SOME EXAMPLES OF MALWARE THAT PCR HAS REMOVED
BELOW: This "Security Tool" trojan virus is currently the most common virus. It is often "invited" in by other viruses. Make no mistake: This supposed "antivirus program" is fake. The list of viruses shown in its "system scan" is fake, but your computer is indeed infected. Security Tool is the virus! Like most trojans, this one has windows that pop up constantly, telling you that your computer is infected and that you need to pay to remove viruses from your computer. Don't ever be tricked into volunteering your credit card information to pay for this fake software. PCR can remove this and other viruses from your computer...
BELOW: The "Antispyware Soft" trojan virus is also very common...
BELOW: "Antimalware Doctor" is itself a virus. Its pop-ups appear to be part of Windows. Make no mistake, it is NOT part of Windows...
BELOW: This "Total Security" trojan virus also renders a computer useless until removed...
BELOW: "The XP Internet Security 2010" trojan virus....
BELOW: After just one reboot, the "Virus Protector" trojan virus takes over your computer to the point that ONLY IT launches at startup! Like all of these "fake alerts", this one tries to get you to unwittingly volunteer your credit card information...
BELOW: Once removed, the "Desktop Security 2010" trojan virus typically disables your Internet connection as a parting gift! PCR can remove this virus from your computer and fully repair the damage it leaves behind...
BELOW: The "Protection Center" trojan virus...
BELOW: The "Antivirus7" trojan virus...
BELOW: This one calls itself Security Essentials but it certainly is NOT Microsoft's Security Essentials anti-virus software, which is actually completely free and looks nothing like this pop-up "fake alert" window:
BELOW: The "Control Center" Trojan virus...
BELOW: Some malware looks exactly like Windows XP's own Security Center. Note the bad English: "No antivirus software found on your computer or they are out of date" - A hallmark sign of malware. The real Microsoft XP Security Center (located under START > Control Panel) never has any such "install" button (pointed out below by the green arrow). When you click the "install" button you get directed to a site that lures you into entering your credit card information...
BELOW: The above fake alert viruses try to get you to click a link where the "bad guys" hope you will enter your credit card information.
This site looks official, but it is run by bad people who only want your credit card information. If you have entered your credit card information on one of these sites then call your bank immediately to cancel your credit card!...
BELOW: Once a computer is infected with this virus, upon reboot, an adult web page (with Russian text) appears over the desktop. This virus completely disables everything including task manager (ctrl + alt + delete). The images cannot be closed out until the virus is removed by first manually repairing it with a registry editing boot CD...
BELOW: The "Google Redirect Virus" hijacks your browser when clicking to visit certain websites. It redirects your browser to strange, unrelated sites such as florida-traffic.com and others...
Other ways to tell if your computer is infected with malware...
BELOW: Most fake antivirus trojans disable basic Windows functions.
Press Control + Alt + Delete
This warning is usually due to registry damage caused by a virus..
CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR BROWSER HAS BEEN HIJACKED
Using Internet Explorer, run a Google search for "antivirus". The top search results usually include sites like free.avg.com , www.avast.com , www.mcafee.com , and www.kaspersky.com . Click to visit some of these sites. If your computer is infected with browser redirect malware, you will instead be redirected to other strange sites that have nothing to do with these sites. Below are the REAL sites....
PREVENTION:
Don't get caught by "fake alert" web pages...
According to Mark Hofman of SANS Internet Storm Center, there are over 52,000 infected websites out there trying to install executable files and other malicious code. Most attacks use components which are often hidden from visitors' eyes, aiming to redirect people to other more dangerous pages.
BELOW: This is a common "fake alert" web page that you may have stumbled upon. It appears to be part of the Windows operating system, but it is not! It tries to lure the user into clicking the "X", "cancel" or "remove all". DO NOT click EITHER one! Clicking either of these will prompt you to download and install a virus.
Note the multiple grammatical errors, poor diction and just plain fishy language, a sure sign of a hoax. Fortunately most viruses are written in countries such as Russia where English is not the main language....
BELOW: You need to exit this web page by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys (or Ctrl + Shift + Esc), then closing out your browser by selecting it and clicking "end task". Some browsers, such as Firefox, may revisit the same malicious web site when you re-launch the browser. To counteract this you can try unplugging your Ethernet cable until you can navigate away from the page.
The newest way that the bad guys are able to install viruses on your computer is to trick you into thinking that a video on a web page won't play because you don't have the proper player or plug-in installed on your computer.
This looks like a QuickTime or Flash movie, but actually it's just a picture with a link to an .exe file that contains a virus. Also note the fake claims of "78,695 views" which is used to try to gain your trust...
If you click the play button, you are asked if you want to install a supposed "video plugin". Be very suspicious if you are already able to play videos on YouTube without any problem. Note below that "exonlinedata" is not Macromedia (Flash), Quick Time, Windows media player, VLC media player or any other familiar name. If you click the "Run" button, a virus will install on your computer...
If the video doesn't play automatically when you click to "play" it, then be cautious even if it's a legitimate site. Sometimes the bad guys create web pages that mimic real websites such as YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, etc. When in doubt go to the REAL media player download site, such as Adobe's Flash site...
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
