ransomware virus

[tri again]

I run everything up to date EVERY session.

Picked up a ransomware virus from clicking on facebook baby pictures.

It locks the computer. demands $$ and almost no way to get around it.

Great scam, freakin' geniuses that could cure cancer by noon if
they used their talents for good and not evil.

I have NO suggestions on how to prevent.
Microsoft has a downloadable boot disc for security essentials
which works but does NOthin to the virus and can't even find it.

[Chopsaw]

Did you get rid of it ? I've had it twice , had to remove it . Got it again , and logged off and back on , and the browser was un locked .

[tri again]

Did you get rid of it ? I've had it twice , had to remove it . Got it again , and logged off and back on , and the browser was un locked .

How did you get rid of it?
My tech guy said I'll have to reload the operating system.
Might as well go from xp to 7 anyway but
I'll lose ALL my stuff and pictures etc.

Did you find a way around it?
Thanks
ps - I bought this extra laptop for like 80 bucks and it sorta works
but would like to protect this one too.
any thoughts?

Thanks again

edit:

my ransomware called homeland security virus locks the computer as soon as it boots.
Impossible to boot into safe mode or anything else.
None of the fixes or boot disks on the internet helped at all that I found.
Sounds like yours locked the browser only?

[badandy]

had a friend from work get this... even snapped a photo of him with his web cam... sorry guys, but I laughed my fool head off!
I think he was able to back up to a prior restore point and it went away... so maybe not as severe as what you're explaining...
There are several boot disc, virus cleaners available for free, I think Avast has one, as well as AVG. Worst case, you can boot with a Linux "Live Distro" and with an external drive or USB stick, save your important files, pics, etc... and just reinstall your OS of choice.

I use Avast Free anti virus, have for years, and have yet to have anything that I couldn't get rid of easily, and I can count those times on one hand.

[Chopsaw]

Well if it is the same as what you have , it locked my browser and asked for money .
I booted into safe mode with networking , downloaded malewarebytes and ran it . Do a search on how to get rid of it . You should be able to make a new user profile and get on the web that way to search .

To get to safe mode re-boot and press F8 key while booting , then choose the proper choice .


OK I just saw your edit . Mine only locked the browser . I was just reading about it , Google it and read up on it .

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I'm no IT man, not by a longshot... But I have had a few "viruses" give me hell and thanks to some advice from a more computer savy friend of mine I was able to get through it.

In some cases, the little scam program is just trying to get you to buy their anti-virus software. Big time underhanded, but unfortunately legal... So in many cases, just disconnecting your computer from the internet lets you get it removed. Those programs constantly kick you onto a website that tells you all kinds of scary things like that you have kiddie porn and the police will be knocking on your door if you don't buy their software and such. In those cases, disconnecting from the internet allows you to function enough to get rid of it. Otherwise, you can't do anything because it is constantly kicking you onto the internet to their page.

Other more stubborn viruses I have been able to remove by starting my computer in "safe" mode and running a virus sweep. After running a virus sweep in "safe" mode, you should be able to remove the virus and restore to an earlier date.

Beyond that, I haven't the foggiest! LOL!

Good luck!

[tri again]

Thanks for the pm chop.
I just called a 30 year friend who works for Symantec, 15 yrs.
and ran all the computers, atm's and dumb terminals for a local bank with 7 branches.
Some really great stories there.

He couldn't stop laughing. NOthing is secure.
Even safe mode, none of the options work. Hold the safe mode choice screen
for 1 to 2 seconds and then boots to the splash nag screen.

Clean boot with 3 or 4 rescue disk options will boot clean but anything else
jumps instantly back to splash screen.
Maybe get into the registry but it only holds for a couple seconds, not enuf time to do anything.

So many people pay bills and stuff online and it takes bad guys SECONDS to snake your email address book and any 16 digit numbers on hard drive.
This guy is not the excitable type but simply deals with facts.

I just applied for a ccard with a 200$ limit for parts purchases and fraud protection so I don't have to use a 'real' card with a high limit.
Need truck and trike parts but best to get a phone number off the net and then CALL them.

Very strange but I really appreciate all the help.

Trikers rule, save the planet and make the world a better place.

[lokisbuddy]

Sounds legit to me I think you better just go ahead and pay them. I mean you pc has pics of your family on it right? so essentially they have taken your family hostage. You should pay

[MonroeMike]

My neighbor had such a virus. I used TDSSKiller to fix it.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/tdsskiller/

[Thorpe]

Mine had it a couple weeks ago... Booted up in safe mode, did a system restore back to a couple days before, and everything was gravy. And, I am pretty much computer illiterate....

[czac]

I was just reading about a new ransom ware virus yesterday..it seems there's a new one out now and its quickly speeding around the world. it locks up your machine and demands like $500.00 in bitcoin, then after 4 days if it hasn't been paid it goes to $1000.00 and after 30 days the part where you enter the key you'd get for the ransom $$$ disappears and leaves the machine totally useless unless you re format the drive and rebuild from scratch. no one has any defense for it yet and there's no way around it so far. My wife got one a couple years back and all I did was restore it to an earlier time and it was gone...lol now they are upping the Ante a lot! Hackers who make viruses and stuff like this should be shot on site, without warning or pity!

[czac]

here's where I read about it... I get the PC Pitstop news letter every month.. http://techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2014/0...cryptodefense=

[sledcrazyinCT]

Worst case, you can boot with a Linux "Live Distro" and with an external drive or USB stick, save your important files, pics, etc... and just reinstall your OS of choice.

where can you buy this Linux 'live distro'?

[badandy]

where can you buy this Linux 'live distro'?

Linux is FREE... Go to distrowatch.com and start reading, if you aren't a computer guy, you can buy premade discs for the cost of the disc and shipping.. but basically, you can download a "ISO" live cd/dvd depending on size, then burn to a disc, cd/dvd depending on space req'd.... my favorite burning software, is FREE as well and called imgburn... if you need more help, feel free to PM me. I have had good experience with Sabayon linux, but Ubuntu is very popular and easy to use. Additionally, if you primarily just surf the web, Linux is a great and virus free alernative to windows, AND most distro's come with Open office as well as most any software preinstalled that you could ask for... and you can also download software to manage your ipods... etc.... there are hundreds of options... and all free.

[badandy]

Linux is installable to any computer as a permanent, update-able and fully functioning operating system.... No more difficult than learning "Android"

OR if used from a "Live" cd/dvd, it runs solely off the disk, makes NO CHANGES to your computer, and is gone completely when you shut down and remove the disk....