Caution About a Fake Virus Protection Program...

[gfmucci]

A malicious piece of cr--p software made its way into my computer yesterday. It makes itself evident on the task bar as fake virus protection software. One of the icons, (both in the shape of a shield) mimicks the Microsoft Windows Secuirty Center screen, with some minor differences - every but leads to the need to buy their fake software, and the "privacy notice" line is missing from the bottom of the box.

You will first notice urgent pop-up messages warning of threats to your computer, and then the fake Security Center screen pops up indicating your computer is NOT protected - but if you check your real Security Center, you will confirm your virus protection is working.

Evidently this program will evade some virus protection programs. AVG Free caught some of the components, but a few irritating ones got through.

And the main "program" in the Program file cannot be deleted. The meat of the malicious software is buried.

Let me know if you would like to know how I eliminated the pop up nuisance part of this from my computer.

[MelZ]

First thing is to find out the name of the software, then the source if possible.

1. Contact your anti spam/anti virus vendor tech support to see if they have a removal tool.

2. Check MS site for a removal tool

3. do a google search for a removal tool

4. Contact the software developer and demand a removal program.

Usually one of these sources will have a solution

[gfmucci]

There was no legitimate vendor involved. It was pure "malware."

I found it in the Processes running via the Task Manager and killed it.

I was also in contact with AVG who was very responsive and helpful.

Everything is back to normal.