How to Deal With False Virus Notifications and Real Virus Incursions

Lately, spurious viral notifications and troublesome security program alerts have affected many computer and Internet users. These fake software applications issue authentic-looking browser windows that declare your PC or laptop to be infected with some kind of virus and prompt you to initiate immediate action, much in the same way that real programs that are included in antivirus software reviews do. This may be in the form of a link that will enable you to download software, a prompt that will let you allow the application to do an update, or having the application check for imaginary viral or spyware. However, when you go ahead with any of these actions, you will only allow the bogus antivirus software to set itself up in your PC or laptop system where it can go ahead and execute its devious actions. Once it is installed, it will persuade you to download or buy even more bogus programs or applications that will purportedly help eliminate the viral presence in your computer. Unfortunately, this will only worsen the situation by having the fake program cripple your real antivirus application, make off with your sensitive data such as your credit card account numbers, take down your computer's ability to update itself, or, worse of all, render your PC or laptop inoperable. Here are some tips that can help you deal with rogue or bogus antivirus software.

If you believe that your PC or laptop has been compromised, you can try any of the free anti-malware applications that are available in the Internet either in their own websites or listed in the best free antivirus software reviews. One of these is the Malware Bytes antivirus application. It may not check and remove every virus known to exist today, but it does pay to have it installed in your PC or laptop and then have it do a scan of the bogus antiviral program. Before you use this application, you must put your computer into safe mode configuration. This is because some spurious antiviral applications would not permit you to procure legitimate anti-malware from the Internet to check on your PC or laptop system, so you will have to restart your PC or laptop and then put it in safe mode or shut it down and then power it back up in the same manner. Depress the F8 button several times as your computer is powering back on to make sure that it has gone into safe mode. After doing this, you will see a window screen that gives you numerous choices such as "safe mode with networking." Pick this option to have your computer enter into this configuration. You can then open your web browser to Google the search term "MalwareBytes" or enter the line "malwarebytes.org" in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) search bar that you can find at the upper portion of your browser window. You would be shown a link that you can use to download the free antivirus software on your desktop; once it finishes downloading have it you can install it right away. The installation procedure basically follows that of any free or paid antivirus solution that you can find in antivirus software reviews. Turn down all open web browser windows and then click twice on the MalwareBytes icon on the desktop. Take heed of the installation prompts that will come up and then select the default configuration. Do a system check for all malicious software; by doing this you can take out the target fake antivirus software. If by any reason you are unable to take out the bogus program, you can ask the services of a PC or laptop repair expert to deal with the issue.

So the next time you see a window pop up on your Internet browser screen that notifies you of a suspected virus "infection" in your computer, don't believe it right away. It may only be another one of those false antivirus applications that masquerade as the real thing. If it did somehow manage to get into your computer system, you can simply take it out by using one of the many leading antimalware programs listed in the top antivirus software reviews or you can use a free program like MalwareBytes to deal with the problem.

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How to Remove a Fake Antivirus That Is Spamming Your Notifications With Virus Threats?

Rogue security software is a dangerous malware type that will install on your computer pretending to be an antivirus program and then disrupt programs, hijack services, or worse, communicate malicious programs to known users.

Removing a fake antivirus is like getting rid of a Trojan or malware from your computer. However with malware and antivirus, it is always easier because you can run your installed antivirus and have the program scan for and locate the infected files. Your antivirus will then remove this malicious program and ask you to reboot the computer. So if you are running an authentic Norton or Kaspersky security suite, then you can be assured that your data is safe. But what happens when the cleanup tool itself is an infected file that is running on your computer as a fake antivirus program.

What are the problems that you might face if there is fake security software on your computer?

Programming experts suggest that antivirus-malware can be fatal to a user in manifold ways. Once you have granted permissions to this program (remember, you think this is a genuine security product!) it will take over control of your PC processes under the disguise of a trusted application. It could then take over your browser, redirect you to unsafe or suspicious sites, hijack Outlook and use it to send out spam, flag known programs as risks, or pop-up bogus threat notifications. Then there may the case where you try to remove it, and this is when it will ask you to launch an update. The highest chance of a fake antivirus causing a computer crash is when you try to uninstall it.

So how do you remove a fake antivirus before it causes irreparable damage?

First things first! Backup all you important data and mail files onto an external hard drive. When you are doing this, it is also a good idea to restart your computer in safe mode with most executable programs disabled. You can also select Safe Mode with Networking if you need to recover files from webmail or need to internet for more how-to on backing up data. Online technical support is also available for this kind of service.

Backed up data? Cleanup malicious programs now.

The most secure and sure way of cleaning up your Registry and Start-up programs is by doing it manually. You can also use System Restore tool available on Windows XP, Vista, and 7 to reset all settings till before the program was installed. Remember that once you have the computer in safe mode, the fake antivirus cannot perform any functions. Feel free to browse installed programs and remove any that may indicate unknown publisher.

Restored PC Health? Now boost performance.

Once computer support technicians have cleaned up all malicious programs from your computer, you can ask for optimization tools and other PC tune up utilities to be installed on your computer. Online antivirus support and optimization help will provide you only genuine software so you don't have to worry about a virus infection. With extended support, you can get your computer repaired at a small annual subscription from the best Microsoft certified technicians. Online computer services provided by companies like HCL touch are available round the clock to resolve all computer and peripheral related issues for you.

Cathy Stones brings her experience in working with trusted technicians to troubleshoot antivirus and antispyware software issues. Cathy draws on an extensive resource for virus and security solutions available here http://goo.gl/D2OGY and her regular feeds here http://goo.gl/l9uWC to create a list of the top 5 free PC protection software on the market today.

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