# how to remove "Total Security" malware?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-total-security-malware/507371>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 23, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-total-security-malware/507371 "2009-08-23T04:46:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-total-security-malware/507371/1 "2009-08-23T04:46:11Z")

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I somehow got this pernicious malware thing on my computer called Total Security. Every few seconds it pops up a window telling me my computer is infected and to click here to download security software. I google around, and confirm that yes it is fake security software, is actually malware. I google further on how to remove it, but all I can find are expensive solutions: other malware zappers that cost money.

Does anyone know a free way to get rid of this without having to have a PhD in computer programming?

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**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-total-security-malware/507371/2 "2009-08-23T04:49:15Z")

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Malware bytes, free and probably better than the pay stuff anyway.

> **[Cyber Security Software & Anti-Malware | Malwarebytes](https://www.malwarebytes.com/)**
>
> Protect your home and business PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices from the latest cyber threats and malware, including ransomware.

Depending on how thorough they were you may have to download it at work or the library or something onto a flash drive, some of these programs block anti-virus/malware (aside: what exactly is the technical difference anyway? I see them used somewhat differently but can’t place it) sites, so keep that in mind.

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**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-total-security-malware/507371/3 "2009-08-23T05:19:10Z")

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Thanks! seems to have worked!

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-total-security-malware/507371/4 "2009-08-23T05:35:53Z")

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Glad to hear that Malware Bytes cleared your problem, I just wanted to chime in with another great free virus/spyware/malware program: [Spybot Search & destroy](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/)

My SO"s son is constantly infecting my laptop with spyware when I’m not looking. Malware Bytes and Spybot have been able to clean up pretty much everything except one super-nasty virus that I had to reformat to get rid of. (I think it was the Virtumonde or something close to that.)