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Antivirus Monitor

Alias: Antivirus Monitor, Antivirus Monitor Virus, Antivirus Monitor Trojan, Fake Antivirus Monitor, softwaream.com

Description: Posted on: Mar 7, 2011

Antivirus Monitor is a fake antivirus program which infects your computer and tries to force you to buy it. Antivirus Monitor pretends to scan your computer for viruses then claims to finds various infections. If you accept to remove the alleged infections, you are directed to their payment page in order to purchase the full version.

The fact that Antivirus Monitor arrives at your computer without your knowledge makes it also a trojan. In order for Antivirus Monitor to stop you from removing it, it attempts to disable your existing antivirus and antispyware programs and to block access to help forums and to major name brand antispyware and antivirus vendor websites. It can also disable Task Manager so that you don't shut it down manually. If you try to access Task Manager, you may receive a message saying "Failure to display security and shut down options".

Antivirus Monitor generates the following fake warning message:

Antivirus Monitor has detected some serious threats to your computer! Please remove these threats as soon as possible! You can do so by clicking here.

Antivirus Monitor is normally installed by means of a trojan or by drive-by downloads from rogue websites. In sone cases, it can be mistakenly downloaded from one of many fraudulent Fake Scanner Sites.

Antivirus Monitor displays exaggerated fake scan results similar to those shown below:

Antivirus Monitor Special Removal Instructions

Step 1: Download Vkill. If you cannot download directly to the infected computer, you can download it onto a clean computer and transfer it to the infected computer (by using a network or a flash drive).

If you cannot download directly to the infected computer and you do not know how to transfer files between two computers, click here for instructions on how to restart your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Once you are logged in Safe Mode, you can download SpyNoMore.

Step 2: Double-click Vkill several quick times in a row to disable Antivirus Monitor. Make sure to save any unsaved work before you do that.

PLEASE NOTE: The purpose of double-clicking Vkill several times is to work around the infection's blocking ability. So make sure to keep double-clicking on Vkill until a notepad text file opens up. This text file will list the names of the processes killed. Once you see the text file, you can proceed to step 3 below. If you have clicked Vkill several times quickly and you still do not see a notepad text file open up, rename Vkill to 'iexplore' and try again.

Step 3: Once Antivirus Monitor has been disabled, you can download and run SpyNoMore. SpyNoMore will download updates then scan your computer and if Antivirus Monitor is present, SNM will detect it and you will be able to see either Antivirus Monitor or Fake Alert in the scan results. These are the same product. Please note that the free version of SpyNoMore will only show you the detections. In order to remove the infection you need to purchase a 1-year license which costs $29 (or $39 for 3 computers). In all cases, you will be able to see the infection in the free version scan results.

Step 4: Purchase the activation key from a clean computer by clicking on our Purchase link on spynomore.com. Write down the activation key and use it to activate SNM on the infected computer. This will remove Antivirus Monitor and restore your internet connection. You will again be able to run your programs and applications without trouble.

Threat type:

Hijacker - A Hijacker is a software application that takes control of your browser's settings. Usually it changes your home page and redirects it to some unknown site or modifies your search settings. It prevents you from changing back your browser's settings. An infected browser usually operates much slower.

Ransomware - Ransomware is a software application that infects a computer and asks for money to have the infection removed.

Trojan - A Trojans or Trojan Horse is any programs that installs itself secretly, quite often with sinister intent. Once installed, the trojan author (hacker) can gain complete control of the infected PC. Trojans are usually designed to steal sensitive information and/or destroy the system. Trojans can be distributed as unsolicited email attachments, or bundled with freeware and shareware programs.

Advice: Remove This is a very high risk threat and should be removed immediately as to prevent harm to your computer and / or to protect your privacy.

Detection:
SpyNoMore removes Antivirus Monitor: Yes

Threat risk: Very High Risk

Extremely dangerous malware. Uses stealth installation, randomly named entries and has the capability to self update or resurrect after incomplete removal. Almost impossible to remove manually. Category mostly consists of trojans and spyware.

Symptoms:

Antivirus Monitor opens their sales page softwaream.com.

When you try to visit a website, you receive a message similar to "Internet Explorer Warning - visiting this web site may harm your computer!"

Antivirus Monitor Signature Details: The following information includes some of the standard signatures associated with this spyware threat. Please do not attempt to manually remove these items from your computer; Removing these items incorrectly or partially can cause your computer to experience critical errors, prevent your computer from restarting or cause loss of Internet connectivity. Should you be infected with Antivirus Monitor, you can clean your computer by downloading SpyNoMore now.

Running Process Signatures:
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File Signatures:
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Registered Dll (Dynamic Link Library) Signatures:
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Folder Signatures:
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Registry Signatures:
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SpyNoMore Collected Residual File Signatures:
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