• New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Badware like XP Protection Center may change your Internet settings to redirect your homepage to another site. Badware can even add desktop shortcuts to your PC.
• Annoying popups: Badware can bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Through these popups, you may be tricked into downloading more spyware.

How to Remove XP Protection Center Manually

Before we get started, you should backup your system and your registry, so it’ll be easy to restore your computer if anything goes wrong.

To remove XP Protection Center manually, you need to delete XP Protection Center files. Not sure how to delete XP Protection Center files? Click here, and I’ll show you. Otherwise, go ahead and…

Stop XP Protection Center processes:

Get rid of XP Protection Center registry keys:

Remove XP Protection Center files:

Note: In any XP Protection Center files I mention above, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. If you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\JoeSmith”). If you have any questions about manual XP Protection Center removal, go ahead and leave a comment.

How Do You Remove XP Protection Center Files?

Need help figuring out how to delete XP Protection Center files? While there’s some risk involved, and you should only manually remove XP Protection Center files if you’re comfortable editing your system, you’ll find it’s fairly easy to delete XP Protection Center files in Windows.

How to delete XP Protection Center files in Windows XP and Vista:

1. Click your Windows Start menu, and then click “Search.”
2. A speech bubble will pop up asking you, “What do you want to search for?” Click “All files and folders.”
3. Type a XP Protection Center file in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
4. Click “Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop XP Protection Center processes:

1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click “OK.” You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find XP Protection Center processes.
4. Once you’ve found the XP Protection Center processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill XP Protection Center.

How to remove XP Protection Center registry keys:

Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you edit it. Editing your registry can be intimidating if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire system. Make sure your backup your registry before editing it.

1. Select your Windows menu “Start,” and click “Run.” An “Open” field will appear. Type “regedit” and click “OK” to open up your Registry Editor.
2. Registry Editor will open as a window with two panes. The left side Registry Editor’s window lets you select various registry keys, and the right side displays the registry values of the registry key you select.
3. To find a registry key, such as any XP Protection Center registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of XP Protection Center’s registry keys.
4. As soon as XP Protection Center registry key appears, you can delete the XP Protection Center registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

How to delete XP Protection Center DLL files:

1. First locate XP Protection Center DLL files you want to delete. Open your Windows Start menu, then click “Run.” Type “cmd” in Run, and click “OK.”
2. To change your current directory, type “cd” in the command box, press your “Space” key, and enter the full directory where the XP Protection Center DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the XP Protection Center DLL file is located in a particular directory, enter “dir” in the command box to display a directory’s contents. To go one directory back, enter “cd ..” in the command box and press “Enter.”
3. When you’ve located the XP Protection Center DLL file you want to remove, type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll”) and press your “Enter” key.

That’s it. If you want to restore any XP Protection Center DLL file you removed, type “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Did XP Protection Center change your homepage?

1. Click Windows Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options.
2. Under Home Page, select the General > Use Default.
3. Type in the URL you want as your home page (e.g., “http://www.homepage.com”).
4. Select Apply > OK.
5. You’ll want to open a fresh web page and make sure that your new default home page pops up.

XP Protection Center Removal Tip

Is your computer acting funny after deleting any XP Protection Center files? I recommend using a program like File Recover from PC Tools. File Recover saves deleted files that otherwise can’t be recovered by Windows operating sytem.

Want to save time finding XP Protection Center files? Download Spyware Doctor, let it find the XP Protection Center files for you, and then manually delete XP Protection Center files.

How Did You Get XP Protection Center?

Wondering how XP Protection Center ended up on your PC? If you’re infected with XP Protection Center or other badware, perhaps you were using…

• Freeware or shareware: Did you download and install shareware or freeware? These low-cost or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like XP Protection Center. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly attached to free software to harm your computer and steal your personal and financial information.
• Peer-to-peer software: Do you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) program or other application with a shared network? When you use these applications, you put your system at risk for unknowingly downloading an infected file, including applications like XP Protection Center.
• Questionable websites: Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, badware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like XP Protection Center. I recommend you use Firefox web browser, if you don’t already.

Understanding XP Protection Center

If you’re infected with XP Protection Center, you should know what you’re fighting. I’ll explain some definitions related to XP Protection Center.

XP Protection Center May Be Rogue Anti-Spyware

Rogue anti-spyware refers to anti-spyware/antivirus software of questionable value. Rogue anti-spyware may not be proven to protect your computer from spyware, may popup fake alerts or create many false positives about your PC being infected, or may use scare tactics to try to get you to purchase the application. Rogue anti-spyware software may be installed by a Trojan, come bundled with other software, or install itself through web browser security holes. While it is fairly rare, some rogue anti-spyware is created and distributed by known spyware or adware companies, and the rogue anti-spyware may install spyware or adware itself.

Often when you’re infected with rogue anti-spyware like XP Protection Center, you’ll see a false popup security alert like this:

Rogue Anti-Spyware Tactics

Typically, rogue anti-spyware such as XP Protection Center has one or more of the qualities listed below, which is why rogue anti-spyware is considered anti-spyware software of questionable value.

• False positives/fake alerts: Rogue anti-spyware may produce a large number of false positives or use fake alerts, noting that your computer is infected with spyware parasites or other threats that do not really exist.
• Copycat looks: Rogue anti-spyware may copy the look and feel of other legitimate or rogue anti-spyware applications. Often, rogue anti-spyware applications may appear as close clones of other rogue anti-spyware software.
• High pressure marketing: Rogue anti-spyware may use scare tactics or other aggressive advertising and marketing tactics to try to trick you into buying the rogue anti-spyware application. Often, rogue anti-spyware may produce false positives and fake alerts about your computer being infected.
• Poor detection/scan reporting: Rogue anti-spyware may produce poor reports when it scans your PC. For example, rogue anti-spyware may say your computer is infected 11 parasites, but not specify which spyware parasites or what type of parasites. Rogue anti-spyware may also report that your PC is infected with SafeAndClean, but not tell you which related files, DLLS, etc. were found on your computer.
• Weak scanning/detection: Rogue anti-spyware may not only poorly report on computer infection, but rogue antispyware may also poorly scan your PC. Rogue anti-spyware may skip over important folders and files of your computer that should be scanned to detect spyware.

Did XP Protection Center use these tactics to trick you into buying XP Protection Center?

XP Protection Center May Be a Trojan

Trojans install themselves secretly onto your computer, most often through your downloading a simple email attachment (often Trojans pose as harmless pictures). Most Trojans are able to gain complete control over your PC after installation. With this control, the Trojan and the hacker behind it may change your system settings, delete important files, steal your passwords, and watch your computer acitivity.

Infection Methods of XP Protection Center and Other Trojans

Most Trojans infect your computer by tricking you into launching an infected file. This poisoned file could disguised as a small file, such as a jpeg or other email attachment, or it might be downloaded via a website or FTP.

• Email: Your PC may be infected with a Trojan when you download infected email attachments, or sometimes even when you simply open an email. Many Trojans exploit security holes in Microsoft Outlook. You may be able to reduce your chances of getting infected by a Trojan by using a spam-blocking software.
• Websites: Your PC may be infected with a Trojan when you visit a rogue site. Many Trojans exploit security holes in Internet Explorer web browser so that by simply visiting a website you may unknowingly download a Trojan.
• Open ports: If your computer runs programs that provide file-sharing functions – such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, and more – you may open your computer up to vulnerabilities. Using file sharing through these applications may create a network that gives attackers the opportunity to remotely access your computer.