something called vista internet security downloaded itself onto my laptop recently and is blocking me from using most things on my computer. I really need help here because i can barely get the internet working long enough to post something like this. if anyone has dealt with this before please tell me how to get rid of it. I know this program is fake because it has a few things that just aren't Microsoft about it. this damned thing won't let me execute to many files either and every few minutes it hijacks firefox and internet explorer and tells me that sites like google and yahoo are unsafe and virus laden. this thing sometimes say vista internet security 2010 on it and it keeps popping up. it also keeps saying i need to give it my credit card info (how blatant can these people get)the pop ups aren't in microsofts style of security. so please help me.
HELP!
- Thread starter Ph33nix
- Start date
Recommended Videos
Geez sorry dude. I know vista has a couple pop ups with "_______ IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ALLOW/STOP" but never heard it that bad. maybe try taking it into a compusa or something
The best thing to do is head to another computer, and download and burn a Linux ISO to disk. Then boot to the Linux Live CD and get rid of it. Or, you might be able to get some other security program (I'll look for a good one).
Come to think of it, try booting into Safe mode, and download MSE or Avira, and they should be able to get rid of it.
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
http://www.avira.com/en/pages/index.php
EDIT-Make sure to boot into safe mode WITH networking, else you will have no internet.
Come to think of it, try booting into Safe mode, and download MSE or Avira, and they should be able to get rid of it.
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
http://www.avira.com/en/pages/index.php
EDIT-Make sure to boot into safe mode WITH networking, else you will have no internet.
That takes all of 30 seconds to disable in the control panelKuchinawa212 said:
OT: As a fellow Vista user I'm sorry to say I have not come across your problem.
However, my recommendation would be to back up everything and to a complete reset.
If in doubt all ways try a System Reset
Well I would try to get to the file that its in or delete the file that contains it. I am not really smart with this stuff but I still think that would do the trick. Well this has never really happen to me before. You sure its a vista virus?
A good last-ditch option, but that would have made no difference whatsoever really.Ben Bazooka said:
And a little extreme. That should be the last resort.
Just boot into safe mode with networking, and if it seems to be fine, download MSE and run it. Hopefully it will find it. And MAKE DOUBLEPLUS SURE that it comes from microsoft.com I have seen software that redirects you from real antivirus sites to fake ones.
If that doesn't work, try Avira. If that doesn't work, get a linux livecd.
If that doesn't work, then you will have to format (but at least the linux livecd will allow you to get some of your data before you format)
Only one thing to do: Get holy water, a bible, and a wooden stake. You can take it from there.
But seriously, what everyone else is saying is far better then any advice i can give.
But seriously, what everyone else is saying is far better then any advice i can give.
You're boned.
Had it before, twice in fact.
back up all your personal things onto a drive and just completely reboot your hard drive. Wipe everything out. Anything else isn't worth the hassle.
Had it before, twice in fact.
back up all your personal things onto a drive and just completely reboot your hard drive. Wipe everything out. Anything else isn't worth the hassle.
I had that myself. Go into Contrl Panel and navigate to System Restore. Do a full System Restore from the first point before the virus thing started happening. Completely clears away te bad, and all of your files and programs remain safe and are unaffected. Works every time for me...
Uh huhPh33nix said:
The best advice, is again, boot your computer into safe mode w/ networking, and go to www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials (MAKE SURE that is the address is your browser URL bar!) and download it. Install it, and then run it. If you are lucky, it will find it, and squash the infection. If not, I suggest, again, grabbing a linux LiveCD and getting your personal files off it. And then you MIGHT have to reformat. But hopefully not.