Some days it just doesn’t even pay to turn on your computer when you run in to malware.

Malware is short for “malicious software” which is any piece of software that loads on to your computer without your informed consent, and intends to do harm to your system in some way.  One of the most popular versions is a style known as “Rogue Malware” that usually intends to in some way mimic other software.  The best known example of this style is the type I get infected with last night known as “Antivirus 200X”.

Antivirus 200X (there are versions for 2008 and 2009) attempts to fool you in to thinking that it is a Windows security program and that is is scanning your system for spyware, malware, adware and viruses.  It will fake reports for these items and tell you that you will need to purchase their software to remove the harmful files.  Until you do buy it, it will take over your system, attacking you with pop-up ads even in web browsers you don’t currently have open.

While I had fought off Antivirus 2008 before on someone elses computer, the 2009 iteration is even more devious.   It barred me from going to websites that hosted software to uninstall it, even when I did finally get the software on the computer it kept me from installing it and it also locked me out of being able to edit my registery file so I could remove it by hand.

After trying several programs, I finally found one called SpyHunter V 3 that unlocked the installation problem.  Once that was done, I used a combination of other softwares, and invested around 6 hours in fighting the infection.  To help save others some of these problems, here is what I suggest you use”

• Malwarebytes took out the main problem of the actual Antivirus 2009.  I found good instructions, and a download link, at BleepingComputer.com
• Spybot Search & Destroy took out another level of headaches
• AVG Free seemed to find even more and has now installed guards warning me of potential problem sites
• And when I found I still was getting random popups, BleepingComputer.com again came through with ComboFix.  Make sure to follow the instructions on this one closely.

So after six hours of pain, my system seems to be free of this pain finally, but I am still being cautious.

Just remember to be safe in your surfing, backup your files frequently, and keep your anti-virus software up to date!