What is pcmax.exe?
pcmax.exe is digitally signed by Search Safer Inc..
pcmax.exe is usually located in the 'C:\Program Files\pcmax\' folder.
Some of the anti-virus scanners at VirusTotal detected pcmax.exe.
If you have additional information about the file, please share it with the FreeFixer users by posting a comment at the bottom of this page.
Digital signatures [?]
pcmax.exe has a valid digital signature.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Signer name | Search Safer Inc. |
| Certificate issuer name | DigiCert EV Code Signing CA (SHA2) |
| Certificate serial number | 0a2feee18afaf7ae54517e19e43f098c |
VirusTotal report
5 of the 52 anti-virus programs at VirusTotal detected the pcmax.exe file. That's a 10% detection rate.
| Scanner | Detection Name |
|---|---|
| ESET-NOD32 | a variant of Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect.O |
| McAfee | Artemis!14B25870E526 |
| McAfee-GW-Edition | Artemis!14B25870E526 |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall | TROJ_GEN.F47V0525 |
| VIPRE | Search Safer (fs) |
pcmax.exe removal instructions
The instructions below shows how to remove pcmax.exe with help from the FreeFixer removal tool. Basically, you install FreeFixer, scan your computer, check the pcmax.exe file for removal, restart your computer and scan it again to verify that pcmax.exe has been successfully removed. Here are the removal instructions in more detail:
- Download and install FreeFixer: http://www.freefixer.com/download.html
- Start FreeFixer and press the Start Scan button. The scan will finish in approximately five minutes.
- When the scan is finished, locate pcmax.exe in the scan result and tick the checkbox next to the pcmax.exe file. Do not check any other file for removal unless you are 100% sure you want to delete it. Tip: Press CTRL-F to open up FreeFixer's search dialog to quickly locate pcmax.exe in the scan result.
C:\Program Files\pcmax\pcmax.exe 
- Scroll down to the bottom of the scan result and press the Fix button. FreeFixer will now delete the pcmax.exe file.
- Restart your computer.
- Start FreeFixer and scan your computer again. If pcmax.exe still remains in the scan result, proceed with the next step. If pcmax.exe is gone from the scan result you're done.
- If pcmax.exe still remains in the scan result, check its checkbox again in the scan result and click Fix.
- Restart your computer.
- Start FreeFixer and scan your computer again. Verify that pcmax.exe no longer appear in the scan result.
Hashes [?]
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| MD5 | 14b25870e526a083f056a1c68a4a8e04 |
| SHA256 | a0b974ee463c35955c44a63462a154ececee92a32fb6ced5bfb6e07d99a9ca67 |
Error Messages
These are some of the error messages that can appear related to pcmax.exe:
pcmax.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
pcmax.exe - Application Error. The instruction at "0xXXXXXXXX" referenced memory at "0xXXXXXXXX". The memory could not be "read/written". Click on OK to terminate the program.
pcmax.exe has stopped working.
End Program - pcmax.exe. This program is not responding.
pcmax.exe is not a valid Win32 application.
pcmax.exe - Application Error. The application failed to initialize properly (0xXXXXXXXX). Click OK to terminate the application.
What will you do with pcmax.exe?
To help other users, please let us know what you will do with pcmax.exe:
What did other users do?
The poll result listed below shows what users chose to do with pcmax.exe. 100% have voted for removal. Based on votes from 21 users.
| Votes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep | 0 % | 0 | |
| Remove | 100 % | 21 |
NOTE: Please do not use this poll as the only source of input to determine what you will do with pcmax.exe.
Comments
Please share with the other users what you think about this file. What does this file do? Is it legitimate or something that your computer is better without? Do you know how it was installed on your system? Did you install it yourself or did it come bundled with some other software? Is it running smoothly or do you get some error message? Any information that will help to document this file is welcome. Thank you for your contributions.
I'm reading all new comments so don't hesitate to post a question about the file. If I don't have the answer perhaps another user can help you.
Stopped my Carbonite Backup program in its tracks.
Is this a virus? Carbonite people seem to think so but are talking about creating a work around.
I am going to try your fix but supposedly this little fellow remains in the registry even if removed. Again is it a virus? I have already had two this year and do not want to reinstall windows yet again if I don't have to.
# 25 Jun 2014, 6:53
Alyce Mott writes
According to Carbonite which now has a new version that works around the problem.
pcmax.exe breaks the Window's cryptographic area of the registry.
Yes, freefixer.exe does remove all traces of the nasty BUT Carbonite does not know if it fixed the broken area. They do not feel it affects banking. But talk to your tech guru about if and when to reinstall Windows. By Carbonite is back up and running. I'm dealing with the virus part after a huge event I have happening in two weeks.
# 29 Jun 2014, 7:01
Alyce Mott writes