Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus (Removal Guide)

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What is PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE?

PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE is a pretty popular virus.

PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE detected as TROJ.APPSETUP.

You can get it on your computer while downloading it bundled with some free software.
Sadly, most free downloads do not disclose that other programs will be installed, so you are more likely to get PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE on your PC without your own knowledge.

After being downloaded, PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE hijacks your browser and changes search settings.
PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE also causes an appearance of popup ads and browser redirecting.

PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE is very annoying and hard to get rid of.

Technical Information:

  • Full path on a computer= %WINDIR%\PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE

You have 2 ways to remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE:

You have 2 ways

Remove it automatically1. Remove Automatically.
Remove it manually2. Remove Manually.

Why I recommend you to use an automatic way?

  1. You know only one virus name: "PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE", but usually you have infected by a bunch of viruses.
    The UnHackMe program detects this threat and all others.
  2. UnHackMe is quite fast! You need only 5 minutes to check your PC.
  3. UnHackMe uses the special features to remove hard in removal viruses. If you remove a virus manually, it can prevent deleting using a self-protecting module. If you even delete the virus, it may recreate himself by a stealthy module.
  4. UnHackMe is small and compatible with any antivirus.
  5. UnHackMe is fully free for 30-days!

Here’s how to remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus automatically:

STEP 1: Install UnHackMe (1 minute)

STEP 2: Scan for malware using UnHackMe (1 minute)

STEP 3: Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus (3 minutes)

So it was much easier to fix such problem automatically, wasn't it?
That is why I strongly advise you to use UnHackMe for remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE redirect or other unwanted software.

How to remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE manually:

STEP 1: Check all shortcuts of your browsers on your desktop, taskbar and in the Start menu. Right click on your shortcut and change it's properties.

http://…

You can see PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE or another web site at the end of shortcut target (command line). Remove it and save changes.

In addition, check this command line for fake browser's trick.
For example, if a shortcut points to Google Chrome, it must have the path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe.
Fake browser may be: …\Appdata\Roaming\HPReyos\ReyosStarter3.exe.
Also the file name may be: “chromium.exe” instead of chrome.exe.

STEP 2: Investigate the list of installed programs and uninstall all unknown recently installed programs.

check installed programs to uninstall

STEP 3: Open Task Manager and close all processes, related to PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE in their description. Discover the directories where such processes start. Search for random or strange file names.

Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus from running processes

Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus from running processes

STEP 4: Inspect the Windows services. Press Win+R, type in: services.msc and press OK.

Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus from Windows services

Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus from Windows services

Disable the services with random names or contains PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE in it's name or description.

STEP 5: After that press Win+R, type in: taskschd.msc and press OK to open Windows Task Scheduler.
Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE from scheduled task list.

Delete any task related to PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE. Disable unknown tasks with random names.

STEP 6: Clear the Windows registry from PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus.
Press Win+R, type in: regedit.exe and press OK.

Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus from Windows registry

Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE virus from Windows registry

Find and delete all keys/values contains PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE.

STEP 7: Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE from Google Chrome.
Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE Virus from Chrome Extensions

STEP 8: Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE from Internet Explorer.

Set Internet Explorer Homepage

Set Internet Explorer Homepage

STEP 9: Remove PUBLICGAMING\APPSETUP.EXE from Mozilla Firefox.

Change Firefox Home Page

Change Firefox Home Page

STEP 10: And at the end, clear your basket, temporal files, browser's cache.

But if you miss any of these steps and only one part of virus remains – it will come back again immediately or after reboot.

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