Orange County Register

The North Orange County Computer Club helps The Gadgetress tackle the multitude of readers’ cries for help. NOCCC group has experts in Windows, Word and all sorts of computer topics. The club, which meets monthly on various topics, has been in existence since 1976. Visit the club’s site at noccc.org. To get this answer delivered to your computer automatically, sign up for the e-mail update HERE.

QUESTION: I received a spyware warning and lost the screensaver, but not the desktop icons. I purchased Mcafee complete edition and installed it. But when it comes to updating it, I got a message “no internet connection” even though I was on Yahoo. The Windows Messenger kept telling me to install “Windows virus 2009″ and that my computer was infected.
How come Mcafee did not help? What can I do now? 

PC Club: Sounds like you inadvertently installed Windows Anti Virus 2009, a known rogue anti-spyware program. It is installed through the use of misleading Web sites that attempt to make you buy even more software to cure the problem. Do not give in!

I’ve seen several computers that have been rendered almost useless by Anti Virus 2009 but don’t despair yet. I would start by backing up all of my data by any means available to you such as an external hard drive, a flash drive or even CDs.

Next, go to BleepingComputer.com page at tinyurl.com/527qga and download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (here’s the LINK to download it). By the way, ignore the ad at the top. These are ads for other spyware programs. Review and follow the instructions for removal.

The free software is from www.malwarebytes.org, which has been downloaded 2.4 million times at respected tech site CNET’s download area. After following their instructions you may be out of the woods. I would review the material at both Web sites and use the directions that you are the most comfortable with.

If you installed McAfee after you were infected, it might not remove the malware. Anti virus programs are great at preventing and removing viruses but have less success with other types of malware, including trojans. You can read more about this at WindowsVistaPlace.com (shortcut link: tinyurl.com/6nd67r).

Unfortunately, programs with a name that includes Anti Virus are not always what they seem.

-Ed Schwartz, NOCCC member and PC instructor. View his blog at edwardns.blogspot.com.

Questions are edited for clarity. Read older Stump the PC Club columns HERE.

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