Privacy Protection is a new rogue antispyware program that blocks legitimate antispyware and antivirus tools, hijacks browsers, redirects you to malicious websites, displays numerous fake security alerts and nag screens in order to trick you into thinking your computer is heavy infected. Like other fake security programs, it distributed by fake online malware scanners. These scanners will report that your computer is infected with a lot of infections and that you must install a software to clean your computer. This software is a trojan, which once started will download and install the rogue onto your computer without your permission and knowledge.
Privacy Protection may look legitimate malware removal tool, but remember, its only an imitation! In reality, the malicious software blocks legitimate Windows applications, detects fake infections and displays various fake error messages that your computer is infected with a lot of viruses in order to frighten you into purchasing this useless application. Do not pay for the bogus software! Simply ignore all that it will display you and remove Privacy Protection from your computer as quickly as possible!
During installation, Privacy Protection configures itself to run automatically when Windows loads. Once started, it will imitate a scan of your computer and detect numerous infections (trojans, backdoors and malware) that will not be fixed unless you first purchase the program. Important to know, all of these reported infections are fake, so you can safely ignore the scan results.
Last but not least, while the rogue is running, it will display various security warnings. Some of the warnings are:
Firewall Warning
Hidden file transfers to remote host has been detected
Security Warning
Malicious program has been detected.
Click here to protect your computer.
Just like false scan results above, all of these alerts are a fake and supposed to scare you into thinking your computer is in danger. You should ignore all of them!
As you can see, Privacy Protection is a scam and should be removed from your computer upon detection. Do not be fooled into buying the program! Instead of doing so, follow the removal guidelines below in order to remove Privacy Protection and any associated malware from your computer for free.
Removal Instructions for Privacy Protection
Reboot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking. To do this, turn your computer off and then back on and immediately when you see anything on the screen, start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Eventually you will be brought to a menu similar to the one below:
Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter on your keyboard.
Use the following instructions to remove Privacy Protection (Uninstall instructions)
Registry Keys to be removed
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\{random}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN | Privacy Protection
Infected Files to be removed.
In Windows Vista and Windows 7
%AppData%\privacy.exe
In Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\privacy.exe
1. Type %AppData% in the Run Window. and delete the file privacy.exe
2. %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Privacy Protection.lnk
There may be one more infection assosiated with it.
. To check it's presence you have to do one thing.
In Windows XP
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Click on the start meanu and press on Run.
Inside the Run window type CMD and press on Okay.
In the black Command Window type
NETSH WINSOCK RESET and hit on enter.
If you get a message
"Sucessfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
You must restart the machine in order to complete the reset." then you are safe.
If not your computer is infected. The only solution to fix it is a Fresh Installation.
In Windows Vista and Windows 7
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Click on the Start Menu and in the Search box type CMD
At the top you can see a CMD file. Just right click on that file and select Run as
Administrator.
In the black Command Window type
NETSH WINSOCK RESET and hit on enter.
If you get a message
"Sucessfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
You must restart the machine in order to complete the reset." then you are safe.
If not your computer is infected. In windows Vista and Windows 7 a successful system restore
will fix the issue. Try a system restore to a good point.
After a successful system restore try to do the same step again.
If you got the message "Sucessfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
You must restart the machine in order to complete the reset." your computer is safe and secure.
