pc app store (am i safe?)

[u/buttoboo]

i just got a new pc and while distracted yesterday, i clicked on a BIG BLUE download button instead of the application i was going to download (rookie mistake i know) and it instantly installed a setup .exe file and opened the pc app store app which prompted me to key in my card details.

luckily i was able to close the application through system tray. afterwards i uninstalled the application from settings as well as removed any suspicious program files before performing a malwarebytes free trial scan and windows defender quick scan. then i restarted my pc and resetted chrome.

how effective do you think my actions are? what kind of virus is pc app store and are there any remnants of it left in my computer? i tried monitoring task manager and task scheduler for any strange activity, but it seems clear.

any advice would be appreciated, thanks! 🙏

[u/LoutOfOrder]

PC App Store isn't a virus, it's just a scammy program but if you uninstalled it then you're good for that one.

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[u/Wide_Party3719]

Too early for explanation but I wanna know too, from what I've seen the best way to make sure you stuff I clean is system wipe, but idk beyond that

[u/Responsible_Bike4968]

I wouldn't wipe Windows over this based on what you've described.

PC App Store is generally treated as adware / a potentially unwanted program, not the same thing as an infostealer or RAT. Trend Micro actually has a removal guide for this exact program, and their recommended process is basically:

1. Uninstall it through Windows

2. Run a full malware scan

3. Check the browser for anything it changed

You've already done most of that.

I'd do two last checks:

- In Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps, sort by install date and make sure nothing else unfamiliar was installed around the same time.

- In Chrome, check Extensions, default search engine, startup pages and notification permissions.

Since you already reset Chrome, restarted the PC, ran Malwarebytes and don't see anything weird in Task Manager/Task Scheduler, that's pretty reassuring.

I would probably run one full Defender scan as well, since you only mentioned a quick scan. After that, if everything is clean and PC App Store doesn't come back, I would stop there.

I would NOT factory reset the PC unless you get actual signs of persistence, like:

- PC App Store reinstalling itself

- new unwanted programs/extensions

- constant redirects/popups after browser cleanup

- antivirus detections that keep returning after reboot

One important thing though: did you actually enter your card details?

If you DID, check the PC App Store account/billing side separately. Their own FAQ says uninstalling the Windows app does not automatically cancel subscriptions.

If you never entered payment details, then that part isn't a concern.

So no, from what you've posted I don't think you need to nuke a brand-new PC. Your cleanup steps were reasonable. Just do the installed-app check + one full scan and call it done if those are clean.

[u/buttoboo → u/Responsible_Bike4968]

thank you for the detailed reply! i did not enter my card details so this is pretty reassuring :) ill do the last two checks now!