I'm a mac user myself, but my neighbour has downloaded a 'free' virus scan called 'Security Centre' on her PC ... basically how do we get rid of the pop up nagging her to register and spend $39.95? I'm struggling with the XP interface as I'm used to Mac?
Help???

where did she get it, any ideas, it may even be a rouge product..?? Also remeber a FREE download is NOT the same as a free product, it is normal for these programs to nag you for the 30 day (or whatever) trial.

You can uninstall that one and get this FREE one that means FREE no nags.

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/index.html

its free, and very good :)

C

Hopefully it's not claiming to be Antivirus 2009 because that's a trojan as far as I remember.

Hopefully it's not claiming to be Antivirus 2009 because that's a trojan as far as I remember.

It's worse than a trojan. it wrecks your OS, pretty difficult to dispose of.

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=430957

Should do it :)

Hopefully it's not claiming to be Antivirus 2009 because that's a trojan as far as I remember.

Yes it is part of Antivirus 2009.

The fix is...................................Malwarebytes Anti Malware.

Yes it is part of Antivirus 2009.

The fix is...................................Malwarebytes Anti Malware.

Didn't work on antivir08 wonder what's different on 2009 :huh:

i wish people would stick to tried and tested anti malware programs, theres loads these days that are named as anti virus/anti spyware but are actually malware

Thanks for the response guys, ... I think however she has totalled it! I can't even download malwarebytes on IE. I've tried to install Safari, purely because I am more familiar with it. I can't even install that. I'm familiar with Mac, but what does it involve doing a reinstall of the XP OS? I'd reinstall the OS on a mac, but how involved is it on a pc?

it means

gathering all the drivers etc, backing up files
making a startup disc, booting up and going into dos
typing format c: from the a: drive (floppy), typing setup to install windows from cd, thats how i do it anyway

melthebell
Apparently the XP OS came loaded on the laptop, and guess what?? They never made a system restore disk. It just gets better doesn't it?
On my wife's pc laptop the first thing I did was made a system restore disk and bought Panda Antivirus Platinum to screw it down. I'm just glad I use a mac, don't get all this hassle with them! Although I run Virex (through the company) on Mac, I can't remember a virus on the mac?

or boot from the xp cd
follow the instructions including formatting the hdd
and let it go most drivers are found by xp but some will need to be installed manually
(still need to gather all the drivers and back up all the files)
ken

or boot from the xp cd
follow the instructions including formatting the hdd
and let it go most drivers are found by xp but some will need to be installed manually
(still need to gather all the drivers and back up all the files)
ken
Thanks Kenthack, but I'm handing it back tomorrow morning. I've had a go, but I think this is beyond my capabilities. If it had been OSX I'd have more of an idea.
They don't have the XP boot cd. Where do they go from here. I'm reluctant to point them in the direction of PC world??

She's going to need an operating system disk - be it bought or (as is sometimes suggested on this forum) blagged. (You can't easily buy XP in a shop these days as it's been discontinued as a "shelf" product - though it is available on eBay and the like - and if she's not put off by the vociferous minority she might want Vista on if it's capable of running that.) When you get one - and a key - you put the CD/DVD into the optical drive and reboot and when a message like "Boot from CD..." comes up press the Space Bar and you're in the installer. Well, that's the theory - some systems not being set up to boot from the optical drive - in which case report back and someone will guide you on altering the relevant BIOS settings. (It's a "laugh a minute" sometimes as this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=449058) thread shows.) Formatting the drive via DOS is an optional first step, as an earlier post says, since maybe some viruses are clever enough to prevent such an install process - though I'd be surprised. Then your fun really starts... installing the drivers - those hopefully being available from the manufacturer's web site if you've no disk for that either. By the way... if she's got any valuable data on there then it might be worth getting an "expert" to look at it before you do a re-install - unless you can get it off yourself - though it'll cost. Finally, you'll be glad you only know about Macs at the end of the day - though don't keeping banging on about it as you'll end up with a lot of off-topic posts.

if you can boot it up have you tried using the system restore in xp
start menu, programs,accessories and then system restore
if you can get that to run back it up as far as you can (shows you a calendar just keep clicking it left as far as itll go with a day thats dark) pick a date and click and follow instructions
hopefully that will work

if you can boot it up have you tried using the system restore in xp
start menu, programs,accessories and then system restore
if you can get that to run back it up as far as you can (shows you a calendar just keep clicking it left as far as itll go with a day thats dark) pick a date and click and follow instructions
hopefully that will work
It will boot up, but this bl**dy Antivirus 08 keeps coming up everytime you try to do anything. As I mentioned, they never made a system restore disk when they bought the laptop. I don't want to make things any worse than they are already by screwing around with system restore. It seems to have an internet problem and cannot for a reason I don't understand see a wireless network in an area where I know there are several. I for one have two broadband connections at my house and they only live next door. They are broadband subscribers to Talk Talk. The laptop connects when you stuff an ethernet up it a*rse, but can't see a wireless connection. Arghhhh!! Any ideas on anybody who resolves this sort of thing? Obviously she'd pay?

Here's (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx) a guide to System Restore - always better than a re-install.

Here's (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx) a guide to System Restore - always better than a re-install.
Thanks HarryB, I'll have a look at that tomorrow morning. Didn't know about the Mac Police on SF!! I'll watch myself now! Is it a banning offence being a mac user on here? He, he!!!

system restore is reversable so youll not wreck the op system if thats possible :D

system restore is reversable so youll not wreck the op system if thats possible :D
I'm going to show her these posts tomorrow. If she then wants me to go with system restore I'll have a go! Whats the going rate for someone to come and do a system restore and eliminate this virus?

I'm going to show her these posts tomorrow. If she then wants me to go with system restore I'll have a go! Whats the going rate for someone to come and do a system restore and eliminate this virus?
75p and a packet of rolos?

system restore is the best first line to repairing your op system
anyone can do it and it cant damage your comp
might not fix it but worth a try

75p and a packet of rolos?
Not coming all the way to Whitby to deliver Rollo's. Dont you have them up there?

system restore is the best first line to repairing your op system
anyone can do it and it cant damage your comp
might not fix it but worth a try
I'll have a go K, thanks for your help! Long live OSX!!!

I'll have a go K, thanks for your help! Long live OSX!!!

cant we just hope for a windows that works:(

You'll find people on here who are willing to visit and do the deed for a small fee - either by bumping this thread regularly (a bit naughty) or by looking at others and sending seemingly-suitable parties a Private Message.

As for not mentioning the Mac... this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26349) and this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=378070) are a worth a look - and a laugh.

You'll find people on here who are willing to visit and do the deed for a small fee - either by bumping this thread regularly (a bit naughty) or by looking at others and sending seemingly-suitable parties a Private Message.

As for not mentioning the Mac... this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26349) and this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=378070) are a worth a look - and a laugh.
People tend to get very territorial about Mac/PC. If you're happy with what you use, Mac or PC, what does it matter to other people. Because I have a Vauxhall and get my private broadband through TalkTalk I don't expect everyone to do the same! Life is a double edged sword .... Long live OSX, he, he!!!

Vauxhall
what you doing man
get a FORD :hihi:

Vauxhall
what you doing man
get a FORD :hihi:
Thought you'd gone to bed K! I've had a few Fords, Escort and Mondeo (MkII Cortina Twin Cam, but thats another story). Oh and of course 2 sierra's as the user name suggests. Best car Ford ever made!

Sorry Mods, I digress, back on topic now, before anyone else mentions it!!! He,he!!

They need to use SuperAntispyware with the latest definitions first, then Malwarebytes AntiMalware with the latest definitions, Comodo Internet Security using a full scan with the latest definitions, Hijack This and manually stop the BHO's that the rogue sets up then clear the System Restore via Windows (because no matter what people say, that also will be infected with this rogue AV) and clean the temporary internet files with something like CCleaner.

It's a nasty one, I've been testing loads of software on an infected machine with the rogue cleaners like AV2008/2009 (on purpose) and apart from the big ones like Norton & Kaspersky blocking the software before it infects the system, it's a bugger to shift, although I've done it quite a few times now.

Why are loads of people resorting to a system reinstall already? :o

Download Malwarebytes on a different computer. Copy the exe to a memory stick. Plug the memory stick in to the infected puter (in safe mode if necessary), and run the install.

Reinstalling is just overkill.

Why are loads of people resorting to a system reinstall already? :o

Download Malwarebytes on a different computer. Copy the exe to a memory stick. Plug the memory stick in to the infected puter (in safe mode if necessary), and run the install.

Reinstalling is just overkill.

MBAM on its own isn't enough for the new strains of AV09, although it's excellent. It needs manually removing too or it keeps coming back ( the malware itself I mean, not MBAM :) )

Prevention is better than cure in AV09's case. Get a HIPS module installed to run along side your antivirus. Failing that, use Sandboxie which quarantines everything you download for that session. This is also excellent for testing out downloads you're not sure about because it allows you to see what it's installing.

It worked last week on my bro's laptop. They change these things so fast these days though :?

It worked last week on my bro's laptop. They change these things so fast these days though :?

They do. AV08 surprisingly, is the latest variant now!

Boot into safe mode press f8 as the system starts to boot into windows goto START - ALL PROGRAMS - ACCESORIES - SYSTEM TOOLS - SYSTEM RESTORE -restore to a time befor she downloded the package check the PC is OK the turn of System restore setting in systems properties and delete the restore file this make's sure virus and trojans are not kept in restore points, swith it back on when finnished.

OR Some computer with come with a factory reset built in which if she still has the manuals for the lapto may guide her through even with no disk..

The virus riddles itself in your system restore points and restoration partitions too in some cases.

Why are loads of people resorting to a system reinstall already? :o

Download Malwarebytes on a different computer. Copy the exe to a memory stick. Plug the memory stick in to the infected puter (in safe mode if necessary), and run the install.

Reinstalling is just overkill.
Tried that, but it won't even run! IE seems to have been affected too

Even in safe mode?

If it were me i would stop all processes not neeeded by the OS but that is only dooable if you know what is what in Task Manager. Not ideal for a Mac user :?

The version I spent two days cleaning off a machine also installed a device driver (which loads in safe mode). Didn't find any automated tools which could either a) run*, and b) actually remove the blasted thing. Eventually found the name of the device using the Rootkit Detector from Sysinternals, then there were several how-to guides on how to deactivate it.

*A fancy trick it was showing was to halt or kill any processes which it identified as being actual anti-malware software, making it very difficult to get rid of unless you don't mind playing with the guts of your PC. I assume the device driver would remain after a system restore.

Why are loads of people resorting to a system reinstall already? :o

Download Malwarebytes on a different computer. Copy the exe to a memory stick. Plug the memory stick in to the infected puter (in safe mode if necessary), and run the install.

Reinstalling is just overkill.

Did this last night on daughters computer run scan but was still there so updated Malwarebytes and did a second scan and it seems to have worked .

could not update before first scan as was unable to get onto internet because av 2009 was stopping acess.

Did this last night on daughters computer run scan but was still there so updated Malwarebytes and did a second scan and it seems to have worked .

could not update before first scan as was unable to get onto internet because av 2009 was stopping acess.

My bad driller. I should have said to include the update. If i remember rightly the update can be downloaded separately and added after the install directly from the usb stick.