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AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015

Also Known As: AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 scam
Damage level: High

What is AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015?

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 is bogus security software, which attempts to scare unsuspecting PC users into believing that their computers are infected with high-risk malware, Trojans, and viruses.

This rogue antivirus software infiltrates computers without users' consent and imitates a legitimate security scanner by performing 'security scans' and displaying security warning messages. Note that AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 holds no virus definition database, nor any features that would allow this program to detect any of the security infections listed.

This malicious software runs fake security scans and imitates the detection of security infections that do not exist on the PC. This trickery has been known to coerce computer users into 'activating' (purchasing a full version of) this program.

avbytes win7 protection 2015 main window

Do not purchase AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 - it is a scam created by cyber criminals. Paying for this fake software is equivalent to sending your money to criminals - you will lose your money and your banking information could be at risk. Furthermore, your computer will remain infected with this rogue security scanner.

If you observe this program on your system performing 'security scans' and encouraging you to purchase a full version, your PC is infiltrated with a fake antivirus program and it should not be trusted.

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 originates from a family of fake antivirus programs called Braviax/FakeRean. All malicious programs from this family have the capability to change their name according to the operating system infected.

For example, this bogus antivirus software on a computer running the Windows 8 operating system will appear as AVbytes Win 8 Protection 2015 or AVbytes Win 8 Antivirus 2015. Commonly, rogue security software from this family is distributed using Trojans and fake online security warning pop-ups.

Do not trust any online messages stating that your computer is infected and offering download of software to eliminate the supposedly-detected security issues. Other practices, which could protect your computer from such fake security scanners, include frequent software updates and the use of legitimate antivirus and antispyware programs.

If your computer is already infected with this rogue software, do not pay for the full version - use this removal guide to eliminate this scam from your PC.

Examples of fake security warning messages displayed by AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015:

“System security threat was detected. Viruses and/or spyware may be damaging your system now. Prevent infection and data loss or stealing by running a free security scan”

“AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 has blocked a program from accessing the internet - This program is infected with Trojan-BNK.Win32.Keylogger.gen Private data can be stolen by third parties, including credit card details and passwords”

“AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 Alert - System Hacked! Unknown program is scanning your system registry right now! Identity theft detected”

“Tracking software found! Your PC activity is being monitored. Possible spyware infection. Your data security may be compromised. Sensitive data can be stolen. Prevent damage now by completing a security scan”

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 rogue antivirus performing a fake computer security scan:

avbytes win7 protection 2015 performing a fake computer security scan

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 blocking Internet access:

Internet Explorer alert. Visiting this site may pose a security threat to your system!
Possible reasons include:


Dangerous code found in this site’s pages which installs unwanted software into your system.
Suspicious and potentially unwanted network activity detected.
Spyware infection in your system.
Complaints from other users about this site.
Port and system scans performed by the site being visited.

Things you can do:


Get a copy of “AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015” to safeguard your PC while surfing the web (RECOMMENDED)
Run a spyware, virus and malware scan
Continue surfing without any security measures (DANGEROUS)

avbytes win7 protection 2015 blocking Internet access

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 blocking execution of installed programs:

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 has blocked a program from accessing the Internet. This program is infected with Trojan-BNK.Win32.Keylogger.gen Private data can be stolen by third parties, including credit card detail and passwords.

avbytes win7 protection 2015 blocking execution of installed programs

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 displaying a fake Windows Action Center:

Action Center has detected one or more issues for you to review. AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 reports that it is turned off.

 avbytes win7 protection 2015 displaying a fake Windows action center

A rogue website used by cyber criminals to collect payments for the AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 fake license keys (1 year license - $64.95; 2 year license - $79.95; Lifetime license - $99.95).

Computer users who have paid for this scam should immediately contact their credit card company and dispute the charges, explaining that they have been tricked into purchasing a fake antivirus program:

rogue website used in promoting avbytes win7 protection 2015 fake antivirus program

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Quick menu:

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 removal:

Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start 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":

After booting your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, try downloading and running the recommended antimalware software. If the download is blocked, follow the instructions presented below.

IMPORTANT! AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 rogue antivirus damages Windows Security Center and Windows Defender services. After removing this fake antivirus program, download the registry fixes presented below. After downloading, double-click each and click Yes (when asked to merge data).

windows 7 braviax registry fix

NOTE: If you cannot run the remover, try to right-click on it and select "Run as administrator". If installation of the malware remover fails, or you cannot open the .exe files, try one of the alternative download locations below:

  • Location 1 (the file is renamed to "iexplore.exe", since most spyware does not block this file)
  • Location 2

If, after or before, removal of this fake antivirus you are unable to run any of your installed software, AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 has modified your operating system's .exe file associations. To fix this, download the registry fix (link below). Save it to your computer, double click it, click "Yes", and then "OK". After rebooting your PC, file associations should function normally.

If you cannot open your browser (Internet Explorer,  Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome):

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 hijacks Internet browsers, modifies registry settings, and disables execution of programs.

For these cases, our developers have created a custom installer - useful when you are unable to browse the Internet or execute .exe files. It starts like an MS-Dos program, runs some registry fixes, and then initiates execution of an installer. This installer was tested on the Windows 7, Windows Vista, and XP operating systems infected with the most common spyware infections.

To use this installer, click the Windows logo button (Start).

In the Search field, enter this link: www.pcrisk.com/installer.com and then press ENTER.
AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 generates a fake warning after pressing ENTER. Ignore this and click "No, stay unprotected..." on this message.

win7_remover_installer

File download dialogue will appear and report that you are downloading the file, installer.com. Click Run, wait for download to complete, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Windows may warn you that opening unknown files may be unsafe. Please ignore these warnings.

If your Internet browsers work, use this button to download the customized installer.

IMPORTANT! AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 rogue antivirus damages Windows Security Center and Windows Defender services. After removing this fake antivirus program, download the registry fixes presented below. After downloading, double-click each and click Yes (when asked to merge data).

If installation or downloading fails:

If you are still unable to run or download the removal tool, download the registry fix file, which enables normal execution of applications and fixes web browser errors. Click on the link below, and when download completes, click run, click yes, and then OK.

If the installation of the malware remover fails, try our Customized installer built by our technicians to bypass infections and install removers regardless.

If you cannot access your Internet browsers using the infected computer, use a clean system to download this remover and use removable media (such as a CD, USB, etc.) to transfer it to the infected PC. Note that this rogue also blocks execution of programs.

If you are using a clean PC to download the remover, also download the registry fix (download link below) provided. Transfer both files to the infected machine, first run the registry fix, and then run the full scan with the recommended remover.

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 removal (optional method):

AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 rogue blocks execution of all installed software - this makes its removal complicated. The best way to eliminate this rogue is to login to an unaffected user account and run a security scan from it. If available, login to a "Guest" account and follow the removal steps provided below. If your "Guest" user account is not activated, follow these steps:

Click on the Windows logo (Start), select Control Panel.

windows 7 - accessing Control Panel

In the opened window, select "User Accounts and Family Safety".

Windows 7- accessing

In the opened window, click the "Add or Remove User Accounts" link.

Windows 7 Control Panel - add or remove user accounts

In the opened window, click "Guest Account".

Windows 7 - activating guest account

In the next window, click the "Turn On" button.

Windows 7 turn on guest account

Restart your PC, when the Windows login screen appears, select "Guest" user, then continue with the removal steps provided below.

After logging into your Guest account, download recommended malware removal software and run a full system scan to completely eliminate this fake antivirus software from your PC.

Manual AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 removal instructions

Some spyware can block downloading of spyware removers. If you cannot download it using the default location, try one of the alternative download locations below:

  • Location 1 (the file is renamed to "iexplore.exe", since most spyware does not block this file)
  • Location 2

If installation of the remover fails, try downloading the customized installer, which was built by our technicians to bypass spyware infections. Download customized installer

If you still cannot download or run the spyware removing software, please perform these steps:

Step 1
Download the registry fix for AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 malware. This fix removes registry entries that disallow execution of programs in some variants of this spyware. To download it, click the link below. After downloading, double click win7_av_fix.reg file, click Yes, and then click OK.

Step 2
Some variants of this spyware modify system proxy settings so that you are unable to access the Internet (or website addresses are redirected to malicious or phishing websites). To reset the proxy settings to default, download and run this tool:

Step 3
AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 modifies the system Hosts file. 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 sites, despite seeing legitimate URLs in address bar. It is difficult to determine which sites are genuine when the Hosts file is modified.

To fix this, download the Microsoft Fix It tool, which restores your Hosts file to the Windows default. Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:

Step 4
That's It! You can now try to download the Malware remover or install and run it if already downloaded.

IMPORTANT! AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015 rogue antivirus damages Windows Security Center and Windows Defender services. After removing this fake antivirus program, download the registry fixes presented below. After downloading, double-click each and click Yes (when asked to merge data).

windows 7 braviax registry fix

Other tools known to remove AVbytes Win 7 Protection 2015:

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:

Fake pop-up used in rogue antivirus distribution example 1

Fake pop-up used in rogue antivirus distribution example 2

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 avbytes win 7 protection 2015 scam and other rogue antivirus programs:

example of a webpage used to collect payments for fake antivirus programs

To protect your computer from avbytes win 7 protection 2015 scam 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 avbytes win 7 protection 2015 scam or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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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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About PCrisk

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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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