A question for the computer experts

[Debi]

For the last 3 or 4 days, whenever I start up my computer, a program called Malware Defender starts. It tells me that I have a trojan virus on my computer, and that I need to upgrade the software in order to be best protected. I don't recognize this program, and have never used it in the almost 3 years I've had my computer (I have Webroot and Trend Micro Antivirus programs on my computer). Each time this program starts, I immediately stop it. I've run both Webroot and Trend, and neither of them have caught any viruses. I'm trying to delete this Malware Defender, and when I go to Uninstall Programs in my Control Panal, this program isn't even listed. This program also appears in the tray on the lower right hand side upon start up, but then disappears after a few minutes.

Help! What do I do? Part of me thinks this is a virus, and part of me doesn't. How do I get this notification to stop every time I turn on my computer?

 

[golfgal]

You do have a virus/whatever. Having one that looks like an antivirus program is a pretty common one. Do a web search under the Malware Defender and usually there are instructions how to get rid of them. You could also try downloading Malewarebytes antil-malware (it's free) to see if you can remove this other one.

 

[Debi]

Thanks, golfgal! Off to download that program now.

 

[DrCavin]

You may have to start your computer in safe-mode, press f8 while computer is booting up, then run Malewarebytes. Some viruses won't allow malewarebytes to run.

 

[lizabu]

I had that virus before too. I googled it and found an article that tells you step by step how to delete it from the registry. I wasn't even able to browse and my antivirus wouldn't update and couldn't find it so it was my only choice.

 

[mrodgers]

I had that virus before too. I googled it and found an article that tells you step by step how to delete it from the registry. I wasn't even able to browse and my antivirus wouldn't update and couldn't find it so it was my only choice.

Not your only choice, but you would have had to know what to do.

Boot computer in Safe Mode with Networking (F8 at startup as has been said.) You can then use the internet to download any malware or antivirus you want and update them. The booting into Safe Mode with Networking is the important part.

Malwarebytes gets rid of this annoyance every time. It isn't a virus either, it is malware. There is a difference.

 

[Debi]

I downloaded the anti-Malware software that golfgal suggested, and that got rid of the problem. Thanks, everyone, for your help!