PUP.Optional.DriverTonic

Short bio

PUP.Optional.DriverTonic is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a potentially unwanted program, a so-called “driver updater and system optimizer” called Driver Tonic. Driver Tonic is published by PC Tonics and aimed at Windows systems.

Symptoms

Users of affected systems may have seen these warnings during install:

and may see these warnings when Driver Tonic is active:

Driver Tonic uses a Scheduled Task to gain persistence:

You may see this entry in the list of installed Programs and Features:

Type and source of the infection

PUP.Optional.DriverTonic is a driver updater and system optimizer. These so-called “system optimizers” use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems. PUP.Optional.DriverTonic is often installed by users themselves. Driver Tonic can be delivered as part of a bundler or can be downloaded from their website.

Protection

Malwarebytes blocks Driver Tonic

Remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.DriverTonic without further user interaction.

Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
Click on the Get started button.
Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
Click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Malwarebytes removal log

A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com
-Log Details-
Scan Date: 4/8/19
Scan Time: 9:13 AM
Log File: bf02b4ea-59cd-11e9-9ecf-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 3.7.1.2839
Components Version: 1.0.563
Update Package Version: 1.0.10044
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 236266
Threats Detected: 81
Threats Quarantined: 81
Time Elapsed: 7 min, 7 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 1
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtn.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044

Module: 9
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\x64\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtn.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\HtmlRenderer.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\HtmlRenderer.WPF.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\PaddleCheckoutSDK.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\System.Data.SQLite.DLL, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\WPFToolkit.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044

Registry Key: 8
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\Driver Tonic_Logon, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{A25E30FE-1291-4529-82C2-AA4D55A8CADF}, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\LOGON\{A25E30FE-1291-4529-82C2-AA4D55A8CADF}, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{4C7CA6F1-4691-449D-B574-559726CDA825}_is1, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKCU\SOFTWARE\PCTONICS.COM\Driver Tonic, Quarantined, [2936], [505865],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.Jawego, HKLM\SOFTWARE\DTC-PR, Quarantined, [600], [543113],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.WinTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\cGN0b25pY3MuY29t, Quarantined, [1394], [491485],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\PCTONICS.COM\Driver Tonic, Quarantined, [2936], [505863],1.0.10044

Registry Value: 3
PUP.Optional.Jawego, HKLM\SOFTWARE\DTC-PR|AFFILIATEID, Quarantined, [600], [543113],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{A25E30FE-1291-4529-82C2-AA4D55A8CADF}|PATH, Quarantined, [2936], [582488],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{4C7CA6F1-4691-449D-B574-559726CDA825}_IS1|DISPLAYNAME, Quarantined, [2936], [505864],1.0.10044

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 8
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\x64, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\x86, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\x64, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\x86, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\PROGRAM FILES\DRIVER TONIC, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\DRIVER TONIC, Quarantined, [2936], [505860],1.0.10044

File: 52
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\7z.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\7z.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\difxapi.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\difxapi64.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\DPInst32.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\DPInst64.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\DrvReposPath.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dp\DrvSignerVerifier.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\x64\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\x86\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\langs.db, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\Newtonsoft.Json.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\System.Data.SQLite.DLL, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\System.Data.SQLite.Linq.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\System.Threading.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\TAFactory.IconPack.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\WebExtNotifier.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\websec\WebExtNotifier.exe.config, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\x64\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\x86\SQLite.Interop.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Application_icon.png, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Delimon.Win32.IO.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtn.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtn.exe.config, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtonic.ttf, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\HtmlRenderer.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\HtmlRenderer.WPF.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Interop.SHDocVw.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\langs.db, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\Newtonsoft.Json.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\PaddleCheckoutSDK.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\PresentationCore.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\System.Data.SQLite.DLL, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\System.Threading.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\TAFactory.IconPack.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\unins000.dat, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\unins000.exe, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\unins000.msg, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\WPFToolkit.dll, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\Driver Tonic_Logon, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\PUBLIC\Desktop\Driver Tonic.lnk, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\USERS\PUBLIC\Desktop\Driver Tonic.lnk, Quarantined, [2936], [505858],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Driver Tonic\Buy Driver Tonic.lnk, Quarantined, [2936], [505860],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Driver Tonic\Driver Tonic.lnk, Quarantined, [2936], [505860],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Driver Tonic\Uninstall Driver Tonic.lnk, Quarantined, [2936], [505860],1.0.10044
PUP.Optional.DriverTonic, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\DRIVERTONIC.EXE, Quarantined, [2936], [509861],1.0.10044

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

Open Malwarebytes for Windows.
Click the Detection History
Click the Allow List
To add an item to the Allow List, click Add.
Select the exclusion type Allow a file or folder and use the Select a folder button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
Repeat this for any secondary files or folder(s) that belong to the software.

If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, also add an exclusion of the type Allow an application to connect to the internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.

Traces/IOCs

You may see these entries in FRST logs:

(PC Tonics Inc -> pctonics.com) C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtn.exe
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Driver Tonic.lnk
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Driver Tonic_Logon
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\pctonics.com
C:\ProgramData\pctonics.com
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Driver Tonic
C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic
Driver Tonic (HKLM\...\{4C7CA6F1-4691-449D-B574-559726CDA825}_is1) (Version: 1.0.1.6 - pctonics.com)
Task: {A25E30FE-1291-4529-82C2-AA4D55A8CADF} - System32\Tasks\Driver Tonic_Logon => C:\Program Files\Driver Tonic\dtn.exe (PC Tonics Inc -> pctonics.com)

Associated threats

Adware.Jawego
PUP.Optional.Jawego
PUP.Optional.WinTonic