Well, I did a dumbass thing and logged on here through Internet Explorer, (I was using explorer for something else and couldn’t have Firefox open at the time – long story)
Apparently, I must have ended up with something called Vista Antispyware 2012. It’s a fake anti-virus that tells you your entire computer is infected, is extremely aggressive, and won’t allow you to do a damned thing.
This is fucking insane. How many times do people have to get viruses and/or spyware before you guys take things seriously? :dubious:
I’m going to be reformatting my computer in the next few days, but in the mean time, I want this fucker GONE.
Exactly. At least I’m ready to reformat my computer. But I found out until then, my computer’s now freezing, so it won’t allow me to burn a disc in safe mode. (Which lately is the only way I can run it. Yes, I know, I know. But I run spyware and virus scans regularly, I use Adbock, etc. The ONE time I come here on IE…)
Guin - can I ask a stupid question since it’s not in your post. Do you run an anti-virus? If you don’t, Microsoft Security Essentialsis free and I’ve never had a problem with a virus from the Dope.
You might try the Security Scannerto see if it can nuke whatever you have on your system. It is updated every 2 weeks and then is deactivated (so you can’t use an out of date version).
Malwarebytes usually gets rid of this infestation. You might need to install it from a stick, and you might (if it’s a bad version) need to rename the executable from mbam.exe to iexplore.exe to get it to run. To prevent an infection of this shitty thing, superantispyware seems to be on top of it at the moment.
I’ll second the recommendation for MS Security Essentials, although that’s not what has been protecting you. Charter members don’t see the ads that have been giving people malware. Log out and you’ll see the ones I mean.
Here’s a link I found on removing this particular nasty, for anyone else who finds themselves infected:
Don’t bother asking. **Ed **says he takes these problems seriously, but he refuses to put a hard cap on either the total number or frequency of infections before he’d dump these terrible ad servers. Not even a ridiculously high number.
I don’t know if the owners and operators of this board are just so used to being “the people with the answers to everything” that they’re too prideful to admit when they’re completely over their heads, or what. Numerous people, including myself, have offered alternative options that bring in *more *revenue for *larger *sites, and we’ve all been blown off by the textual equivalent of sticking fingers in your ears and screaming, “LA LA LA.”
At worst the SDMB is acting as a frequent malware vector; at best, it’s shilling for scams. I don’t see how anyone with an ounce of self-respect could think that this is the best way to make money from the site.
Sorry you’re having problems. I’m discussing this with tech support for our major ad provider. Can you provide some detail on what happened? Specifically:
What happened immediately prior to the infection? Did you see an ad or a popup? What leads you to think this thing was called Vista Antispyware 2012?
Did you click on anything? If not, what actions if any did you take?
What exactly happened? Were you notified that something was being downloaded to your computer?
Did problems begin immediately after the precipitating event? What problems exactly?
Because that’s exactly what it said, “Vista Antispyware 2012”. It acts like anti-spyware (well, obviously), and it totally attacks your system, popping up and saying, Your System is Infected! Run a Scan! That sort of thing. Here is a page on what it looks like, and how it works. Basically, Firefox was uploading something, and thus I could only surf on Explorer, and wasn’t using Adblock.
I didn’t download or click on any ad – I just remember shutting down as soon as soon as my upload was finished, and then the next time I started up my computer, I was hit.
I never click on ads, or download anything from them – I know better, especially after all of the malware that’s been spread here (sorry, Ed, but it’s true).
And I’m not exactly in a forgiving mood right now. I’m not trying to be snarky, but the last thing I need is another computer problem. Partly it’s my fault, for trusting to come on here from IE, without an Adblock.
No no, don’t. I’ve gotten bit by these things twice, and the best way to deal with it is to enter safemode, the safemode option that doesn’t have internet access, and ask the computer to go back system restore point from prior to the infection. (this should explain how if you don’t already know). Microsoft Essentials couldn’t cure the infections and neither could Malwarebytes, but going back to prior system restore points resolved the problem in both cases without having to reformat the computer.
I’m surprised malwarebytes didn’t get it. It is remarkably apt at getting these. They aren’t usually caught by microsoft essentials. They are Rogue Antivirus Programs; a malware infection typically caught by malwarebytes or something similar.
[ul]
[li]Rule #1 - Drop Internet Explorer.[/li][li]Rule #2 - Those sites that only work in IE often are not worth your time (yes there are exceptions).[/li][li]Rule #3 - If you’ve gone this far, what part of Rule #1 don’t you understand? :D[/li][/ul]
Significant Recommendations
[ul]
[li]Spend the cash and become a member again. The dollar value is more than paid back not having to view ads.[/li][li]Tightwad Corollary - Use Firefox with the Adblock Plus add-on installed.[/li][/ul]
I got infected by something similar last year. After I got everything restored, I caved and bought Kaspersky Internet Security which seems excellent at keeping me free from viruses, malware and the like. I now think of it as the best money I’ve ever spent.
Another bad thing about buying the deactivation software those virus writers are selling is the potential for them to scam your credit card.
Best of luck, Guinastasia! We need more 'Dopers around who know the goodness that are pierogies!
I’m trying to understand the sequence of events here:
You were uploading something on Firefox, so you launched IE and viewed the SDMB. Did you see the VA2012 popup at this time?
Your Firefox upload finished, so you immediately shut down. Do I correctly understand this to mean you used the Windows “turn off computer” procedure, at the conclusion of which your system switched itself off? Did you notice anything unusual during this process?
Some time later you restarted your computer and you were hit. When exactly in the boot sequence did this occur? Did you get to the desktop? Did you launch a browser and view the SDMB? What did getting hit consist of - did you see the VA2012 popup? Did something start downloading, “scan” start running, etc.?
I understand that you didn’t click on an ad. Did you click on ANYTHING other than the usual SDMB or Windows buttons and links? For example, if the VA2012 popup appeared, did you click on the “X” in the corner or do anything else to try to get rid of it?
