Antivirus 2010 is the latest iteration of a common rogue anti-spyware infection. Its predecessors include Antivirus 2008 and Antivirus 2009, both of which have similar functionality.
The naming syntax is similar to that used by several legitimate antivirus products including Norton’s Antivirus 2010 and Kaspersky 2010 Antivirus.
The infection vector of this family of malware is generally via a website, promoting a free online security scan of your PC. Once you click on this free scan it installs Antivirus 2010.
Antivirus 2010 and its variants have several distinctive behaviours,
- Hijacking your Internet browser and redirecting you to the purchase page for Anti Virus 2010.
- Popping up constant annoying security warnings that your system is infected with a virus, imitating Windows Security centre.
- At random intervals producing a fake blue screen of death error, imitating a Windows crash.
- Constant attempts to redirect you to the purchase page for Antivirus 2010, supposedly to remove the infection.
As the Malware is generally packaged with several Trojans it can potentially cause more complex security issues. These include disabling of Task Manager and the Windows Registry Editor along with various other Group Policy alterations, which may limit access to various functions of your Operating System.
AntiVirus 2010 Security Centre Screen
Anti Virus 2010 mimicing a blue screen of death.
Removal instructions:
In the first instance download and install MalwareBytes. I have found it very effective in removing simple virus infections such as Antivirus 2010. Of course with more complex infections you will probably require professional assistance, please call Computer Repairs Online, for immediate support , 1300 113455.
When installing MalwareBytes, just go with the default settings. Upon installation MalwareBytes will update itself automatically. Thereafter you should presenter of the main program screen. Choose the “perform quick scan” option and click scan to commence scanning your PC.
The scan will take some minutes to complete, depending on the number of files on your PC. Once completed you are presented with the scanner screen highlighting the detected malware on your system. Click on the remove selected button to remove all detected malware and associated registry references.
Once Antivirus 2010 has been removed MalwareBytes will prompt you to reboot your system.
After the reboot you should find your system free of Antivirus 2010. If the problem still persists, then you may require professional assistance, please call Computer Repairs Online, on 1300 113455.
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