Vista security center virus?

[visagephoto]

My daughters laptop (running Vista) has recently been infected with this virus, it has disabled AVG and replaced "windows security center" with "vista security center" which has constant virus warning pop-ups, which then insist on upgrade & payment etc.

I've restored the system to an earlier version using system restore, which allowed me to re-enable "windows security center" and run avg to check for any viruses, once I delete all the tracking cookies etc. that AVG discovers, is there anything else I can do, or have to do to ensure the threat is eradicated.

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

My daughters laptop (running Vista) has recently been infected with this virus, it has disabled AVG and replaced "windows security center" with "vista security center" which has constant virus warning pop-ups, which then insist on upgrade & payment etc.

I've restored the system to an earlier version using system restore, which allowed me to re-enable "windows security center" and run avg to check for any viruses, once I delete all the tracking cookies etc. that AVG discovers, is there anything else I can do, or have to do to ensure the threat is eradicated.

Hi There

As this is for home use follow my FREE Virus / Malware Removal Guide


Any questions etc just ask

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

Thanks Stuart,

I downloaded and ran "MalwareBytes" anti-malware, did a full scan but like AVG it couldn't find any infections etc, everything was running fine after the rstore. . . until I noticed Vista SP1 had been downloaded but not installed.

I tried to install it but it failed and corrupted the system in the process, now the laptop won't boot, I put the original windows CD-ROM in and tried to repair the OS, but it 's been running for around three hours now, and seems to be getting nowhere.

Any advise to save me re-installing windows would be really appreciated.

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Thanks Stuart,

I downloaded and ran "MalwareBytes" anti-malware, did a full scan but like AVG it couldn't find any infections etc, everything was running fine after the rstore. . . until I noticed Vista SP1 had been downloaded but not installed.

I tried to install it but it failed and corrupted the system in the process, now the laptop won't boot, I put the original windows CD-ROM in and tried to repair the OS, but it 's been running for around three hours now, and seems to be getting nowhere.

Any advise to save me re-installing windows would be really appreciated.

OK first things first

Boot up the system then repeatedly tap F8 til you get to the Advanced Boot Options, then choose Last Known Good

Let me know how that goes.

Regards

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

That's why I always suggest the new restore point and ERUNT registry backup BEFORE any maintenance work is done.

Always gives you a good working point to go back to.

OK if Last Known Good didnt work I would try to boot from the Vista DVD and instead of choosing Install choose Repair My Computer

Hopefully it finds your Vista OS then click next

Now do a System Restore to just BEFORE the SP1

Let me know how you get on

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

Did as advised,

Windows starts loading with progress bar at bottom centre of the screen, the screen then goes blank (black) with white text and freezes on the following,

!! 0xc01a001d !! 9073/86503 (\registry\Machine\COMPONENTS\DerivedData\...)

hard drive is constanly being accessed and above text is flashing as though stuck in a loop.

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Hi There

Was that on Last Known Good or System Restore?

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

Hi There

Was that on Last Known Good or System Restore?

Regards

Hi Stuart

Yes it was.

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

OK do a System Restore

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

I'm sorry Stuart but this is a bit technical for me, I'm not sure how to do a system restore without first booting the system.

As it seems I'm unable to load Windows even in safe mode, or to repair the OS using the original Windows Disc. I think I may have to reinstall windows and face the wrath of my daughter when she discovers her itunes etc. are all gone.

Regards

Alan

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Hi There

There is no need to loose any data such as music etc

OK boot from the Vista DVD, choose Repair My Computer

It should find your Vista OS then click next

Then choose System Restore

Even if that doesnt work, then a boot CD will allow you to "dump" important files to say a USB drive

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

OK done it. . . Although the last time I tried this I had the "Attempting repairs" window, with the progress bar scrolling from left to right for about three hours and it seemed to be getting nowhere, would it be advisable to leave it running overnight?

PS, I mean I've done as you advised, not sorted the problem.

Hi There

There is no need to loose any data such as music etc

OK boot from the Vista DVD, choose Repair My Computer

It should find your Vista OS then click next

Then choose System Restore

Even if that doesnt work, then a boot CD will allow you to "dump" important files to say a USB drive

Regards

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Hi There

Did you choose Startup Repair instead of System Restore?

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

Hi Stuart

No, the only options given are to install windows or repair your computer, I selected the repair option which searched for problems and then asked "Do you want to restore your computer using system restore?", when I selected this option it seemed to go into an endless loop of repairing the system (not restoring it to an earlier date)

Regards

Alan

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Is this when booting from the Vista DVD?

After you select Repair My Computer?

Should be more options than that

Such as:

Start Repair
System Restore
Memory testing
Command prompt etc

Just thinking your maybe in a different screen

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

Yes, although this time I rejected the option to restore using system restore, and another few option came up, when I went through these I got to the "System Recovery Options" window (Obviously the one you were referring to, but the first time I've seen it) anyway I selected the System Restore option from there, and it seems to be doing something positive.

Thanks for your help so far Stuart, I'll leave it running for a while and let you know tomorrow whether it was successful or not.

Regards

Alan

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

OK just in case the System Restore doesnt work

Here is how you can save your daughters data

An external drive of some sort is required

Download Ubuntu Live CD

Burn it to CD using ImgBurn - Freeware

Boot from the Live CD

Choose English as language

Then choose try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer

Give it time to boot then navigate to Places at the top

Then choose Computer

Now navigate to your Vista drive

Then Documents and Settings, then Users, then your daughters name

Now copy and paste things like Documents, Music, Pictures etc to an external drive

That way the data such as iTunes isnt lost

Hope it works out

And just ask before you do anything

It might seem a bit hectic and confusing but its actually quite easy and ensures precious data such as music, photos etc isnt lost

Regards

 

[visagephoto]

Hi Stuart

Well I had to reinstall the OS, and followed your instructions re: file backups.

still to connect to the internet and download (& install) Firefox, AVG and SP1, although as the machine crashed during SP1 installation I'm not sure whether to leave it out this time, as I don't know whether the problem could have been caused by this, or the "vista security center" virus.

I did notice that during the boot sequence the command prompt was displayed, and the last registry file to be loaded each time before it halted, was AVG.


Regards

Alan

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Hi There

Thats a pity about the reinstall

Anyway did you manage to save your daughter's stuff?

Here is what I would do in future on a home PC:

ALL software is FREE for home use

Install security software BEFORE going online which should include the following:

1 X real-time Anti-Virus program such as AVG, Avast, AntiVir
Malware Bytes Anti Malware
1 X Software firewall such as Comodo

Update all up security software and scan atleast once a week

Install Easeus Backup Todo

FREE for home and business use surprisingly

This is an excellent backup program that will allow you to create both system images and normal backups. This will save you having to reinstall your OS and programs should anything ever go wrong.

Run a full system image and test it (verify) BEFORE applying any Windows service packs.

That way anything goes wrong, you loose nothing and can restore your full system in around 30 mins.

Regards