Alpha Antivirus infection.

alanwjones

A friend has contacted me saying his computer has been infected with the fake ALPHA ANTIVIRUS,
Any pointers as to removal would be appreciated, he Is running Norton antivirus ! and has been told by them to scan/remove the infection, Norton has quoted £100 to clean the infection online and want credit card details before starting !, which is a bit rich from the antivirus company that let them down in the first place ! Where should we start on this one, Alan.

aerostar

Download malwarebytes program , http://www.malwarebytes.org/

and super antispyware program http://www.superantispyware.com/ and run both seperately

alanwjones

aerostar wrote: »

Download malwarebytes program , http://www.malwarebytes.org/

and super antispyware program http://www.superantispyware.com/ and run both seperately

Thanks Aerostar, just downloadig those two + hijack now. Alan

fiddiwebb

he Is running Norton antivirus ! and has been told by them to scan/remove the infection, Norton has quoted £100 to clean the infection online and want credit card details before starting !

Do not let you friend pay!!!!

Are you sure it is Norton that is asking for payment because it sounds more likely to be a rogue antivirus programme that has downloaded onto your friends computer, the programme will create false viruses and then ask for payment to remove them.

Do the easiest option at the moment and download the programmes already suggested and see how it goes.

alanwjones

From what I understand he phoned Norton and was told £100 to clean it, I can't get to his Pc untill tomorrow to have a proper look, have downloaded all the programs and told him to leave the computer off until i get it. Alan.

Edit,

I will keep you posted as I go along, thanks for your help/support so far.

aliEnRIK

Id personally be shocked if it was actually Norton he phoned. Sounds very suspect to me

fiddiwebb

So would I if Norton are asking for money especially credit card details :eek:

What was the number your friend phoned alanwjones?

alanwjones

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Id personally be shocked if it was actually Norton he phoned. Sounds very suspect to me

I Have discussed this with the guy just now and he confirms that he did phone Norton, on a helpline number which was on the norton manual which was in the norton box , also confirmed that the sum asked for was £116 !! And this is after paying almost £50 to upgrade in April,
I'm going to have a look tomorrow afternoon, will keep you updated and will get that phone no also. Alan.

robredz

Worse case scenario is you have to reformat and re-install Windows, so make sure the guy has all his install disks, just in case, malwarebytes and super antispyware don't completely eradicate the infection, unlikely but a possibility. Even a re-install is preferable to throwing £116 at Norton.

fiddiwebb

alanwjones wrote: »

I Have discussed this with the guy just now and he confirms that he did phone Norton, on a helpline number which was on the norton manual which was in the norton box , also confirmed that the sum asked for was £116 !! And this is after paying almost £50 to upgrade in April,
I'm going to have a look tomorrow afternoon, will keep you updated and will get that phone no also. Alan.

Gobsmacked if that is right :shocked:

fiddiwebb

Is gobsmacked then!

Just had a quick google if Norton charges extra and it is correct!

This is just one of a few I came across......

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/norton-antivirus-2009-c192361.html