Be careful, there is a Spyware/Malware. I got a call from one of my business customers today. He had a "virus" on his main computer (Pharmacist) and couldn't log on and do orders etc.. When I showed up a "pop up" came up that said 360 Antivirus. Everything about it looked professional and it claimed to have found a virus and needed registration to continue to protect the computer. It looks exactly like Microsofts Security. The owner said he tried to register it, gave his credit card information but said it wouldn't go.... I looked through his computer but the 360 Antivirus didn't show in the programs. I was suspicious. I downloaded Spybot Search and Destroy from Majorgeeks.com and ran it. It immediately found a 360Antivirus.Fraud program plus a microsoftantivirusreroute... spyware/malware. I contact my computer genius at work and he said I was correct, the 360Antivirus is actually the virus/malware and it's serious. Spybot cleaned up the computer plus 50 other issues but he still recommended me download "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware" from Majorgeeks and run it as well. It cleaned up 5 more problems. Just a warning to my friends. My computer guy says this is finding holes in Adobe Acrobat and Java issues that are not updated. MAKE SURE you have Java, Adobe Acrobat and your Windows updates complete.
Had this same virus on my Dad's PC the other day. Cleaned his up and the very next day it was on mine. Cleaned it as well. This is a serious scam people. Your credit card info can become at risk when dealing with this type of virus. Kill it. LAEq
Rob - I'm still using the Free version of AGV 8.0...on my new comp. what would you recommend, or am I amply covered?
Yep, I had one awhile back that I couldn't get rid of. I gave the computer to my dad and he wasn't even able to get rid of it entirely. I would get pop-up's saying that Microsoft Security had detected a problem and that I need to purchase and download a spyware program. My Norton and Spybot couldn't seem to get rid of it. We would get everything cleaned up and it would return. We ended up having to back up all of my files and erase my hard drive. Talk about a pain.
I'm always suspicious of anything that pops up and asks for a CC, even if it looks like MS. Good heads up, Rob.
This virus, and variants of it, have been going around for about 6 months now. The most common form is "Windows Antivirus 2009". To an untrained eye, everything looks legit. However under the surface, it most certainly is not. If you do get this pop-up window make sure to hit the red X to close the box, or right-click on the window in your task bar and close it that way. DO NOT click the "Cancel" or other button in the window itself, it will install on your computer if you do that. The best tool to remove this virus is Malware Bytes (www.malwarebytes.org) combined with SpyBot and then your standard anti-virus program. This virus, once it gets on your computer, will disable your anti-virus software and render it pretty much useless until you run Malware Bytes and SpyBot which will allow it to run again. AVG Free is decent, but not great. We recommend NOD32 to all of our customers, and have implemented it on several thousand PCs with great results. You can purchase it from www.eset.com. Another good one is Kaspersky anti-virus. Stay away from Norton and McAfee if you can. They suck. Edit - for those who don't know our "day job" is IT consulting so we deal with this every single day for many, many customers.
Just a word to those who are using AVG Free. While it does work decent, it did nothing for a recent "Antivirus" variant I got the other day. Luckily, I run Spybot as well as Malwarebytes. Both programs are free. It was actually Malwarebytes that was able to remove the threat. My wife surfs the net blindly sometimes, really hacks me off. (No pun intended). I come in to find Firefox trying to uninstall a download attempt for this virus. Luckily, the .exe file for it was sitting on the desktop so I knew where it was. I used all three programs, AVG, Spybot, and Malwarebytes to remove it. Much like human germs, I hate computer germs. Just sucks we have to even deal with them.
I would only guess that AVG didn't catch it cause it's not necessarily a virus but a malware same as most antivirus' don't catch spyware. Keep all updates current, such as Adobe Acrobat, Java, Microsoft, Window's Office etc.... BHF, I understand those that learn MAC, LOVE them. Thing is, they are less likely to be targeted because there is so many less out there. Pathetic programmers target the best bang for their buck. :computer: I do love those MAC/PC commercials.
Spy-Bot kicks but and make sure to update the definitions and then run it in safe mode. I had to use Spy-bot and malewarebytes on one computer here at work. Registry issues that the malewarebytes cleaned up for me. Duplicates caused by a regenerator.
You know...buckeye was telling me about some virus he got when he was in Oklahoma but I don't think it was computer related... :d
:hijack: TO further HIJACK my thread, Uh oh, I'll be seeing both of them this weekend. Better bring the full body prophylactic and Hanta Virus kit. And of course, take plenty of meds.
