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AVASoft Antivirus Professional

Also Known As: AVASoft Antivirus Rogue
Damage level: High

What is AVASoft Antivirus Professional?

AVASoft Antivirus Professional is a rogue antivirus program, which imitates genuine antivirus software in an attempt to trick unsuspecting PC users into purchasing a useless license key. This bogus program mimics the scanning of users' computers for security threats and then generates a large list of supposedly 'detected' malware and viruses.

This deceptive behavior is implemented by cyber criminals in order to coerce PC users into purchasing the bogus license key. Note that none of the malware and viruses reported by AVASoft Antivirus Professional actually exist - the program has no virus definition database or any other features required of legitimate security software.

AVASoft Antivirus Professional scam

This malicious program generates identical security warning messages and 'detects' the same security threats on all computers infiltrated. AVASoft Antivirus Professional originates from a family of fake antivirus programs called WinWebSec, and a previous version was named Disk Antivirus Professional.

Like previous versions, this rogue antivirus program blocks execution of installed programs, hijacks Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox), and disables the Task Manager. PC users should understand that paying for this fake antivirus program is equivalent to sending your money (and banking information) to cyber criminals.

If you observe this program scanning your computer for security infections, your operating system is infected with fake antivirus software. Be aware also, of a more recent version of this rogue antivirus software called System Care Antivirus

Like other malicious programs from the WinWebSec family, AVASoft Antivirus Professional  is distributed using drive-by downloads, Trojans, and fake online security warning pop-ups.

The purpose of this deceptive program is to scare computer users into believing that their computers are infected with high risk malware, and then coercing them into purchasing a useless licence key (supposedly to fix the reported security-related issues). In fact, this software is a scam and PC users should not trust any information displayed by it.

If your computer is already infected with AVASoft Antivirus Professional, do not buy it - use the removal guide provided to eliminate this scam from your PC.

A fake security warning pop-up generated by AVASoft Antivirus Professional:

AVASoft Professional Antivirus Warning - Intercepting programs that may compromise your privacy and harm your system have been detected on your PC. Click here to remove them immediately with AVASoft Professional Antivirus.

Security monitor: WARNING! - Attention! System detected a potential hazard (TrojanSPM/LX) on your computer that may infect executable files. Your private information and PC safety is at risk. To get rid of unwanted spyware and keep your computer safe you need to update your current security software. Click Yes to download official intrusion direction system (IDS software).

WARNING! - Application cannot be executed. The file cmd.exe is infected. Please activate your antivirus software.

AVASoft Professional Antivirus warning - Some critical files of your computer were modified by malicious program. It may cause system instability and data loss. Click here to block unauthorised modification by removing threats (Recommended)

Detected spyware infection! Click this message to install the last update of security software...

AVASoft Professional Antivirus - Harmful software detected fake message

Fake AVASoft Professional Antivirus firewall alert

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Quick menu:

AVASoft Antivirus Professional removal:

AVASoft Antivirus Professional displays fake security warning messages when users attempt to access the Internet using Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla FireFox. To remove this rogue antivirus sofware from your computer, you need to download recommended malware removal software.

If your Internet browsers are blocked by the "Warning! The site you are trying to visit may harm your computer! Your security setting level puts your computer at risk!" message, please click on "Ignore warnings and visit that site in the current state (not recommended)" and continue with the download process.

Fake AVASoft Professional Antivirus warning message blocking access to Internet browsers

If you cannot run the remover, try to downloading an alternate installer (this is renamed to iexplore.exe, since most fake antivirus programs do not block execution of files with this name).

Optional method to download the recommended anti-spyware program:

If you cannot access your Internet browsers: Click Start then click Run. (Click Windows logo in Windows 7 and Windows Vista)

In Windows XP, When the Run dialogue window appears, enter this text: www.pcrisk.com/download-spyware-remover and then press ENTER.

download remover using run dialog windows xp

In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, type this line directly into the search field and then press ENTER.


download remover using run dialog windows 7

After pressing enter, the File download dialogue of recommended malware removal software will appear. Click Run and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you are unable to download the recommended malware removal software, then before downloading, enter a retrieved license key in registration window of AVASoft Antivirus Professional. Click the "registration" button at the top of the main window of this fake antivirus software and enter this key:

AA39754E-715219CE

Note that entering the registration key will not remove the infection, but will make the removal process less complicated - AVASoft Antivirus Professional will cease generating fake security warning messages and allow execution of installed software.

AVASoft Antivirus Professional removal using Safe Mode with Networking:

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.

safe mode with networking

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

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

2. AVASoft Antivirus Professional 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 sites are genuine when the Hosts file is modified. To fix this, please download the Microsoft Fix It tool, that restores your Hosts file to the Windows default. Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:

3. Download and install recommended malware removal software to completely remove the fake antivirus from your PC.

NOTE: Rogue antivirus programs can block the download of anti-spyware software. 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

AVASoft Antivirus Professional removal using a retrieved licence (registration) key:

1. Wait until AVASoft Antivirus Professional rogue antivirus completes the fake security scan and click on the "Registration" button located at the top right corner of the main window.

AVASoft Professional Antivirus registration

2. In the opened window, enter this retrieved registry key: AA39754E-715219CE This will trick AVASoft Antivirus Professional into behaving as though you have paid for the full version. This step makes the removal process of this rogue antivirus program less complicated.

After entering this registry key, AVASoft Antivirus Professional allows execution of installed software (including Internet browsers) and you will be able to download anti-spyware software without various interruptions.

AVASoft Professional Antivirus removal using registry key

3. After entering this licence key, AVASoft Antivirus Professional generates a number of messages thanking you for registration. It then imitates the removal process of previously 'detected' malware and virus infections. Note that after you enter the correct registration key, AVASoft Antivirus Professional changes its user interface color from red to white.

AVASoft Antivirus Professional removal warning

AVASoft Antivirus Professional changes interface color after registration

4. Note that entering this registration key does not remove AVASoft Antivirus Professional from your computer - it merely makes the removal process less complicated. To completely remove this rogue antivirus software from your computer, download and install recommended anti-spyware software.

Other tools, known to remove AVASoft Antivirus Professional:

Optional methods used to eliminate AVASoft Antivirus Professional:

Remove AVASoft Antivirus Professional using a new user account.

AVASoft Antivirus Professional removal using System Restore.

AVASoft Antivirus Professional removal using a Rescue Disk.

If you can't access Internet please follow these instructions.

"AVASoft" by the tech-ava-soft.org (note: visiting this site is not recommended) company, the supposed developer of AVASoft Professional Antivirus, purports to be a legitimate company and presents website visitors with a different software package called 'Antivirus Security 2013'.

This program does not mimic detection of malware or viruses or generate fake security warning messages, and although this program might seem credible, it was created with the sole purpose of tricking credit card companies. In this way, AVASoft is able to open credit card accounts and manage transactions.

Antivirus Security 2013 is a useless program developed purely to clone the rogue business model of AVASoft Antivirus Professional.

Screenshot of Antivirus Security 2013:

Antivirus Security 2013

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 avasoft antivirus rogue and other rogue antivirus programs:

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

To protect your computer from avasoft antivirus 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 avasoft antivirus rogue 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.

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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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