spyware removal vista 64
Aug/090
Be careful of the fake antivirus malware going around the Internet. These programs go by many different names including, but not limited to, Antivirus 2009, XP Deluxe Protector, Micro Antivirus 2009, MS Antivirus, Spyware Preventer, Vista Antivirus 2008, Advanced Antivirus, System Antivirus 2008, Ultimate Antivirus 2008, Windows Antivirus, Xpert Antivirus, Power Antivirus, Ultra Antivirus 2009 and Windows Police Pro.
These programs put up fake Windows Security pop-ups that are very convincing copies of the original. This malware usually gets into your computer because of, or with, the Zlob and/or Vundo Trojans. Once it’s inside your computer, you get multiple pop-ups telling you that your computer is infected, and you are urged to run a “free” virus scan.
If you click to run the “free” scan, a fake scan window pops up that shows your computer is infected with many dangerous threats. If you click to “remove” these threats, you are told that you have to purchase the full version for $49.99. However, it doesn’t matter if you click the “free” scan button or not, once you see the pop-ups, your computer is infected with the malware. If you click the button to “purchase” it, you are redirected to the website where the criminals do business. It is not safe to go to these sites, as they are all hacked, and your computer will quickly become infiltrated by even more malware.
A genuine antivirus program would never start a scan automatically on your computer without your consent. Nor would it repeatedly use pop-ups and show the scan being executed automatically.
Once you start seeing these pop-ups, the only way to make them stop is to remove the malware. There are websites who offer downloads to remove fake antivirus, but you should make sure you trust the website before downloading anything from them. If all else fails, you can reformat the hard drive, or you can take your PC to a computer repair shop for help. This particular type of virus can be surprisingly difficult to remove.
One recent customer of mine, unfortunately, thought he was purchasing legitimate antivirus software and gave these criminals his name, address and all of his credit card information. So not only did this poor guy have a computer filled with malware, his credit card information was in the hands of criminals.
It’s been discovered that there are phony Facebook profiles that contain this fake antivirus malware. It has also been discovered on Twitter. The criminals are creating phony Twitter accounts and then sending out tweets that direct people to hacked websites where their computer is infected with the malware. Recently, this malware was found in a digital ad placed in The New York Times. The criminals posed as a legitimate company and bought an advertisement.
To minimize the risk of getting this malware, you need to be extremely careful of what you download, don’t click on links in e-mails, or on websites, unless you’re sure of where it’s coming from. Keep your antivirus up-to-date and make sure it scans regularly. Make sure you have all of the latest service packs and up-dates from Microsoft.
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