Tips for sidestepping fake security pop-ups
Ken Colburn
Ken Colburn is president of Data Doctors Computer Services and host of the Data Doctors Radio Program, noon Saturdays on KTAR 92.3 FM or at www.datadoctors.com/radio. Readers may send questions to evtrib@datadoctors.com.
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Squirrel posted at 5:43 am on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
It takes nine paragraphs before it is referred to by its proper and long-established name, "malware." And then appears as if it's a term coined by the author. That could explain the curious absence of any reference to, "malwarebytes."
The first call concerning a malware infection should go directly to the users Internet Service Provider. For the outrageous price subscribers pay today for their service, ISP's should be able to offer some semblance of software and/or a solution. In other words, actually providing, "service." We should also question why malware so easily bypasses any form of security provided by the ISP. That word again: "service."
The lack of any viable solutions in the article is understandable considering the source. At worst, the system needs a low-level format followed by the installation of malware protection. Which, by the way, does exist.
sbwertz posted at 7:58 am on Tue, Dec 20, 2011.
This is a well written explanation of how to avoid this malware.
I have had to remove several of these programs recently. Malwarebytes is probably the best tool, but you have to use several other programs as well, including rkill.exe. Most require the use of at least two other tools besides the malwarebytes. Also, many of the trojans will disable malwarebytes if it is on the computer, so you have to boot into safe mode with networking and reinstall malwarebytes. (sometimes it deletes the MBAM.EXE or other componants files from the malwarebytes folder and you have to put it back in manually).
If the system is not totally frozen by the trojan, you can run rkill to stop the running processes. (The malware usually disables task manager). Then you can install and run malwarebytes. If all the files have disappeared from the folders, you have to run UNHIDE.exe as well. I would recommend keeping a flash drive with malwarebytes, rkill, and unhide as a safety net.