VirusBursters Program
If you are infected with this program you will receive warnings in your task bar stating that you are infected with spyware and to run its special anti-spyware tool. This tool turns out to be the VirusBursters or VirusBurster programs that were downloaded to your computer without your permission. These warnings are fake and are a goad to have you buy the commercial version of these software. The title for this fake security alert is Critical System Error! or Critical System Errors! and the text for these alerts can be either:
System detected virus activities. They may cause critical system failure. Please, use AntiSpyware software to clean and protect your system from parasite programs. Click this baloon to get all available software.
or
System detected virus activities. They may cause critical system failure. Please, use antimalware software to clean and protect your system from parasite programs. Click this baloon to get all available software.
Examples of these fake alerts are shown below:
VirusBursters Fake alert
VirusBurster Fake alert
VirusBurst or VirusBursters are a direct morph from a previous rogue anti-spyware program called VirusBurst. Though the information for this program has been changed to reflect new names, VirusBursters or VirusBurst, they have been shown to be hosted form the same locations, IP addresses, or even domains.
Tools Needed for this fix:
Symptoms in a HijackThis Log:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusBursters] C:\Program Files\VirusBursters\virusbursters.exe /h
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusBurster] C:\Program Files\VirusBurster\virusburster.exe /h
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Virus-Bursters] C:\Program Files\Virus-Bursters\virus-bursters.exe /h
Add/Remove Programs control panel entry:
VirusBursters 6.2
Virus-Bursters 6.3
VirusBurster 6.3
Guide Updates:
10/29/06 - Initial guide creation.
10/29/06 - Added automated removal via SmitFraudFix
12/12/06 - Added information about VirusBurster (same program)
Choose the removal method you would like to use: - Automated Removal (Easier, but requires a working Internet connection.)
- Manual Removal (Does not require a working Internet Connection and should be used if automated method does not work.)
Automated Removal Instructions for VirusBursters and VirusBurst: Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop:
SmitFraudFix.exeConfirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below:
Next, please reboot your computer into Safe Mode by doing the following:
Restart your computer
After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.
- When you are at the logon prompt, log in as the user you were performing the previous steps as.
When your computer has started in safe mode, and you see the desktop, close all open Windows.
Now, double-click on the SmitFraudfix icon that should be residing on your desktop.The icon will look like the one below:
When the tool first starts you will see a credits screen. Simply press any key on your keyboard to get to the next screen.
You will now see a menu as shown in the image below. Press the number 2 on your keyboard and the press the enter key to choose the option Clean (safe mode recommended).
The program will start cleaning your computer and go through a series of cleanup processes. When it is done, it will automatically start the Disk Cleanup program as shown by the image below.
This program will remove all Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and other files that may be leftover files from this infection. This process can take up to a few hours depending on your computer, so please be patient. When it is complete, it will close automatically and you will should continue with step 11.
When Disk Cleanup is finished, you will be presented with an option asking Do you want to clean the registry ? (y/n). At this screen you should press the Y button on your keyboard and then press the enter key.
When this last routine is finished, you will be presented with a red screen stating Computer will reboot now. Close all applications. You should now press the spacebar on your computer. A counter will appear stating that the computer will reboot in 15 seconds. Do not cancel this countdown and allow your computer to reboot.
- Once the computer has rebooted, you will be presented with a Notepad screen containing a log of all the files removed from your computer. Examine this log, and when you are done, close the Notepad screen.
Your computer should now be free of the VirusBursters, Virus-Bursters and VirusBurster infection.
If you are still having problems with spyware after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:
Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log
Manual Removal Instructions for VirusBursters and VirusBurst:
These steps may appear to be long and daunting. They are, though, quite easy to do and consist of so many steps only because I have written them in an extremely detailed manner.
Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
Download FixVBS.reg to your desktop by right clicking on the following link and then selecting Save Link As or Save File as, depending on your browser.
FixVBS.reg Download Link
Confirm that the file FixVBS.reg now resides on your desktop as we will need it later.
Download SmitfraudFix.exe from here and save it to your desktop:
SmitFraudFix.exeConfirm that the file SmitfraudFix.exe now resides on your desktop, but do not double-click on the icon as of yet. We will use it in later steps. The icon will look like the one below:
Go to your desktop and double click on the FixVBS.reg file that you downloaded earlier. When it asks if you would like to merge the information, press the Yes button and then the OK button.
Click on the Start button and then select the Run option.
In the Open: field type c:\windows\system32 and then press the OK button.
When the folder appears, if it says These files are hidden, click on the Show the contents of this folder option.
We now need to make it so you can see hidden files. Click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options. Click on the View tab. Under the Hidden files and folders category select Show hidden files and folders. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files. - Press Apply and then OK.
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