The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
"Vista Smart Security"
JamesKeenan
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Ok, I've had this same malware a few times, and I've even learned the trigger. I get it everytime, and only when I visit The Pirate Bay. Karmatic, I'd call it.
It's always a different name, "Vista Smart Security," "Vista Security 2010," "Vista Antivirus 2010."
But it's always the same thing. You can google it yourself it you want. I haven't been able to find decent information on it. The only sites that talk about it are obscure forums practically just trying to sell me Spyware Doctor or Malwarebytes. It's basically malware that resets settings on my computer, and is constantly alerting me that I have new, other viruses all over my harddrive.
Now I'm simply intellectually bothered and curious. It can't be the site that's infected, or I'd have heard about it online. Someone else would have said something. So what else could it be?
I've used system restore the last few times I got it because malware programs weren't picking it up.
Is it likely it's stored on my computer still, and only triggered when I visit that site? I just don't know.
Does anyone know anything really helpful on getting rid of this thing, and why might be causing it to only active when I visit one specific site?
It's always a different name, "Vista Smart Security," "Vista Security 2010," "Vista Antivirus 2010."
But it's always the same thing. You can google it yourself it you want. I haven't been able to find decent information on it. The only sites that talk about it are obscure forums practically just trying to sell me Spyware Doctor or Malwarebytes. It's basically malware that resets settings on my computer, and is constantly alerting me that I have new, other viruses all over my harddrive.
Now I'm simply intellectually bothered and curious. It can't be the site that's infected, or I'd have heard about it online. Someone else would have said something. So what else could it be?
I've used system restore the last few times I got it because malware programs weren't picking it up.
Is it likely it's stored on my computer still, and only triggered when I visit that site? I just don't know.
Does anyone know anything really helpful on getting rid of this thing, and why might be causing it to only active when I visit one specific site?
JamesKeenan on
0
Posts
Installing Adblock will help.
now, open up notepad and copy/paste this into it
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"
save it as fix.reg on your desktop.
Now double click the file you just made.
Then install malwarebytes and run it.
After the regedit or install there's a restart (I forget which part), but that should fix it. The main problem with that virus is it edits your registry and prevents you from installing software that would remove it or even editing it out of the registry, but that fix file should work around it.
edit: but really, if you're gonna engage in risky internet behavior at least be smart enough to do it with a spare PC so you don't jack up anything important. I use an old Dell that is locked down tight, uses a huge hosts file, block the browser from doing almost anything, and that PC is on its own subnet and firewalled from the rest of my network so if it gets jacked I just restore from a known good backup.