Post by Elfhild on Aug 20, 2009 1:45:28 GMT
Last night, I was browsing a graphics site and suddenly this strange pdf file came up and my computer slowed to a creeping halt. I forced it to shut down, and when I turned it back on, it was still slow and the icon of a big red X popped up on the task bar, with a pop up message telling me my computer had been infected by spyware and I should download software to fix the problem. Thinking it was a Windows program, I told it to install the software, but a message came up saying it was downloading a program called "PC Antivirus 2010." I thought the name seemed fishy, so I cancelled the download and researched this program.
Turns out that "PC Antivirus 2010" is really a spyware program which is impersonating a virus program, which is supposed to rid your computer of spyware and adware. It's NOT a legitimate program, but spyware itself. If a person installs the total program, it is very difficult to get rid of it, and it will bombard you with pop ups saying that your computer is infected with all sorts of viruses and spyware. I read on one site that websites will pop up in your browser, trying to get you to buy this bogus antivirus program for $75.
Unfortunately, "PC Antivirus 2010" is very sneaky and most antivirus programs will not detect it. I had to download a legitmate anti-malware program from www.malwarebytes.org (I researched the company because I was afraid I would end up downloading MORE spyware to get rid of the first spyware infection...) Malware Bytes got rid of the infection in about a half an hour, and nothing was hurt.
Just be on the look out for this virus. It looks very legitmate, and even uses that Windows shield icon as its logo.
Turns out that "PC Antivirus 2010" is really a spyware program which is impersonating a virus program, which is supposed to rid your computer of spyware and adware. It's NOT a legitimate program, but spyware itself. If a person installs the total program, it is very difficult to get rid of it, and it will bombard you with pop ups saying that your computer is infected with all sorts of viruses and spyware. I read on one site that websites will pop up in your browser, trying to get you to buy this bogus antivirus program for $75.
Unfortunately, "PC Antivirus 2010" is very sneaky and most antivirus programs will not detect it. I had to download a legitmate anti-malware program from www.malwarebytes.org (I researched the company because I was afraid I would end up downloading MORE spyware to get rid of the first spyware infection...) Malware Bytes got rid of the infection in about a half an hour, and nothing was hurt.
Just be on the look out for this virus. It looks very legitmate, and even uses that Windows shield icon as its logo.