Computer Virus?

[echokilo]

The photo attached is a snapshot of the screen of my dad's laptop - which appears to be some kind of scam/virus/spam ...... has anyone come across this and can you tell me how to remove it? It spots EVERYTHING on screen and the only way out way to reboot .................. and for the time being I have managed to create a second profile, which appears to be working and browsing the internet - but where is this from and how do I report it?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86019868@N03/

[daffy654]

Download the FREE VERSION of Malwarebytes from here:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Run it and it should remove the malware that your dad seems to have got.

[heathfield]

It's a well-known virus. Google 'police central e-crime unit' to find lots of links and various suggestions for removing it.

[echokilo]

Thank you - can either of you tell me why Norton 360 let it through?

[heathfield]

Anti-virus programs aren't infallable. And virus writers try their best to get around them.

[vivandorron]

Do as daffy has suggested.

Going 'on-line' to find a method of removal might lead you to a site that wants to sell you a removal download.

With a bit of luck, Malwarebytes should do the trick, free of any cost. However make sure you download the free version and, as you have Norton installed, you can untick the box for a trial run of Mcafee

Ron.

[ChuckFickens]

"Thank you - can either of you tell me why Norton 360 let it through?"

Generally because the user has clicked "yes" at some point when they shouldn't have....The best anti virus in the world is useless if the user clicks yes on a prompt that comes up without realising what they are agreeing to. (just like the best lock in the world is useless if you leave the key in it)

In future be more careful what is being agreed to.

[echokilo]

Thanks everyone - however, dad is so terrified of messing something up that he accepts NOTHING - all he uses the laptop for is facebook and email and reading the occasional bbc news story - so unless it was VERY well hidden he hasn't accepted anything dodgy. He even phones me before accepting Windows updates x

[vivandorron]

I am appreciative, as I feel sure other folk are, of your further posting; but would interested to know if you have been successful in removing the virus. Have you downloaded Malwarebytes and given it a run.?

Ron.

[Old_Geezer]

I've often wondered about the clicking yes thing. Surely malware can ask anything it likes and still do it's own thing. Very recently I installed a programme during which I noted it was asking permission to install something else as well. I unticked the box, said a few choice words under my breath at the dirty tricks, try to slip it though attitude these days, and carried on with the install. A couple of days later I realised it had installed the thing I unticked anyway. Had to get superantispyware to get rid of it. It thought it was just a PUP but that's not what I described it as. Or those responsible.

[vivandorron]

This is the first time I have heard of 'superantispyware'. Hope you didn't have to purchase the programme because the free edition of Malwarebytes would have probably done it for nothing.

Ron.

[Old_Geezer]

No, it's free to download vivandorron. It's a decent alternative, I've used both at different times in the past.