AntiVira Av
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is AntiVira Av?
AntiVira Av is malicious software created by Internet criminals with the purpose of tricking computer users into purchasing a license key to remove ‘security threats’ which do not actually exist. This program generates a list of critical risk security infections and then coerces users into buying a license to remove them.
This fake program is designed to steal money from your bank account. It hijacks your Internet browser and blocks legitimate Windows applications.
This software is a scam, completely useless, and should be removed from your computer immediately.
If you have already purchased a fake license for this software, you should contact your credit card company and explain that you have been tricked into buying a fake antivirus program. This fake program is distributed by various infected websites, spam emails, and Trojans.
The creators of this bogus program also use Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks to propagate this scam. After installation of this fake software, it will configure itself to run automatically on system start-up.
The software will block your desktop and perform a fake security scan. After the scan, AntiVira Av will report that your computer is infected with various viruses and spyware.
To remove these infections you will be encouraged to purchase a license. Do not buy the license, it is a scam.
The ‘infections’ and security warning messages are fake. None of the reported infections exist on your computer, and therefore, you should ignore them and remove this bogus program from your computer.
You should not mistake this rogue program for a legitimate antivirus program called Avira, which is a well-known security suite and trusted by many computer users. Internet criminals have named their rogue program similarly in order to further persuade PC users to purchase license keys.
These keys purportedly eliminate security issues from their computers, but they are in fact useless. Do not trust AntiVira AV.
This program makes false promises of removing security issues, and if you have noticed this program on your computer, you use the information provided here to remove this fake software immediately.
The following fake messages are generated by AntiVira Av:
“Windows Security Alert. Windows reports that your computer is infected. Antivirus software helps to protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. Click here to scan your computer. Your system might be at risk now.”
“Antivirus software alert. Infiltration alert. Your computer is being attacked by an Internet virus. It could be a password-stealing attack, Trojan Dropper, or similar.”
“Internet Explorer Warning - visiting this web site may harm your computer! Most likely causes: The website contains exploits that can launch malicious code on your computer.”
“Suspicious network activity detected - There might be an active spyware running on your computer.”
Ignore these messages and use this removal guide to completely remove AntiVira Av from your computer.
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Quick menu:
- What is AntiVira Av?
- STEP 1. Remove AntiVira Av using Safe Mode with Networking.
- STEP 2. Remove AntiVira Av manually by deleting files and registry entries.
AntiVira Av removal procedure
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, then click LAN settings, if 'Use a proxy server for your LAN' is checked, uncheck it and press OK.
3. 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 – HKLM\..\Run: [cudpdogk] c:\docume~1\user\locals~1\temp\akotrowvc\bcgcihiagnz.exe
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [cudpdogk] C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\akotrowvc\bcgcihiagnz.exe
After selecting the required entry, click "Fix Checked". After this procedure you can close HijackThis and proceed to the next removal step.
4. Download and install anti-spyware software to completely remove the infection.
Other tools known to remove AntiVira AV:
If you are unable to remove AntiVira Av, you can use these manual removal instructions. Use them at your own risk, since if you do not have strong computer knowledge, you could harm your operating system.
Use them only if you are an experienced computer user. (Instructions on how to end processes, remove registry entries...)
End these AntiVira Av processes:
%Temp%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
Remove these AntiVira Av registry entries:
"http=127.0.0.1:33921"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "ProxyServer" =
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "ProxyEnable” = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PhishingFilter "Enabled" = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
Delete these AntiVira Av dll files:
AVEngn.dll
htmlayout.dll
pthreadVC2.dll
msvcm80.dll
msvcp80.dll
msvcr80.dll
Delete these AntiVira Av files:
%Temp%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
%Temp%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]
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 antivira antivirus and other rogue antivirus programs:
To protect your computer from antivira antivirus 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 antivira antivirus or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
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