Why won't this "Your Computer Is Infected" warning go away?

Read the article that everyone's commenting on.
Subscribe to the RSS Feed for comments on this article.

My strategy is - I know which anti-malware software I have installed and I follow warnings from that software only. No other pop-up/warning will make me follow its instructions no matter where it came from or in which important company's name it is given. At the best a warning may prompt me to run a scan of my known installed software.

The best is when I get a web pop up that tells me that microsoft recomends I use some piece of bogus windows software to scan my Linux machine.

I had a terrible incident relative to "infections" a few months ago. Thought it had to do with a couple of sites I had visited ....and maybe it did. Nevertheless, called a few "techies" and they all wanted me to bring in my laptop so they could repair ....duh! I'm 75 and don't have a lot of dough ....so, ruled out those options. Someone (can't recall who) told me about a "Spybot" thing. I'm surely not 100% digitalized, at least not yet, but decided to find that site and see if the suggestions were simple enough for this old dog to understand and could be helpful. I was amazed at the simplicity. Removed all the crap that was showing and computer is working well. I did learn a lesson, at least I think I did. I promise never again to visit the "Transvestite Teenage Nuns in Drag" website. Just kidding.

I just want to say that all malware software will not remove this virus. I have had to download 3 different apps to remove the popup trojan. Although PCTools found the problem, after a reboot the problem retuned. Spybot's web site redirected me to Stopzilla which is NOT free. Symantec missed this completely. Finally Spybot removed the popups..so far.
Have you actually tested any apps to see their effectiveness?

While many infection pop-ups may contain bad grammar, some are very well written and look quite real. In fact Leo made a slight grammar error in his comments. I quote:

Try searching for the exact message text Google and see what others might be saying.

And quite likely I have made a grammar error or two in this comment. Poor grammar is often a sign but should not be the only criteria. The comment by Rahul mehta is a very good strategy to follow.

I have used Malwarebytes to remove this virus. The alias for this can be Windows Anti Virus 2008, 2009. Malwarebytes is free and can be found at malwarebytes.org

I was attcked yesterday and downloaded the file because of the Mocrosoft Shield. I had enough sense to save it and then did some looking around. I found out I had done the right thing in saving it and deleted it. I then ran defendernfrom Vista and am clean. My Point is that It was a microsoft shield .Watch out!

I understand that a recent issue of the Microsoft Malicious Program Removal Tool was specifically intended to remove these viruses.

I have had lots of experience with the so called warning "your computer may be infected, please run windows antivirus 2008" popup, mostly after the the fact, when a friend or family member screams for help. Recently I got the 2009 version after doing a google search on arthritis, I run AVG antivirus and both it and windows said this was a safe site in the results column. As soon as I opened a link for said search I got the dreaded popup. Here's what I did, first and foremost ... DO NOT touch anything on the screen!!! Even trying to close it by hitting the "X" button can launch this beast. I immediately shut off my internet or disable it (right click and select disable). Then "ctrl+alt+del" and end process of the culprit as well as explorer. Then I re-enabled my connection and install malware (which I had on a mem stick) and ran it. It removed the minute traces left behind and I have been clean since. I had heard you can get this virus from a legitimate site that had somehow become infected but this was the first time it has happened to me personally. MALWARE BYTES is my recomendation for this particular virus (both 2008 & 2009 Version of it)works well, easy to use.

I have my pop up blocker turn on in enternet options. I hardly get any. Sounds like I did the right thing. Its under privacy tab.

To post a comment on "Why won't this "Your Computer Is Infected" warning go away?", please return to that article's main page.