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Shangrala · Dec 05, 2008, 08:15 PM

Wow! What a nightmare!! An updated version of the one I encountered just a couple months ago. Mine was called Antivirus 2008.

It initially presents itself as a Windows-related virus removal tool. It appears in the center of your screen and allows you only ONE (visual) option to get rid of it, which is the option of clicking on the little red "x" in the upper right corner of the window.
And for most unsuspecting users, that is the "click of system doom". One clicked, the virus then begins its devistating, mind-numbing, stress-leveling effects.

This is a Trojan virus. The location of where it is contracted is unknown.
Once your system becomes infected with this virus, the effects are programmed to remain dormant for a short time between the initial infection (virtual attack) and the progressive results. The purpose for this is to evade tracing of its original location, leaving the user (victim) totally unaware of "how or when this could have happened".

The virus cleverly infects by posing as an initial operating system file. It immediately positions itself in silence, and once opened it spreads itself to the second phase of attack, spreading even deeper by overriding files extensions.
With each system start-up it spreads wider, sending itself further into your system.
Because it is programmed to gain control quickly, it immediately recognizes any and all anti-virus programs. It isn’t that your anti-virus program is bogus, it is because this Trojan is designed to recognize,confuse and fool what existing protection you have. In the process of bypassing your anti-virus program, it is programmed to also alter it from its original function as well. And because this is all done without your awareness, it leaves your system even more vulnerable for other possible attacks.

It also alters many other programs and system operations, thus eventually preventing you from accessing your own system. Before you know it, you no longer have administrative rights. Your desktop is all white with only that nagging Anti-virus 2009 window smirking at you. You cannot access your program manager, system files, smooth start-up becomes futile, and eventually the possible system surrender to a crash.

System restore may help IF you have it set up in your system to automatically set a saving system restore point. If you do not, then any restore point is also disabled.
Unless you know how to override window's start-up and get into your DOS program for troubleshooting and hopeful salvage, you may be forced to do a complete Windows reinstall, resulting in the loss of everything you had on your hard drive. That's about when its time to break out the box of tissues, or the baseball bat.

I eventually rebuilt my own system from scratch. I do not favor pre-fab systems as they have far too many restrictions due to warranty, and you never REALLY know what is inside your system.
And pre-fab systems all come as Vista-Challenged!

No thank you!…lol

Good luck to the resurrection of all infected systems.

I’m only sorry there are so many victims to this mindless misdeed. Makes you wonder why anyone with the intelligence, such as the individual who designed this virus, would go to the extent of first designing the virus, then distributing it to the public. What is the reward? The mere thought that his act has reached countless victims? I fail to understand how making someone else miserable has any possible pleasure.

Also~ The Antivirus program I use, and found to beat all others hands-down is AVG by Grisoft. VERY easy, user-friendly. I love it. Free. Though they offer other security protection programs for system as well.
www.grisoft.com

Keepin em crossed.

Shangrala