PC Accelerate Pro is not exactly a virus, but it is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that is intended to trick unaware users. PC Accelerate Pro tries to scam users into purchasing useless software that purports to speed up their computers, all the while collecting user information and displaying ads.

If PC Accelerate Pro is installed on your computer, you should get rid of it. Here’s how to get rid of PC Accelerate.

Is PC Accelerate a Virus?

PC Accelerate Pro presents itself as a software program that helps users optimize their computers to run faster. In actuality, it’s a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that scams users into paying for unnecessary software upgrades.

Once installed, PC Accelerate Pro will scan your computer and alert you that it can optimize your system once you’ve upgraded to the full version, which requires you to pay for a subscription. Once you’ve bought the subscription version of the program, however, it doesn’t do anything.

You should know that any program that tells you that you need to pay in order to optimize your computer’s performance is lying to you. You can speed up your system’s performance using programs such as Avira or TotalAV, as well as many other free programs that will remove junk files.

Additionally, operating systems such as Windows 10 come with built-in optimization tools such as Disk Defragmenter. These tools will optimize your computer’s speed in other ways.

Users and security experts report that PC Accelerate Pro generally gets onto computers through software bundling. This is when unwanted software is installed with other software downloaded online. When you download a program you want to use, PC Accelerate Pro is also installed alongside it.

Once installed, PC Accelerate Pro will start to cause havoc. It will secretly gather user information, including your browsing history, and will constantly show advertisements. It is also often bundled with another program called Instant Support that will show a pop-up urging you to call a phone number, offering help with fixing various “issues” with your computer.

You should never call any number shown by Instant Support or similar apps. If you do, you will likely be connected to a scammer who will try to take control of your system and steal your personal information or install malware.

How to Uninstall PC Accelerate Windows 10

If you’re asking yourself “Why does PC accelerate keep popping up?” it’s because this potentially unwanted program has been installed on your computer, and you possibly have other malware programs on your system as well. Here’s how to get rid of PC Accelerate.

1. Uninstall PC Accelerate Pro and Instant Support

You can uninstall PC Accelerate Pro and Instant Support by navigating to the Start menu, selecting “Programs and Features,” selecting PC Accelerate Pro and Instant Support from the menu that appears, and following the instructions. This will get the programs off of your computer.

2. Scan your computer with an antivirus program

Getting rid of these programs isn’t enough because they may have downloaded other malware programs to your system. Use your antivirus program and run a scan to find this malware before it can cause any problems.

3. Delete any infected files that your antivirus program detects

If your antivirus program finds any infected files, follow the instructions to quarantine and remove them.

4. Check the Programs and Features menu for other unwanted programs

Because PC Accelerate Pro often infiltrates systems via software bundling, you may have other unwanted programs installed on your computer. You should go through your Programs and Features menu and remove any unfamiliar, recently-installed programs.

How to Protect Yourself from PC Accelerate Pro

Even with PC Accelerate Pro gone from your system, you’ll want to take some steps to keep yourself safe from it and similarly unwanted programs when you use the Internet in the future.

The most effective way you can prevent PC Accelerate Pro from being installed on your system is to be careful what programs you download from the Internet, as well as where you download them from. Since PC Accelerate Pro often spreads through software bundling, you need to be aware of where you are obtaining software from.

When downloading software online, be wary. Stick to trustworthy websites and be careful about using freeware or shareware. When installing new programs, read the terms of service and end-user license agreements thoroughly to ensure that programs like PC Accelerate Pro aren’t in there.

Ideally, you should only download software programs from their official websites. You should never use third-party downloaders and installers because this increases the risk that a program such as PC Accelerate Pro will be installed onto your computer without your knowledge.

When it comes to speeding up your computer’s performance, programs like PC Accelerate Pro aren’t needed. You can improve your computer’s speed by using built-in apps such as Disk Defragmenter as well as reputable programs such as Avira or TotalAV that will clear out unnecessary files.

Finally, you should keep your antivirus software and operating system up to date at all times. This will keep your computer safe from emerging threats and prevent malware and viruses from exploiting

To further protect yourself, always keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date. This will help protect your computer against the latest threats as well as keep you safe from viruses and malware that take advantage of security holes in older versions of software.

PC Accelerate Pro: The Bottom Line

PC Accelerate Pro may seem like a useful program, but it’s a scam. Its claims of updating drivers are a fraud to get computer users to pay for a useless upgrade, and it also scans your sensitive data and besieges you with obnoxious advertisements.

Adding to this is the fact that PC Accelerate Pro is often bundled with other software programs. This makes it especially sinister since many users will accidentally install it because it comes alongside programs they actually want.

By following the above steps, you’ll be able to get rid of PC Accelerate and other malware programs it has installed on your system, as well as keep yourself safe from similar programs in the future.