Need help, got a virus problem.

[Meier Link]

I have ran AVG, McAfee, and Malewarebites Anti-Malware and I keep getting a pop up from Vista Security Tools 2010 keeps popping up stating that there are "25 new virus'" on my computer. The 3 programs I have ran come back telling me that there is nothing wrong with my PC.

This is 2 of the 3 promts that are showing up


Here is the third:


Anyone have the slightest clue as to whats going on.

3 fully updated anti-virus programs are telling me there is nothing wrong while this one is trying to get me to register and update. Almost seems really hoaky.

[Rocky]

yeah you dont wanna download that stuff, that's malware that will infect your computer if you let it. Your best bet is to do a System Restore on your computer. A system restore is like reloading an earlier save on your computer. It may clear some cookies saved on the computer and stuff but it shouldn't delete anything important. It's probably your best bet to get rid of the rogue malware popping up on your computer.

[Meier Link]

Yeah I figured that is what it was. Right now I am running antivirus and antimalware directly from Microsoft. Hoping it picks up on some stuff. Apparently in the time it has taken to run the scan AVG has picked up on a few things also that were not there before.

[T.G. Oskar]

I have ran AVG, McAfee, and Malewarebites Anti-Malware and I keep getting a pop up from Vista Security Tools 2010 keeps popping up stating that there are "25 new virus'" on my computer. The 3 programs I have ran come back telling me that there is nothing wrong with my PC.

This is 2 of the 3 promts that are showing up


Here is the third:


Anyone have the slightest clue as to whats going on.

3 fully updated anti-virus programs are telling me there is nothing wrong while this one is trying to get me to register and update. Almost seems really hoaky.

It's a hoax, not a virus.

First, whenever it starts acting, get Windows Task Manager and figure out which program seems suspicious. It takes time, but you usually get to figure it out. Right at the point it starts checking, end the process.

Also, check out on your folder. If you have hidden files and folders visible, you can check whether the program tried to hide within the Local, Local-Low and Roaming files.

One final thing is to make a Search on your entire Documents folder AND your Program Files folder for suspicious files. Then, erase at hand.

I know, since I had suffered from one of those hoaxes and I deleted it by hand. If it helps, Windows Defender usually takes care of hoaxes. Run it at the same time that you run your anti-viruses and you should be fine.

If it still bothers, then do a System Restore. Usually, the idea is that the hoax program hides within your Program Files and within your Application Data (where Local, Local Low and Roaming are located) and store some information there. If you stop it and erase all those folders, the anti-virus programs will probably detect it.

[Sean]

Remove Vista Security Tool 2010, removal instructions

Vista Security Tool 2010 Removal Guide | Spyware Techie

How to remove Total Vista Security, Vista Security Tool 2010 | My Anti Spyware

The first few things that come up from a quick google search.

Pretty routine malware, easy to get rid of. If all else fails, backup files and format/reinstall Windows.

To boot into safe mode, restart the computer, during boot (after POST but before booting) press F8 repeatidly until the selection screen comes up.

Some motherboards use F8 as a boot selection key (stupid, IMO) so if it asks you which device to boot from, choose the hard drive and continue pressing F8 until you get the Windows boot selection screen.

[winterborn86]

I've had stuff like that before, I download tons of that sorta stuff, messed my laptop up something awful, I just reboted it from scratch and download AVG and left it at that.

[Meier Link]

Yeah I just cheaped out like Rocky said and did a system restore and went to bed.

I was afraid to go to yahoo and look at sites last night because it disabled my fire wall for windows (given I still had AVG and McAfee fire walls up and running.) My safe site search was also down.

For now the system restore seems to have worked and I only had to go back 2 days worth of data which wasn't to bad.

I went ahead and stored those hyperlinks for just incase Sean. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

[Che]

I see you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer.

You should really try out running Firefox with noscript. I see that icon on your desktop.

[Meier Link]

I use a little of both depending on what I am doing. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Personally I like firefox a little better but at the time a certified microsoft product seemed to be the better option.

[bahamuts heir]

hOly shit, I've seen those before!
My friend and I used to get them, whatever you do, DO NOT click the download, you will get some really, really bad viruses when you are fine right now. Best thing to do is to reload the computer cuz it will get deleted if you are lucky, nothing important will be deleted though.

[loaf]

Meier you know there is an add on for FireFox that allows you to do everything Internet Explorer does?

Also, lol don't fall for that.

I haven't used an anti virus in 6 years. No problems yet. If your anti virusus says your comp is good and that crappy Vista pop up one you never knew you had comes up, lol no.

[Sean]

I see you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer.

You should really try out running Firefox with noscript. I see that icon on your desktop.

Contrary to popular belief on a modern operating system (Vista or 7) IE is more secure than Firefox.

The only security holes in IE are all the addon bullshit toolbars, and for people who blindly click things like mad and install these addons, I suggest Chrome, since Chrome is equally secure (more so than Firefox) to IE without any sort of addon toolbar bs.

Me likey Chrome. I use IE when I have to load things that don't play nice in Chrome (certain flash applications, etc)

Granted firefox with noscript IS extremely secure, but it's a god damn hassle to get it to learn your browsing habits.

Meier you know there is an add on for FireFox that allows you to do everything Internet Explorer does?

Also, lol don't fall for that.

I haven't used an anti virus in 6 years. No problems yet. If your anti virusus says your comp is good and that crappy Vista pop up one you never knew you had comes up, lol no.

You don't know that you're good since you aren't running any antivirus, you might be infected out the ass and not even know it. You might not have viruses that are causing system instability, but there's a lot out there that don't break your system, they just troll for sensitive data and upload it (malware) or open security holes in the system to allow backdoor access (tojans, etc)

There's really no excuse NOT to have antivirus, since there's things like AVG and Avast which are very powerful AV tools that are 100% free to a household user.


Also, I'd like to point out 3 antiviruses on one computer is overkill. You're seriously crippling and potentially causing instability by running anything more than 1 active file scanner (antivirus, antimalware, antiadware, etc)

Pick an antivirus and use it. You can do manual sweeps with adaware or malwarebytes, but having active scanning up for a lot of software is overkill and it can seriously cripple your system and cause improper writing/reading of data from the hard drive in the long run.


Edit again: I never ever use Windows firewall. It's always been a huge pain in the ass and causing problems. >_>; Browsing without it won't harm you.

[loaf]

You don't know that you're good since you aren't running any antivirus, you might be infected out the ass and not even know it. You might not have viruses that are causing system instability, but there's a lot out there that don't break your system, they just troll for sensitive data and upload it (malware) or open security holes in the system to allow backdoor access (tojans, etc)

I do know. I use geek squad programs to keep my computer running safe without having to waste space and memory on my PC. So yes, I know that I'm good. Some people know what to look for also.

[Meier Link]

Right now I am mainly running the McAfee as my primary antivirus and I only enable AVG when I suspect something is wrong. As for the windows antivirus I solely use it for the firewall. It is not set up to run system scans unless manually propted to do so. For the most part it is disabled.

It comes back down to the fact that each has their own perks and down falls and where one comes up short the other has it's advantages. Also I would like to say that I have a wife that likes to point and click then ask questions later. This isn't the first time something like this has happened and it is not the last haha. It is the first time though that I haven't been able to detect what is going on with any of my programs.

Malware Bytes is an amazing free program that I use as a last resort seeing it lags the crap out of my system when I do scans but it tends to get almost everything when I do decide to run scans with it.

: edit : Almost forgot haha. After extensive playing around yesterday my system is back up and running nominal. Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions.

[Tiffany]

My guy does IT Tech Support for a living, and I showed him this thread.

Since you already have done the system restore there isn't any point in going through the motions to fix it already. I had this on my laptop last week actually. PITA!

Anyways, he said that having two virus scanners at the same time is a really bad idea. Mainly the two programs will argue over resources, or try to say that the other virus scanner is a virus itself because scanning looks intrusive to the other program.

He said if McAffe doesn't work, or if you don't trust it to find everything then to take it off and solely use AVG. Or visa versa. He said that using AVG (in his opinion) is better because its free, unless you didn't have to pay for your McAffe subscription. He said that Malawarebytes is an AWESOME program and running that alongside a virus program is different because they detect different things?

I think that was the basic jist.

But yeah, he said you are actually in danger of missing things by having the two programs running. Counterproductive? Sorry, its hard to type these things out as he's talking about it. What is as simple as tying a shoe for him is like speaking Greek to me.

[Rhaps]

Yeah, the first one is the one that got me. I system restored, upgrading my antivirus, and got firefox
At least I'm not the only one who got it