Forum hacking vis a vis anti virus advice

[astrotech]

The Fusion PDF image extractor I downloaded from CNET Download dot com contained the "win X security 2011" virus.

It was a nasty little bugger. Not prevented by symantec antivirus yet.

It pops up with a window that spoofs microsoft security windows and changes its name depending on the name of the operating system it infects. For windows XP it pops up a window with the title Win XP security 2011. For windows 7 it pops up a window with the title Win 7 security 2011 and so on.

Going online to find a solution it prevents sites from opening. It redircts to other sites. It prevents programs from opening. It prevents steps to shut it off. Tries to blackmail you into buying "Win X Security 2011 anti virus".

If this message doesn't appear on one of your computers that one may be infected as it prevents messages containing the words "win X Security" I can presume you are reading this message on a computer other than an infected one.

I don't say in public forums solutions to overcome viruses as that gives the writers clues to block solutions.

I found that the writers of this virus made several forums that are the first pages to come up when searching for info about the virus. Those forums give complicated false and damaging info about how to solve it sometimes just recommeding another antivirus to buy. Of course there are the responses to the false written by the writers spoofing complementary responses like "Wow that cleared it right up and thanks much and so on".

Some of these "solutions" require as many as 60 complex steps and registry edits to perform. They damage your system and complaints can be dodged by claiming that you didn't follow complex the instructions properly. Of course the complaint messages are deleted from the forums.

All I can tell you if you get infected is that the solution is simple. I can't tell you the solution because the writers may get wind of it and instantly send an altered virus to all infected systems to prevent the solution windows from opening.