A computer and virus and security question....

[goofy4tink]

Here's the issue. DD has her own laptop. I thought it was still covered security-wise. Okay...so all of a sudden, today, about 30 mins ago, she starts getting these 'warnings' on her computer. Win 7 2011 is there, all over the place, telling her that her conputer could have been compromised and that her info is at risk. It strongly recommends doing a virus sweep. Okay...but the only option is to buy through this program...Win 7 2011. There is absolutely no way to get around it. If you click on an area that asks if you want to see the 'bad stuff' (my words not theirs) you find about 25 instances of something awful. But again, if you click on the spot that says 'continue with nothing done..dangerous' you can't go anywhere.
I guess my question is...is this whole thing just a big virus?? Or a scam of some sort?? I don't mind paying $60 for a year's 'license' to be able to use the computer, but it just seems fishy to me. Or do I just bring it to someone more knowledgable than me....not too difficult there.
Any thoughts for you guys that actually understand computers??

 

[Jestocost]

It's a scam. Malware masquerading as legit AV software, but it will foul up your computer and is a bear to remove. I'd search around for a removal utility from a trusted source or locate the manual removal instructions if you are reasonably tech savvy and are willing to dig around in the registry if necessary. You'll probably need to boot up the laptop in safe mode, then get the removal utility or do the manual removal process.

Microsoft has some info on rogue security software at the link below.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/antivirus-rogue.aspx

 

[Feralpeg]

The warning she is getting is actually the virus. Tell her not to click on anything. Just logoff and get out. It will go away. If you click on anything, it will spread the virus. We had this happen at the school where I worked earlier this year. The person who got the message clicked on it and we had a mess getting rid of it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep...just googled it. Looks like a trip to BestBuy or Staples. No way I can deal with it. I'm just glad I didn't give out any cc info. Guess I'm smarter than that.
Thanks.

 

[goofy4tink]

The warning she is getting is actually the virus. Tell her not to click on anything. Just logoff and get out. It will go away. If you click on anything, it will spread the virus. We had this happen at the school where I worked earlier this year. The person who got the message clicked on it and we had a mess getting rid of it.

Crap!! SHe and her father tried clicking on all sorts of things to try to get it to go away. We'll let it alone for a bit and see what happens. God....sometimes I hate computers!!

 

[Orange County Girl]

I've had that 2 or 3 times and malwarebytes gets rid of it easily. Here is an old thread that helped me.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2422025&highlight=malwarebytes

 

[Christine]

I had this two weeks ago. She should have never clicked on the links but they are confusing.

She needs to download (free) MalawareBytes. You may have to download it from another computer onto a flash drive. Then start you daughter's laptop in Safe Mode (hit F8 several times as the computer is booting up and you will get the option to go into Safe Mode). Once in Safe Mode, plug in your flash drive and open and execute MalawareBytes from the drive where the flash drive is connected. Let it run its scan. It will find the offender and then you can remove it. Easy, really and I'm NOT a computer person.

 

[Feralpeg]

Crap!! SHe and her father tried clicking on all sorts of things to try to get it to go away. We'll let it alone for a bit and see what happens. God....sometimes I hate computers!!

The biggest problem is that it will not let you download programs to get rid of it on the PC that has the problem. As another poster mentioned, you will need to get the program to clean it up on another computer and run it from a flashdrive.

 

[Christine]

The biggest problem is that it will not let you download programs to get rid of it on the PC that has the problem. As another poster mentioned, you will need to get the program to clean it up on another computer and run it from a flashdrive.

Yep, that was the worst part. Thank God I have a few computers in the house!

 

[mrodgers]

You can boot in Safemode with Networking. That will allow you to get onto the internet to download Malwarebytes.

Download the program, install, make sure to have Malwarebytes get updates. Scan the system, usually just a quick scan will do. Reboot the computer.

Malwarebytes has always gotten rid of it for me. Get it all the time on a PC I use at work. It is my equipment computer, but stays running all night and the shift workers always surf on it. Nothing I can do about it.

Sometimes it is just a popup and not installed on your computer. Thus, Malwarebytes won't detect anything. So don't be too worried that Malwarebytes says the computer is clean. I'm coming across it being just a popup in the web browser from whatever site is infected rather than something on the actual computer more and more.