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Police Nationale Virus

Also Known As: Police Nationale Ransomware
Damage level: Severe

What is Police Nationale?

The Police Nationale message, "Votre ordinateur est bloqué en raison de soupçons de téléchargement et de distribution du contenu illégale", blocks the computer screen demanding payment of a 100 Euro fine (using Ukash or paysafecard) in order to unblock it.

This is a scam, a ransomware virus, which infiltrates users computers via security vulnerabilities detected within outdated software. After successful infiltration, this fake message blocks the user's desktop and demands payment of a ransom in order to unblock the system.

The ransomware virus originates from a family called Kovter and targets PC users from France. Computer users should be aware that no authorities, internationally, use screen-blocking messages to collect fines for any law violations. Paying this fine for alleged law violations (watching and distributing child pornography) is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals.

Police Nationale virus

This particular ransomware virus differs from similar security infections, since immediately prior to locking the desktop, it redirects users to actual child pornography websites. This deceptive redirect is applied to further scare PC users into believing that they have committed law violations, and thus, are required pay a fine of 100 Euros.

If you observe a message (supposedly sent by Police Nationale) on your screen stating that child pornography was found on your hard drive (Les contenus illicites mentionnées - de 641 mb des dossiers visuels - ons été automatiquement classés comme les matériaux de la pornographie enfantine), and demanding payment of a fine in order to unblock your computer, your system is infected with a ransomware virus. Do not trust this message or pay the fine, it is a scam.

Cyber criminals responsible for releasing this scam, localize the rogue screen-blocking messages. The ransomware viruses are able to determine the country in which the targeted PC is located by identifying the computer's IP address.

For example, users from Spain (with operating systems infected with this ransomware virus), observe the fake message translated into Spanish and header adapted to appear as if sent by the Guardia Civil.

The best way to protect your computer from infiltration by ransomware viruses, is to keep installed programs (operating system, Java, Flash, etc.) up-to-date and use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs. If your computer is already infected with the Police Nationale virus, use the removal instructions provided to eliminate this scam from your PC. 

A fake message presented by the Police Nationale Virus:

Police Nationale.

Votre ordinateur est bloqué en raison de soupçons de téléchargement et de distribution du contenu illégale.
Les contenus illicites mentionnées (de 641 mb des dossiers visuels) ons été automatiquement classés comme les matériaux de la pornographie enfantine.
Ces actions, en totalité ou en partie, violent les lois suivant de la France L'ARTICLE 227-23: La photocopie, l'enregistrement ou la transmission d'images, qui représentent les mineurs, pour la distribution avec le contenu pornographique est puni d'un emprisonnement de trois ans et une amende de 45.000 euros. La même sanction s'applique d'offrir ou de distribuer une telle photo ou la représentation, par quelque moyen, et d'importer ou creeerter ou à être téléchargée ou transférée via (Internet ou le réseau cellulaire. Les peines sont portées à un emprisonnement de cinq ans et une amende de 75.000 euros s'il a été fait usage des réseaux de la communication pour la diffusion de messages à un public sans restriction pour la distribution d'image du mineur.
Les dispositions de la présente article sont également applicables aux images pornographiques d'une personne avec l'apparition physique qu'est ressemblante du mineur, sauf s'il est prouvé que la personne a plus de dix-huit ans au jour de sa photo a été prise ou enregistrée.

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Quick menu:

Police Nationale virus removal:

Step 1

Windows XP and Windows 7 users: 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.

Safe Mode with Networking

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows 8 users: Go to the Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click on Advanced Startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window select Advanced Startup. Click on the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into "Advanced Startup options menu".

Click on the "Troubleshoot" button, then click on "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen click on "Startup settings". Click on the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press "5" to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.

Windows 8 Safe Mode with networking

Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Step 2

Log in to the account infected with Police Nationale virus. Start your Internet browser and download a legitimate anti-spyware program. Update the anti-spyware software and start a full system scan. Remove all entries detected.


If you cannot start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, try performing a System Restore.

Video showing how to remove ransomware virus using "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" and "System Restore":

1. During your computer starting process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then select Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list and press ENTER.

Boot your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

2. When Command Prompt Mode loads, enter the following line: cd restore and press ENTER.

system restore using command prompt type cd restore

3. Next, type this line: rstrui.exe and press ENTER.

system restore using command prompt rstrui.exe

4. In the opened window click "Next".

restore system files and settings

5. Select one of the available Restore Points and click "Next" (this will restore your computer system to an earlier time and date, prior to the ransomware virus infiltrating your PC).

select a restore point

6. In the opened window click "Yes".

run system restore

7. After restoring your computer to a previous date, download and scan your PC with recommended malware removal software to eliminate any remnants of Police Nationale ransomware virus.

If you cannot start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking (or with Command Prompt), boot your computer using a rescue disk.

Some variants of ransomware disable Safe Mode making its removal complicated. For this step, you require access to another computer. After removing the Police Nationale ransomware virus from your PC, restart your computer and scan it with legitimate antispyware software to remove any possible remnants of this security infection.

Other tools known to remove this virus:

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Removal Instructions in other languages
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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Police Nationale Ransomware QR code
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