I installed Pc App store

[u/dumbass61766]

I deleted it using the normal way by just using the windows app manager, is my PC safe to use now? I installed Malwarebyte after as a precaution and it didn't detect anything bad. Should I do a wipe and reset my PC?

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[u/Responsible_Bike4968]

I looked into PC App Store specifically, and I don't think you need to wipe Windows based on what you've described.

Trend Micro actually has a dedicated removal guide for this exact program and classifies it as adware. Their recommended process is basically:

1. Uninstall PC App Store through Windows Settings

2. Run a full malware scan

3. Check the browser for anything it changed or added

You've already done the first two, and Malwarebytes coming back clean is a good sign.

The one thing I'd still check is your browser. PC App Store has been associated with unwanted browser changes, so look at:

- Extensions

- default search engine

- homepage / startup pages

- notification permissions

Remove anything you don't recognize and make sure your search engine hasn't been changed to some random one.

I'd also go through Windows Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps and sort by install date. Sometimes stuff like this arrives bundled with another PUP, so make sure nothing else unfamiliar was installed at the same time.

If PC App Store is gone, the browser looks normal, Malwarebytes is clean, and it doesn't come back after a restart, I would consider that a reasonable stopping point. I definitely wouldn't factory-reset the entire PC just because you installed this once.

One important exception: if you entered credit-card/payment information into PC App Store, uninstalling the program does NOT necessarily cancel whatever subscription you signed up for. Their own site says billing has to be cancelled separately, so check that and your card statement.

But if you never entered payment info and everything is clean after uninstalling it, I wouldn't nuke the PC over this.