Help! Think I have a worm/virus on computer (screen, flash, Windows Vista)

[CouponJack]

Yes, its another similar thread to the one last week, but noticed problems yesterday after downloading songs from itunes.

My PC is acting nuts. I have vista home security messages that are telling me my computer is infected w/malware/etc.....(however I have avast anti-virus and says everything is ok).

When I try to get onto a website through internet explorer I keep getting the windows vista messages (to purchase a registration for $59.95/yr)

I just don't know enough about computers to know if this is legit (or if there's a way to get rid of these files for free...)

Does anyone know where I need to start.....?

Please help! thank you

[mensaguy]

You have a malware infection of a type often called FakeAV. (Sometimes, we call it Extortion-ware.) You can remove it with Malwarebytes, but it may need to be run more than once or in safe mode to get it all cleaned off.

[CouponJack]

thank you.

well, in the meantime, I went to pc help forum dot com and I'm trying to copy it from an uninfected computer and put it on my pc and try to run it....

that's the path I'm taking....is that the correct 1st step?

[Tek_Freek]

Yes. Make sure you run the update checker in the program before you scan.

['M']

Not long ago, i had that same quirky thing....it just so happens my trial of McAfee virus protection was about to expire...on that same day...which made me VERY suspicious of the authenticity of this screen. I left the red-lettered screen up, ran a scan, and it showed nothing at all, so I just X-ed out of the screen with all the flashing thing-ies, and never had the "problem" since. I don't think that is anything other than something taking over your computer so it can scare you into buying their product. Slime balls...