Solved What is privacy protection? Fake virus program?

[matt2000xj]

I just had this same problem and I couldn't open anything, and couldn't find the program to uninstall, so I manually shut off my laptop, and rebooted into safe mode, and did a system restore to the 1st of this month. Is my laptop safe now?

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Privacy Protection is rogueware. The system restore should have done the trick : carefully monitor your PC to ensure it is behaving as normal. Is everything working as you expect?

Install good antimalware software, and be careful what you downlaod from the internet.

Regards,
Golden

 

[matt2000xj]

Thanks Golden, yes it seems to be ok, had to update firefox again, weird thing is, i didnt download anything, a that moment. i was searching on google, and found a link i wanted to use. but when i clicked on the link google redirected me to some other site, so i went back one page and thats when the "privacy protection" just appeared after my browser closed.

I have one more question for you though. what anti-virus/anti-malware/internet security program is the best or you suggest?

thanks again for all of your help and the fast response.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Often "poisoned" links will redirect you to malicious sites, so you need to be extra vigilant when you do searches : I suspect this is what happened to you. You can use something like FREE Norton Web Lite, which can help you spot potentially malicous sites and links in your browser.

For antimalware and firewall, there are many recommendations, and they tend to be based on personal experience. Personally, I use:

Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Firewall

and I also have the paid version of Malwarebytes (there is also a FREE version here).

That combination has always kept me safe thus far.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Britton30]

A final caveat to all, NEVER believe it when some internet page says you are infected or starts a "scan" (scam). Not only is it a rogue, fake program, it can steal your info and make your computer unusable. The main thing these crapwares want is about $50 to clean your system, which is uneeded exept for the rogue itself.
There are many poisoned pages on google since it's such an easy place to inject bad code. As a GFX-er I use it for images and many of them also are infected.
The free Malwarebytes will work with any security program, it has no real-time protection running.

If you get a page which is "scanning", hit ALT+F4 till everything is closed and do an imediate full security scan.

 

[Corrine]

If you get a page which is "scanning", hit ALT+F4 till everything is closed and do an imediate full security scan.

Excellent advice!
Never click on the page that says your computer is infected. Clicking the X or cancel is the same as authorizing it to proceed! Do as Britton30 advised -- ALT+F4.

 

[bargotsinger]

Help! Can't run any of the suggested fixes!

I need help, too! My desktop computer is infected with the "privacy protection" rogueware and I can't remove it. I have unsuccessfully tried all of the earlier suggestions--perhaps I'm not doing something right? I have Windows 7 but do not get the same screen shots when attempting to reboot in safe mode...it only gives me two options for booting up--normal and something about cdrom (both options are long strings of words/numbers, etc). Those are the only two options when I hit F8. I cannot download files or run any executables. Also, I only have a Mac laptop, so even though I am trying to download the recommended files onto a flashdrive using the Mac, nothing will run on the infected PC. Any suggestions??

 

[Britton30]

Welcome to Seven Forums bargotsinger.
On your Mac download MalwareBytes (link below my sig) and save it to a USB stick or burn to CD.
Go to Start search, type msconfig and hit enter, in the Boot tab, select Safe Boot and tick Networking. You should now be able to restart and boot into SafeMode. Do so and install Malawarebytes, update it and do a full scan.

 

[bargotsinger]

Thanks Britton30. I actually had tried that, but a box just flickered and disappeared when I typed msconfig and hit enter. Nothing ever opened. My husband suggested I unplug the computer while it was still running and plug it back in, to force it to give me the option to go into safe mode. Normally I wouldn't even consider this, but I was getting desperate, and it worked! Once in safe mode, I didn't have any trouble opening Malwarebytes from my flash drive and running the full scan. All appears to be in working order. Thanks again!

 

[Britton30]

Cool! Hubby had a good idea. (Wish I'd thought of it )
Did MBAM find any bad things?

 

[kyeager]

Can't get rid of Privacy Protection

HELP, Please!

My computer is infected with "privacy protection".

Following the posts on this forum, I tried Webroot Internet Security (safe mode) and SpyDoctor (safe mode) and they are not finding anything of consequence. Windows Defender Offline is finding "ROUGE:Win32/FakeRean". It shows it as being removed, but it is still there on a normal reboot. Is there a registry entry or something that is not being removed and therefore restarting the rouge on each boot? I have both IE7 and Google Chome on the computer if that makes any difference. O/S is Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Kevin

 

[kyeager]

cancel last request

I think the free version of Malware found and eliminated the rogue.

Thanks!

 

[Parcal]

Seems there's a lot kind of this rogue program, they always pop up fake alert to scare you. It's really disgusting.

 

[teamapyno]

Pesky Privacy Protection Virus- Rogueware

My boyfriend downloaded pics and attchements off Facebook last night- well in snuck this pesky little Rogueware which flipped me out this morning!
Here's a good solve worked like a charm

Shut down your computer- wait 10 seconds
Turn on computer -while its booting, continuiously press F8 until you get the screen that allows you to work in Safe Mode
Choose SAFE MODE W/ NETWORKING

Then you can download this FREE Anti Malware program that will remove the Privacy Protection Virus

Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware, anti-virus and spyware removal download

Do this in SAFE MODE

It worked like a charm
Took me about 30 mins with researching the available programs... should take you less since I did the research for you!

 

[killjoy]

I've found that a system restore does a better job than anything. Those rogue spyware programs are fairly easy to remove when they're new, but if you don't get the thing off quick, it slowly eats away at your permissions till you can't right-click, run msconfig, or access your antivirus. It disables everything.

 

[executiV]

Hello all, I am having this issue right now, and cannot access msconfig. Also it will not start in safe mode, the Privacy Protection just blocks everything it seems. Can anyone share with me how I force it into safe mode?

 

[killjoy]

What I do is start it, press the power button for a hard shut-down and repeat till I get "your windows didn't shut down properly. press f8 for advanced start options".

When you see that screen, boot into safe mode. When in safe mode, AS SOON as you see your desktop, hit alt-ctrl-del before the virus has a chance to load. Then kill the process as it comes up.

Then with a thumb drive handy, install Malwarebytes. That will further cripple it. Follow that with Spybot and finally windows defender. I include windows defender because I think it restores permissions that are set wrong. Follow this with a virus scan.

Then when you're done, go through your system settings and make sure everything works. I can almost guarantee you that a few things are going to be hosed. So, as soon as the virus is off, create a new account, move everything over, log into your new account and delete all the other accounts.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

At bootup, keep hitting F8 ... you should see an option to boot into Safe Mode.

Once in safe mode, do the following:

1. Download and run RKILL
2. Download, install and run Malwarebytes

Post back the results of the log file from the Malwarebytes scan.

Regards,
Golden

 

[killjoy]

Or better yet, if you've had your installation for awhile, it's probably time for a reinstall anyway. Boot a Linux CD, copy just your data, and reinstall.

If you have some software without a key, you can retrieve your windows and office and other keys with an open-source program called "magic gellybean".

 

[killjoy]

It's probably wise to back up your hard drive before diving into all of this. It may take you a couple tries to get it right.