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?
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
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.
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
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.
Last edited by Britton30; 22 Nov 2011 at 06:21.
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??
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.
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!
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