System Protection Tools virus

What is System Protection Tools?

System Protection Tools is a creation of Internet criminals - malicious software, which imitates a legitimate antivirus program and advises PC users to purchase a license key in order to remove 'detected' security infections. In fact, this program is rogue and has none of the features required of a genuine security suite, such as a virus definition database and a virus scan engine.

This bogus software uses falsely-generated security scans and warning messages to scare you into believing that your PC has severe security infections. In fact, the files indicated as malware are generated by System Protection Tools and are harmless.

The main purpose of creating the entries is to mimic their detection as malware during the fake security check-up. This malicious software 'detects' identical security threats on each PC that it infects.

System Protection Tools is derived from a fake antivirus family called 'FakeVimes', and a previous variant of this program was called Best Antivirus Software. The programs from this family use the same user interface and are distributed with a similar misleading strategy.

This fake security program is promoted via fake online security scanners, which are employed within misleading websites. When you enter such a website, a pop-up window appears on your screen, imitating a security check-up.

This results in the 'detection' of various malware, and you will then be asked to download and install System Protection Tools to eliminate them. Do not trust the online security scanner or messages reporting that your PC is infected with viruses.

Commonly, these scans and warning messages are used to distribute rogue antivirus programs such as System Protection Tools. The user interface of this program closely resembles that of Microsoft Security Essential (a free legitimate antivirus program), and therefore, you should not mistake these programs.

Microsoft's legitimate version will never ask you to pay money to remove detected security threats. If you have already paid for System Protection Tools, contact your credit card company and dispute the charges, explaining that you have been tricked into buying a fake antivirus program called System Protection Tools.

Use this removal guide to eliminate this rogue antivirus software from your PC.

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Quick menu:

• What is System Protection Tools?
• STEP 1. Remove System Protection Tools using a registration key.
• STEP 2. Remove System Protection Tools using Safe Mode with Networking.

System Protection Tools virus automatic removal:

Before downloading, enter the System Protection Tools registration key in the registration window. Click the Help icon (at the top right corner of the main window of this fake program), then click Register Now.

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If you cannot download or run the spyware remover try running the registry fix (link below). It enables execution of programs. Download the registryfix.reg file, double click it, click YES, and then OK.

System Protection Tools virus manual removal instructions:

1. Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK.

During your computer starting process press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

2. Open Internet Explorer, click Tools and select Internet Options. Select "Connections".

3.Click LAN settings, if 'Use a proxy server for your LAN' is checked, uncheck it and press OK.

4. Download HijackThis and save it to your desktop. Some malicious programs are able to block HijackThis, so when you click the download link, in the Save dialog, rename HijackThis.exe to iexplore.exe and only then click the Save button.

After saving the file to your desktop, double click it. In the main HijackThis window click the “Do a system scan only” button. Select the following entry (place a tick at the left of the entry):

O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [System Protection Tools] “%AllUsersProfile%\\_.exe” /s /d

After selecting the required entry, click "Fix Checked". After this procedure you can close HijackThis and proceed to the next removal step.

5. Download legitimate anti-spyware software to fully remove System Protection Tools from your computer.

6. After removing System Protection Tools, reset your Hosts file. Do not skip this step, since this fake program modifies your Hosts file and you will encounter browser redirect problems.

The Hosts file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses. When it is changed, the user may be redirected to malicious websites, despite observing legitimate URLs in the address bar.

It is difficult to determine if a website is genuine when the Hosts file is modified. To fix this, please download the Microsoft FixIt tool that restores your Hosts file to the Windows default.

Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:

Other tools known to remove System Protection Tools:

• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Summary:

The fake antivirus programs (also known as "rogue antivirus programs" or "scareware") are applications that tries to lure computer users into paying for their non-existent full versions to remove the supposedly detected security infections (although the computer is actually clean). These bogus programs are created by cyber criminals who design them to look as legitimate antivirus software. Most commonly rogue antivirus programs infiltrate user's computer using poop-up windows or alerts which appear when users surf the Internet. These deceptive messages trick users into downloading a rogue antivirus program on their computers. Other known tactics used to spread scareware include exploit kits, infected email messages, online ad networks, drive-by downloads, or even direct calls to user's offering free support.

A computer that is infected with a fake antivirus program might also have other malware installed on it as rogue antivirus programs often are bundled with Trojans and exploit kits. Noteworthy that additional malware that infiltrates user's operating system remains on victim's computer regardless of whether a payment for a non-existent full version of a fake antivirus program is made. Here are some examples of fake security warning messages that are used in fake antivirus distribution:

Computer users who are dealing with a rogue security software shouldn't buy it's full version. By paying for a license key of a fake antivirus program users would send their money and banking information to cyber criminals. Users who have already entered their credit card number (or other sensitive information) when asked by such bogus software should inform their credit card company that they have been tricked into buying a rogue security software. Screenshot of a web page used to lure computer users into paying for a non-existent full version of system protection tools rogue and other rogue antivirus programs:

To protect your computer from system protection tools rogue and other rogue antivirus programs users should:

• Keep their operating system and all of the installed programs up-to-date.
• Use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
• Use caution when clicking on links in social networking websites and email messages.
• Don't trust online pop-up messages which state that your computer is infected and offers you to download security software.

Symptoms indicating that your operating system is infected with a fake antivirus program:

• Intrusive security warning pop-up messages.
• Alerts asking to upgrade to a paid version of a program to remove the supposedly detected malware.
• Slow computer performance.
• Disabled Windows updates.
• Blocked Task Manager.
• Blocked Internet browsers or inability to visit legitimate antivirus vendor websites.

If you have additional information on system protection tools rogue or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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