Update to computer shutting down thread below - IT WAS A VIRUS (called Antivirus Vista 2010) (icons, installed)

[Glad2BHere]

I just wanted to post an important update to my thread below, about my computer shutting down for no reason.

Well sure enough, IT WAS A VIRUS.

I was running McAfee today and my computer shut down. Now that I think about it the last time I ran it, my computer shut down.

Then I started getting new Windows icons and messages about some Vista Antivirus 2010 and how I have 30 worms and viruses on my computer. And I have to b uy this program to get rid of them, all appearing to be Windows with the icon installed on my computer and everything.

I could not get rid of those messages and that is when I realized it was a virus. I contacted McAfee, paid the $$ and they removed it from my computer.

The tech reassured me if I didn't put my CC info in then all is ok. But I am still worried, is he right? Could that being on my computer have recorded passwords or account numbers of other sites I have been to? Anyone know about viruses?

BTW, Spybot and McAfee did not pick this up.

[NHDave]

In the future you should post to your original thread for updates. Antivirus 2010 is not a data miner, it's a rogue AV app (or scareware), it's sole purpose is to get you to pay for it, it does not track keystrokes or entered passwords, unless there's a new version out that I'm not aware of.

[hoffdano]

They have a new word for that type of malware - ransomware. It is bad stuff.

[NHDave]

Actually ransomeware is entirely different, it encrypts files or data and prevents access to it until a fee or "ransom" is paid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomware_(malware)

[MediocreButArrogant]

McAfee probably can detect and remove that particular malware now, but one or two things might have happened:

1) The current definitions at the time of infection could not prevent the infection, or your definitions were not up to date.

2) Once your system had the malware installed, it prevented further updates (possibly via DNS hijacking), and prevented any scheduled scans from running.

In my experience, most people with infected systems keep using them long after their system is showing multiple signs of being infected with malware, which just makes the problems get worse.

I recently read about a new virus (turns your computer into a zombie bot-net computer) which actually detects infections of other similar viruses, and removes them, so that it alone can take over your computer.