Pages

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Win 7 Internet Security 2012 Virus Threat

Do you remember my post of April 2, 2011? If you don't, just go to the archive select it and read the content.

The subject was about fake anti virus software offered on the Internet or through e-mails, designed to steal your personal information and charge your credit card for purchasing this software that does absolutely nothing except damaging your computer to a point that you cannot open any programs, go to the Internet etc.

Today there is out there another version of this pesky virus and it is called
"Win 7 Internet Security 2012" and it has nothing to do with Microsoft as it implies. It tells you that if you download the software it will analyse your computer Win 7 operating system, find any bugs, improve speed etc. etc.

Once you scan your computer with "Win 7 Internet Security 2012", it scares you with a fake report on all kinds of problems found. Then it tells you that if you buy the the full version, it will clean up the computer for good. If you fall for it, this program instead of fixing the computer will make it inoperable, will destroy files and drive you crazy for paying money to these crooks and finding that now they have your CC # and other information on you.

This virus software is very dangerous and extremely difficult to get rid of. In some cases it will close every program you try to open making it almost impossible to run program in an infected computer.

First thing to do is to call the CC company, explain what happened, cancel that CC and they will issue another in no time flat, most cases by sending you a new CC by "UPS next day".

Recently I helped another friend, (not the one mentioned in my post of April 2, 2011), who fell for this scheme.

I am going to tell you how to remove this virus software from your computer; you'll need a little patience, it will pay to be patient:

A- If you still can get to the Internet you may use your infected computer for this step, if you cannot access the Internet, use another computer either yours or a friend's:

Open IE or other browser and download "PROCESS EXPLORER" from Microsoft Web Site. Save it as "explorer.exe". (if you use another computer, save it in a flash memory stick to copy it later to the infected computer). "PROCESS EXPLORER" is a free utility which will give you the capability to forcefully close down the Win 7 Internet Security 2012 virus software, so that you will be able to remove it later.

B-Once "explorer.exe" is in the infected computer, click on it to run it. (it takes just a couple of seconds). This utility will open the "processes list" screen. Select "End Process Tree"
and click "yes" on the next dialog box. This will forcefully close "Win 7 Internet Security 2012" virus software, so that you will be able to remove it.

C-Download, (using the same method outlined under A above), the utility "Spy Hunter", and do a full scan of the infected computer. This utility will remove the infection. Restart the computer and now you are done !


I hope this will help those of you who were caught by this bad bad malware.

PLEASE NOTE: If you cannot copy and install the utilities referred above in the infected computer, run it in safe mode, (I assume you know how to put a computer in safe mode), and follow steps A, B and C above in safe mode. It will work out OK.

George Freire