WTF is Antivirus System Pro and how do I get rid of it?

[mangaluva]

I've been missing for a few days because my computer was hit with something calling itself "Antivirus System Pro", telling me that everything on my computer was infected with trojans and pressing me to buy software. It also refused to let me access the internet on the basis that every website in existence, including Google, is a massively infected danger zone and constantly directing me to a website offering me "Powerfull PC Protection" and warning me that "your computer is infect. Click to begin to scan file program". Also, at random intervals it directs me to "www.viagra.com".

Basically, it's spam, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it because it also stops me accessing things like my control panel. Asking from my brother's computer: does anybody know what it is and how the hell I get rid of it?

[kate_49]

my friend had the same problem.... he was able to get rid of after 2 - 3 weeks.... he rented a pc and searched on the internet on how to get rid of it..... i don't know how he did it though..... sorry if i'm not a big help....

[Akonyl]

oh ho, I got one of these things a while ago (actually, I got two of them at the same time which was super fun). Anyway, I would first recommend getting rkill ( http://www.technibble.com/rkill-repair-tool-of-the-week/ ) on to your PC via a USB or something, which kills basically all unknown system processes, to make it so the thing stops running. Alternately, you can open task manager and kill the process manually. Once you do that, you can download an antivirus to get rid of it (or just copy it over from a usb, I personally use Malwarebytes). After you get rid of it, you'll probably also have to turn system restore back on, which I forget how to do and you should probably look online for.

Also, certain versions of the antivirus virus edit your registry so that whenever you attempt to open a program, it opens the virus instead (making it hard to open an antivirus to kill it), but since you accessed the internet, I imagine you don't have to worry about that.

Also, if you're using firefox, look into using the addon NoScript, which allows scripts to run on only sites which you allow to run them, so that if a site has a malicious ad or something, you don't have to allow the site with the ad and such. Using it, I haven't had a single infection on my computer (except from what I mentioned, which is when I used IE for a few minutes for something).

[sstimson]

One of the first things you should do is if you can do is an online virus scan

Housecall is a good one for non ie

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

the next one to try would be kaspersky

http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus

NEVER CLICK BUT TO CLOSE POPUPS

[RubberStamp]

Wow these things are hella annoying, I had one before for some reason.

In any case, I recommend Malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/. It works wonders. It cleared up antivirus 2009 (fake annoying spamming antivirus like what you have) on my computer before.

If you really want to make sure that your system is in the clear, after you run Malwarebytes and all that shenanigans you could always do a system restore to way before you got the virus.

Hope you get it off your comp. soon.
Cheers.

[Walbuls]

http://www.superantispyware.com/portablescanner.html

runs off an .exe, no install required. Same power as the program if installed.

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

Sounds like you got a nasty case of malware. You may need to boot into safemode and run the antivirus someone here recommended to you. Hopefully, you're surfing on a non-infected computer because sometimes the virus can look for more malware to download. It could also be spamming people too if you were roped into a botnet, so all the more reason to disconnect so the spammers can't use your comp for foul deeds.

Also, if you're using firefox, look into using the addon NoScript, which allows scripts to run on only sites which you allow to run them, so that if a site has a malicious ad or something, you don't have to allow the site with the ad and such. Using it, I haven't had a single infection on my computer (except from what I mentioned, which is when I used IE for a few minutes for something).

This. I've avoided all crud entirely for four years with the firefox noscript combo. Some people use flashblock as well. NS blocks most of the annoying ads too which is a plus.

For anti-spyware I use Spybot. It's decent, but I haven't gotten anything since FF+NS so it's not like it gets to show its stuff much. It did a great job of nuking the malware on the hellhole that was my roommate's computer a few years ago after she got a nasty email virus/malware downloader. Spybot has some nice extras too, like startup process flagging and blacklisting of bad sites.

Hopefully you have backed up all your files. If you have and you have the time, a clean reinstall might not be a bad idea.

[Found]

This topic was a big help, just saying

[dilbertschalter]

Yeah, I would advise anyone who uses Megaupload get good antivirus protection stuff, stuff, because a lot of the popups there have trojans and what not. That applies for most "shady" sites as well.

[ranger]

I use Kaspersky, you have to pay a monthly fee  + the initial retail price, but I believe it's worth it; it basically tells me when viruses are on certain pages and it denies them immediately.  It's worth investing the money into, I've been virus free for a while now.

However there are some criticisms that it's not very efficient, like it slows down your computer or something, but I don't really notice anything.. then again I have a boss of a laptop.

[Conan-kun]

Follow these instructions:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-antivirus-system-pro

[RubberStamp]

I use Kaspersky, you have to pay a monthly fee  + the initial retail price, but I believe it's worth it; it basically tells me when viruses are on certain pages and it denies them immediately.  It's worth investing the money into, I've been virus free for a while now.

However there are some criticisms that it's not very efficient, like it slows down your computer or something, but I don't really notice anything.. then again I have a boss of a laptop.

:O I have Kaspersky anti-virus as well. You have to pay a monthly fee? I only had to pay for the program and I'm set until I have to renew it.

[mangaluva]

Thanks for all the suggestions Unfortunately, due to the nature of the malware I ended up not seeing any of them until just after the computer guy came in, messed around with my computer for a while and ended up having to wipe everything. Thank crap my backup day was two days before the virus hit. I've downloaded a few of the antivirus systems, though, so hopefully the problem won't repeat. -_- Internet, i've missed you ♥

[pofa]

Thanks for all the suggestions Unfortunately, due to the nature of the malware I ended up not seeing any of them until just after the computer guy came in, messed around with my computer for a while and ended up having to wipe everything. Thank crap my backup day was two days before the virus hit. I've downloaded a few of the antivirus systems, though, so hopefully the problem won't repeat. -_- Internet, i've missed you ♥

I had to wipe my hard drive when I got Anti-Virus last year. I wish I knew who is responsible for it. *thinks black thoughts*

[mangaluva]

Thanks for all the suggestions Unfortunately, due to the nature of the malware I ended up not seeing any of them until just after the computer guy came in, messed around with my computer for a while and ended up having to wipe everything. Thank crap my backup day was two days before the virus hit. I've downloaded a few of the antivirus systems, though, so hopefully the problem won't repeat. -_- Internet, i've missed you ♥

I had to wipe my hard drive when I got Anti-Virus last year. I wish I knew who is responsible for it. *thinks black thoughts*

I can guarantee that it's a major nerd, probably one of those names that turns up on the FBI's list of hackers to watch out for. Nobody else can make a webpage look so professional and yet spell and punctuate so utterly abysmally.