04-22-2012, 01:29 PM

How do I remove this monster?
Windows Antivirus 2012

04-22-2012, 01:34 PM

Which Windows Anti Virus 2012 program do you have installed? The developer's web site should have removal instructions to follow. Also, the program should have an uninstaller which will show up in your Control Panel Add Remove Software. Have you looked there?

04-22-2012, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

Which Windows Anti Virus 2012 program do you have installed? The developer's web site should have removal instructions to follow. Also, the program should have an uninstaller which will show up in your Control Panel Add Remove Software. Have you looked there?

I don't have any Windows Anti Virus programs installed! Windows Antivirus 2012 is malware that has infected my Google Chrome browser. Here is what one site says about it:

"XP Antivirus 2012 is a rouge anti virus program that infects your pc with multiple spyware and malware issues. XP Antivirus 2012 automatically installs itself from ActiveX files that are downloaded to your system due to flaws in your internet security settings or out of date spyware removal tools. Once a system is infected with this malware the program will continuously give messages about an infection on the PC via pop-ups, and notifications in the task menu. When this program runs it will appear to be running scans and it will present a list of “infections” and when it attempts to remove the infections it will prompt users to purchase the product to remove the infections. This is just a scam to scare users into submitting their credit card information."

This presents as a popup window which you cannot remove and prevents, among other things, the deletion of any open windows including its own.

04-22-2012, 02:07 PM

Since it's Windows malware running on a PC, the best place to look for removal instructions are from AV providers such as Norton, Kaspersky, AVG, etc.

Also, a search brought up this site which gives instructions for its removal:

LINK

04-22-2012, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by johnbrush

I don't have any Windows Anti Virus programs installed! Windows Antivirus 2012 is malware that has infected my Google Chrome browser. Here is what one site says about it:

"XP Antivirus 2012 is a rouge anti virus program that infects your pc with multiple spyware and malware issues. XP Antivirus 2012 automatically installs itself from ActiveX files that are downloaded to your system due to flaws in your internet security settings or out of date spyware removal tools. Once a system is infected with this malware the program will continuously give messages about an infection on the PC via pop-ups, and notifications in the task menu. When this program runs it will appear to be running scans and it will present a list of “infections” and when it attempts to remove the infections it will prompt users to purchase the product to remove the infections. This is just a scam to scare users into submitting their credit card information."

This presents as a popup window which you cannot remove and prevents, among other things, the deletion of any open windows including its own.

I do NOT have a PC, this is all occurring on my Mac Mini running Lion using Google Chrome. I am at the moment using Safari with no problem.

04-22-2012, 02:48 PM

I do NOT have a PC, this is all occurring on my Mac Mini running Lion using Google Chrome. I am at the moment using Safari with no problem.

Would have been easier if you had stated this in your first post....

Since this is Windows malware and you're running Lion, I'm wondering how this can affect Google Chrome running on OS X? What are the symptoms?

04-22-2012, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

Would have been easier if you had stated this in your first post....

Since this is Windows malware and you're running Lion, I'm wondering how this can affect Google Chrome running on OS X? What are the symptoms?

As this is a Mac Forum I assumed we were talking Macs here.

The symptoms, as I stated above, are a popup window that cannot be removed. I wish I had made a screen shot of it before I quite Chrome. I hopes you will click on its 'OK" button which, of course, I did not do. It prevents you from closing any browser windows including its own. This is one help site says about it:

"XP Antivirus 2012 is a rouge anti virus program that infects your pc with multiple spyware and malware issues. XP Antivirus 2012 automatically installs itself from ActiveX files that are downloaded to your system due to flaws in your internet security settings or out of date spyware removal tools. Once a system is infected with this malware the program will continuously give messages about an infection on the PC via pop-ups, and notifications in the task menu. When this program runs it will appear to be running scans and it will present a list of “infections” and when it attempts to remove the infections it will prompt users to purchase the product to remove the infections. This is just a scam to scare users into submitting their credit card information."

04-22-2012, 08:35 PM

As this is a Mac Forum I assumed we were talking Macs here.

Let's not forget that you can run Windows on your Mac.... (Boot Camp or from a virtual machine)

Anyway, try this:

Start Chrome up. Go to "settings" and click on "extensions". Did it install itself there? If it did, just remove it and that should kill the pop up. Since this supposedly only infects PCs and Windows, I'm still wondering how it's giving you a pop up unless it's an ad of some sort.

You do have Chrome set to block pop ups, right?

04-22-2012, 08:44 PM

A Windows Virus/Malware will not run on OSX.

Have you tried clearing the Cache in Chrome? Never done that in Chrome before or I would tell you how.

04-22-2012, 08:50 PM

Have you tried clearing the Cache in Chrome? Never done that in Chrome before or I would tell you how.

Great suggestion Dennis! I forgot about that.

Here's how: Open settings again. Click on "Under the Hood". Privacy Settings heading..... click on clear Browsing History. That will empty the cache. Also under the Privacy Settings, click on "Content Settings" and go through the various options especially the one about blocking plug ins and pop ups.

04-22-2012, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

Let's not forget that you can run Windows on your Mac.... (Boot Camp or from a virtual machine)

Anyway, try this:

Start Chrome up. Go to "settings" and click on "extensions". Did it install itself there? If it did, just remove it and that should kill the pop up. Since this supposedly only infects PCs and Windows, I'm still wondering how it's giving you a pop up unless it's an ad of some sort.

You do have Chrome set to block pop ups, right?

Thanks! I have since reopened Chrome and have not seen the problem again. There is nothing in extensions and I do not block pop ups because I need them for certain apps.It is not an ad but, according to other sources, it is a scam seeking your OK to scan your system and charge your credit card. At the same time it messes with your browser windows; you can't close any open windows including the offenders window.

04-23-2012, 06:27 AM

So what you're telling us is that you panicked over a pop-up ad. As stated, you couldn't be running this malware on your Mac, since it is Windows malware.

04-23-2012, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by chas_m

So what you're telling us is that you panicked over a pop-up ad. As stated, you couldn't be running this malware on your Mac, since it is Windows malware.

No, that is not what I'm telling you. It is a Windows malware and it did affect my machine as I described above. I prevented me from closing any browser windows including its own. I managed to get rid of it by force quitting Chrome. I later reopened Chrome and I have not seen it since; fortunately. It is not a pop up ad but is a scam to get you to purchase useless computer anti virus scanning. Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

"XP Antivirus 2012 is a rouge anti virus program that infects your pc with multiple spyware and malware issues. XP Antivirus 2012 automatically installs itself from ActiveX files that are downloaded to your system due to flaws in your internet security settings or out of date spyware removal tools. Once a system is infected with this malware the program will continuously give messages about an infection on the PC via pop-ups, and notifications in the task menu. When this program runs it will appear to be running scans and it will present a list of “infections” and when it attempts to remove the infections it will prompt users to purchase the product to remove the infections. This is just a scam to scare users into submitting their credit card information." Source

04-23-2012, 12:38 PM

Just for future knowledge, there is no Active-X on OSX.