System Progressive Protection – Virus Removal Guide

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Written by: Stelian

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System Progressive Protection is a computer virus from the WinWebSec family of rogue anti-spyware programs.
Cyber criminals,spread System Progressive Protection via infected websites,malicious email attachments or Java exploits.Once installed on your computer System Progressive Protection will start a bogus security scan which will report that several trojans,rootkits and viruses were found on your machine.
As you have probably realized by now,this alerts are nothing just scam and are meant to scare you into buy System Progressive Protection.
Apart from this fake alerts,System Progressive Protection will also prevent you from starting certain programs that could lead to its removal and redirect your browser to websites from which the cyber criminals will get affiliate revenue.
If your computer is infected with System Progressive Protection,then you are seeing this screens:

System Progressive Protection virus

System Progressive Protection Activation Request

System Progressive Protection Warning

We strongly advise you to ignore any alerts that System Progressive Protection might generate and proceed with this removal guide as soon as possible.
Under no circumstance should you buy System Progressive Protection as this could lead to identity theft,and if you have, you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charge stating that the program is a scam and a computer virus.

Registration codes for System Progressive Protection
As an optional step,you can use the following license key to register System Progressive Protection and stop the fake alerts.
System Progressive Protection license key: AA39754E-715219CE
Please keep in mind that entering the above registration code will NOT remove System Progressive Protection from your computer , instead it will just stop the fake alerts so that you’ll be able to complete our removal guide more easily.

System Progressive Protection Removal Guide

STEP 1 : Start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking

  1. Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
  2. Press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts.Please keep in mind that you need to press the F8 key before the Windows start-up logo appears.
    Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the “F8 key”, tap the “F8 key” continuously until you get the Advanced Boot Options screen.
  3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking , and then press ENTER.
    [Image: Safe Mode with Networking]

STEP 2: Run RKill to terminate known malware processes associated with System Progressive Protection.

RKill is a program that will attempt to terminate all malicious processes associated with System Progressive Protection,so that we will be able to perform the next step without being interrupted by this malicious software.
Because this utility will only stop System Progressive Protection running process, and does not delete any files, after running it you should not reboot your computer as any malware processes that are configured to start automatically will just be started again.

  1. While your computer is in Safe Mode with Networking ,please download the latest official version of RKill.Please note that we will use a renamed version of RKILL so that System Progressive Protection won’t block this utility from running.
    RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download RKILL renamed as iExplore.exe)
  2. Double click on iExplore.exe to start RKill and stop any processes associated with System Progressive Protection.
    [Image: RKILL Program]
  3. RKill will now start working in the background, please be patient while the program looks for various malware programs and tries to terminate them.
    [Image: RKILL stoping malware]
    IF you are having problems starting or running RKill, you can download any other renamed versions of RKill from here.
  4. When Rkill has completed its task, it will generate a log. You can then proceed with the rest of the guide.
    [Image: RKill Report]

WARNING: Do not reboot your computer after running RKill as the malware process will start again , preventing you from properly performing the next step.

STEP 3: Remove System Progressive Protection malicious files with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a powerfull on-demand scanner which will remove System Progressive Protection malicious files from your computer.

  1. You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link,then double click on it to install this program.
    MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)
  2. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process.
    DO NOT make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware checked,then click on the Finish button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]
  3. On the Scanner tab,select Perform quick scan and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]
  4. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for System Progressive Protection malicious files as shown below.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanning for System Progressive Protection]
  5. When the Malwarebytes scan will be completed,click on Show Result.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]
  6. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has detected.Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the Remove Selected button.
    [Image:Malwarebytes removing virus]
  7. After your computer will restart in Normal mode, open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and perform a Full System scan to verify that there are no remaining threats

STEP 4: Remove System Progressive Protection rootkit with HitmanPro

In some cases,System Progressive Protection will also install a rootkit on victims computer.To remove this rootkit we will use HitmanPro.

  1. Download HitmanPro from the below link,then double click on it to start this program.
    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
    IF you are experiencing problems while trying to start HitmanPro, you can use the Force Breach mode.To start HitmanPro in Force Breach mode, hold down the left CTRL-key when you start HitmanPro and all non-essential processes are terminated, including the malware process. (How to start HitmanPro in Force Breach mode – Video)
  2. HitmanPro will start and you’ll need to follow the prompts (by clicking on the Next button) to start a system scan with this program.
    HitmanPro scanner
    HitmanPro installation
  3. HitmanPro will start scanning your computer for System Progressive Protection malicious files as seen in the image below.
    HitmanPro scan after System Progressive Protection
  4. Once the scan is complete,you’ll see a screen which will display all the infected files that this utility has detected, and you’ll need to click on Next to remove this malicious files.
    HitmanPro scan results
  5. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
    HitmanPro 30 days activation button

That’s it, System Progressive Protection should be completely removed from your computer!
We strongly recommend that you build up your malware defenses by starting a new thread in Security Configuration Wizard forum and keep installed on your machine all the on-demand scanners that we’ve used in this article to perform regular scans with them.

If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove System Progressive Protection from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.

10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams

Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.

  1. Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.

    warning sign

    Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).

    If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.

  2. Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.

    updates guide

    Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.

    If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.

  3. Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.

    shield guide

    Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.

    If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.

  4. Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.

    install guide

    Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.

    If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.

  5. Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.

    cursor sign

    Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.

    If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.

  6. Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.

    trojan horse

    Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.

    If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.

  7. Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.

    lock sign

    Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.

    If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.

  8. Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).

    lock sign

    Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.

    If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.

  9. Back up important files and keep one backup offline.

    backup sign

    Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.

    If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.

  10. If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.

    warning sign

    Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.

    • Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
    • Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
    • Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
    • Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
    • Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
    • Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
    • Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.

These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.

250 thoughts on “System Progressive Protection – Virus Removal Guide”

  1. Very clear instructions. It worked great up until Step 7 Rogue Killer – I kept getting a Dr. Watson error on the scan and could not complete it.

    • Hello David,
      Please run a scan with the following tools:
      STEP 1: Run a scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.

      1. Please download the latest official version of Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
        EMSISOFT EMERGENCY KIT DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Emsisoft Emergency Kit)
      2. After the download process will finish , you’ll need to unpack EmsisoftEmergencyKit.zip (Right click on it and select Extract all) and then double click on EmergencyKitScanner.bat
      3. A pop-up will prompt you to update Emsisoft Emergency Kit , please click the “Yes” button.After the Update process has completed , put the mouse cursor over the “Menu” tab on the left and click-on “Scan PC“.
      4. Select “Smart scan” and click-on the below “SCAN” button.When the scan will be completed , you will be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Emsisoft Emergency Kit has detected.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the ‘Quarantine selected objects‘ button.

      STEP 2: Run a scan with Eset Online Scanner.

      1. Download ESET Online Scanner utility.
        ESET Online Scanner Download Link (This link will automatically download ESET Online Scanner on your computer.)
      2. Double click on the Eset installer program (esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe).
      3. Check Yes, I accept the Terms of Use
      4. Click the Start button.
      5. Check Scan archives
      6. Push the Start button.
      7. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
      8. When the scan completes, push Finish

  7. Excellent description! Clear to the point and easy to understand,Thanks again for your solution.Really work!

  8. Thank you very much Stelian! The procedure is done in an exemplary fashion – highly commended.

  9. Thanks so much – worked wonderfully! And an extremely clear procedure – amazing how long it takes to remove something that only takes seconds to cause an infection!

  11. Thanks a lot ! Your procedural instructions and explanation are clear and effective. Malware killer, keep it up !

  12. A friend called with the System Progressive Protection problem. I had never encountered it but promised to see if I could help. I used another computer to search for help and found this blog. I followed the steps and was able to get his computer free of the problem. Thanks a lot for a clear and straight forward removal procedure. It surely save me a lot of time since I didn’t have to reinvent the “wheel.” I told my friend to install some malware/antivirus software as soon as possible.

  13. Please help! I tried to download Malwarebytes Anti-malware on my computer but it wouldnt let me. I read through the comments and tried to download Malwarebytes Chameleon. It downloaded onto my computer but my computer can’t open it. What else can I do?

    • Hello Katie,
      While your computer is in Safe Mode with Networking please perform the following scans:
      STEP 1: Run a scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.

      1. Please download the latest official version of Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
        EMSISOFT EMERGENCY KIT DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Emsisoft Emergency Kit)
      2. After the download process will finish , you’ll need to unpack EmsisoftEmergencyKit.zip (Right click on it and select Extract all) and then double click on EmergencyKitScanner.bat
      3. A pop-up will prompt you to update Emsisoft Emergency Kit , please click the “Yes” button.After the Update process has completed , put the mouse cursor over the “Menu” tab on the left and click-on “Scan PC“.
      4. Select “Smart scan” and click-on the below “SCAN” button.When the scan will be completed , you will be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Emsisoft Emergency Kit has detected.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the ‘Quarantine selected objects‘ button.

      STEP 2: Run a scan with Eset Online Scanner.

      1. Download ESET Online Scanner utility.
        ESET Online Scanner Download Link (This link will automatically download ESET Online Scanner on your computer.)
      2. Double click on the Eset installer program (esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe).
      3. Check Yes, I accept the Terms of Use
      4. Click the Start button.
      5. Check Scan archives
      6. Push the Start button.
      7. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
      8. When the scan completes, push Finish

  14. The System Progressive Protection prompts only pop up when I’m connected through VPN & Citrix. When I’m on Citrix it’ll block programs from running and locking me out of folders and applications. When I log off of Citrix and the VPN, the virus prompts disappear and only reappear when I’m logged in. I ran through all the steps listed above and my laptop doesn’t register any malicious items. Not sure what else to do… any suggestions? Thank you!

    • Hello,
      Can you please run a scan with Combofix, ESET online scanner and post the logs here so that I can get an idea on what’s going on:
      STEP 1 : Run a scan with Combofix
      Download ComboFix from here: COMBOFIX DOWNLOAD LINK #1 (This link will automatically download Combofix on your computer)

      VERY IMPORTANT !!! Save as Combo-Fix.exe during the download.ComboFix must be renamed before you download to your Desktop

      • Close any open browsers.
      • Very Important! Temporarily disable your anti-virus, script blocking and any anti-malware real-time protection beforeperforming a scan. They can interfere with ComboFix or remove some of its embedded files which may cause “unpredictable results”.
      • WARNING: Combofix will disconnect your machine from the Internet as soon as it starts
      • Please do not attempt to re-connect your machine back to the Internet until Combofix has completely finished.
      • If there is no internet connection after running Combofix, then restart your computer to restore back your connection.
      1. Double click on ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.
      2. Accept the disclaimer and allow to update if it asks
      3. When finished, it shall produce a log for you.

      Notes:

      1. Do not mouse-click Combofix’s window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.
      2. Do not “re-run” Combofix. If you have a problem, reply back for further instructions.
      3. If after the reboot you get errors about programms being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.

      STEP 2: Run a scan with ESET Online Scanner:

      1. Download ESET Online Scanner utility.
        ESET Online Scanner Download Link (This link will automatically download ESET Online Scanner on your computer.)
      2. Double click on the Eset installer program (esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe).
      3. Check Yes, I accept the Terms of Use
      4. Click the Start button.
      5. Check Scan archives
      6. Push the Start button.
      7. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
      8. When the scan completes, push Finish

      NEXT,please run a scan with HitmanPro and RogueKiller as seen on the guide.
      Waiting for your reply to tell me if your machine is ok and the logs.

  16. Hi Stelian.

    Thanks a lot for helping me out! One thing, though: it seems as if HitmanPro no longer provides the option of a free license in their most recent version 3.6.2 – Build 171. However I followed your advice and deleted the files myself.

    Keep up the good work!

  17. Thanks a lot ! Your procedural instructions and explanation are clear and effective. Malware killer, keep it up !

  18. Hello!!!
    I am currently trying to fix my computer by following your steps, but couldn’t do Step 4 and 7. My computer wouldn’t let me do it, because it says it is not safe. What can I do?

    • Hello Dominique,
      Please ignore any alerts that your computer might generate in this process,because they are just alerts generated by this virus:
      Lets try to fix your computer,please run the below tools while in Normal Mode;
      STEP 1: Run a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware in Chameleon Mode in Norman mode:

      1. Download Malwarebytes Chameleon from here and extract it to a folder in a convenient location
      2. Make certain that your PC is connected to the internet and then open the folder where you extracted Chameleon to and double-click on the Chameleon help file and then follow the onscreen instructions to use it.
      3. If the Chameleon help file itself will not open, then double-click each file one by one until you find one that works, which will be indicated by a black DOS/command prompt window.
      4. Follow the onscreen instructions to press a key to continue and Chameleon will proceed to download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for you
      5. Once it has done this, it will attempt to update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, click OK when it says that the database was updated successful
      6. Next, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically open and perform a Quick scan
      7. Upon completion of the scan, if anything has been detected, click on Show Result
      8. Have Malwarebytes Anti-Malware remove any threats that are detected and click Yes if prompted to reboot your computer to allow the removal process to complete
      9. After your computer restarts, open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and perform a Full System scan to verify that there are no remaining threats

      STEP 2: Run a scan with RogueKiller

      1. Please download the latest official version of RogueKiller.
        RogueKiller Download Link (This link will automatically download RogueKiller on your computer)
      2. Double click on RogueKiller.exe to start this utility and then wait for the Prescan to complete.This should take only a few seconds and then you can click the Scan button to perform a system scan.
      3. After the scan has completed, press the Delete button to remove any malicious registry keys.
      4. Next we will need to restore your shortcuts, so click on the ShortcutsFix button and allow the program to run.

      STEP 3 Please perform a scan with HitmanPro as seen on the guide.
      If you are having problems starting this program please use the ForceBreach mode as described in the guide.

      STEP 4: Run a scan with ESET Online Scanner:

      1. Download ESET Online Scanner utility.
        ESET Online Scanner Download Link (This link will automatically download ESET Online Scanner on your computer.)
      2. Double click on the Eset installer program (esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe).
      3. Check Yes, I accept the Terms of Use
      4. Click the Start button.
      5. Check Scan archives
      6. Push the Start button.
      7. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
      8. When the scan completes, push Finish

      Waiting for your reply to tell me how everything is running!
      Good luck…

  19. So I got up to step seven, downloaded RogueKiller, it did the prescan, and then when I run the scan, a blue screen comes up and then my computer restarts. It’s done this twice. Is there any way around this or any other software I can download to finish removing all traces of malware?

    Thanks so much for this guide, so helpful!

    • Hello Kate,
      Lets change the tools.Please do a scan with the following tools:
      1.Run a scan with Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool
      Click here to download the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.

      1. Save it to your desktop.
      2. Double click the setup file to run it.
      3. Follow the onscreen prompts until it is installed
      4. Click the Options button (the ‘Gear’ icon), then make sure only the following are ticked:
        • System Memory
        • Hidden startup objects
        • Disk boot sectors
        • Local Disk (C:)
        • Also any other drives (Removable that you may have)
      5. Then click on Actions on the left hand side
      6. Click Select Action, then make sure both Disinfect and Delete if disinfection fails are ticked
      7. Click on Automatic Scan
      8. Now click the Start Scanning button, to run the scan
      9. After the scan is complete, close the program

      2.Run a scan with Eset Online Scanner.

      1. Download ESET Online Scanner utility.
        ESET Online Scanner Download Link (This link will automatically download ESET Online Scanner on your computer.)
      2. Double click on the Eset installer program (esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe).
      3. Check Yes, I accept the Terms of Use
      4. Click the Start button.
      5. Check Scan archives
      6. Push the Start button.
      7. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
      8. When the scan completes, push Finish

      Good luck!

  20. Thank you so much for this. Simple and easy to use. For someone who is not very good with technology this was just what I needed thank you xx

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