"...clean your computer to prevent system crash"

nottaclue9 · 17 Apr 2014

Another love note from a fake Microsoft window: "Message from webpage / Microsoft Antivirus has found critical process activity on your computer. You need to clean your computer to prevent a system crash."

I have not touched anything on the window, not the red X or OK. I had just clicked onto a page to read the article, but didn't have time to see what it was before the fake window whited out the page.

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Ran Malware Bytes which found nothing & then ran Adware Cleaner.

"...clean your computer to prevent system crash"-capture.png

I don't know what an octet is, but it looks like that's all it found.

akjudge · 17 Apr 2014

Part of the Computing fundamentals glossary:

In computers, an octet (from the Latin octo or "eight") is a sequence of eight bit s. An octet is thus an eight-bit byte . Since a byte is not eight bits in all computer systems, octet provides a nonambiguous term.

The Adware Cleaner results look normal. The AdwCleaner[R0].txt type files are the log files created by Adware Cleaner after a Scan run. The AdwCleaner[S0].txt type files are log files created by Adware Cleaner after a Cleaning run. These files can usually be found in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.

Hope this helps.

nottaclue9 · 17 Apr 2014

Thank you, akjudge. That's a clear explanation. I'm assuming that the octet is some type of adware, then, right? Whatever it is, Adware didn't seem to be bothered by it. I also ran super spyware which did find some stuff, but I deleted all of whatever it found, and so far, no fake Windows window!

Britton30 · 17 Apr 2014

It is best to upload the txt file Adwcleaner generates, not a snip of it. The info on the left side is missing.

I would advise you to carefully check what you are downloading and installing. Always click the Advanced for installing and UNcheck anything other than the software you really want.
This is a good program to help you with this: http://unchecky.com/

nottaclue9 · 17 Apr 2014

Handy tool, Britton30! I have made the mistake of "accidentally" get a lot of extra junk that I do not want so many times that I am leery of downloading anything anymore. I do usually remember to uncheck toolbar and default browser boxes, but this tool takes all of the having to remember out of the equation. Thanks for the information.

Britton30 · 17 Apr 2014

You're very welcome. Also always try to go to an author's site for a download avoiding c|net, Major Geeks, Softonic, etc.

Did your fake window go away?

Layback Bear · 17 Apr 2014

I use FileHippo when I can.
Some things come with junk but they are clearly marked so it's not hard to un-choose them.

nottaclue9 · 17 Apr 2014

Yeah, the fake window went away. I am bothered by the fact that MSE & Malware Bytes did not detect it. Adware Cleaner didn't produce any negative results, either. Super Spyware must have been the one to catch it.

I have always thought I was playing safe on the Internet, but I am Velcro for these kinds of malware annoyances. I use "in private" to browse on Duck Duck Go, but I still get ads. As for malware, I am starting to feel persecuted!

nottaclue9 · 17 Apr 2014

Layback Bear -- Is File Hippo the same thing as Unchecky?

Britton30 -- I am embarrassed to admit that I can't figure out how to get the results of a scanning report to appear properly on the message board. I do click on "upload" when I copy the report, but then I don't know what to do after that. So things always end up as attachments. (I use the paper clip icon.)

Layback Bear · 17 Apr 2014

FileHippo is a site for program downloads and one of them is this.

FileHippo.com - Download Free Software.
I have tried others but this one doesn't argue with my computers or me.

nottaclue9 please remember that no one program will find everything.
Many things don't get stopped by anti programs because at the time these programs that slip in are not considered infection.
They can very well be things that you don't want but the security programs don't know you don't want them.

That is why many of us run various programs to keep our systems as clean as possible.

Another good free online scan is Eset.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET