I just had to get this off a computer last week. It was well and truly hosed, couldn't even boot into safemode. They insisted I save the computer and not just back up there stuff and reinstall.

I wish I would have known about malwarebytes from the beginning. Now I've got a stack useless livecds and removal guide printouts.

This post is not up to the usual GaS standards, guys.

Yes, it's a fake window from the web popping up on an Ubuntu machine. It would pop up on an Apple too, as well as ANY windows machine. A properly educated user could spot this, and probably would be avoiding the site in the first place.

That's one of the first things I do for users is switch to the classic layout, and use sites like this to teach them about scareware and such.

Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater and go switching OSes just because the big bad website scared us.

Oh, and a correction for the fanboys…

Don't tell me Linux doesn't get viruses…

Here's a properly worded statement:

Linux does not have the install base to make writing/distributing a virus and bypassing the inherent security features worthwhile. YET.

There we are.

Oh, and a correction for the fanboys…
Don’t tell me Linux doesn’t get viruses…
Here’s a properly worded statement:
Linux does not have the install base to make writing/distributing a virus and bypassing the inherent security features worthwhile. YET.

There we are.

Yeah, it's a piece of malware that tried to get in the system…the infection attempts from AV 2009 are always accompanied by these popups…

Yeah, it’s a piece of malware that tried to get in the system…the infection attempts from AV 2009 are always accompanied by these popups…

My point isn't about which OS is better. It's that if a user thinks that simply by switching OS, he won't get conned or scammed, then I think the mentality there is wrong.

Obviously, I know how what the screenshot is: a "Windows Security Alert" on Ubuntu. It's absurd to us, but to mere mortals who don't understand, it is terrifying. This obviously isn't a virus or malware or anything. This is a pure scam bait, trying to con users out of money. A simple scare tactic.

This "pop up" obviously originated from the webpage, rendered to look like a Windows dialog, simply to target the largest userbase. But normal users won't understand that. Thus, I just think that educating users on such matters like viruses, malware, trojans, or scams like this, is more important than simply telling them to make a switch.

I'm sure it is obvious to a Linux guru like you, but the masses? I prefer to educate them, such as my family members, on such dangers instead of simply saying "Just make a switch!".

My point isn’t about which OS is better. It’s that if a user thinks that simply by switching OS, he won’t get conned or scammed, then I think the mentality there is wrong.

Obviously, I know how what the screenshot is: a “Windows Security Alert” on Ubuntu. It’s absurd to us, but to mere mortals who don’t understand, it is terrifying. This obviously isn’t a virus or malware or anything. This is a pure scam bait, trying to con users out of money. A simple scare tactic.

This “pop up” obviously originated from the webpage, rendered to look like a Windows dialog, simply to target the largest userbase. But normal users won’t understand that. Thus, I just think that educating users on such matters like viruses, malware, trojans, or scams like this, is more important than simply telling them to make a switch.

I’m sure it is obvious to a Linux guru like you, but the masses? I prefer to educate them, such as my family members, on such dangers instead of simply saying “Just make a switch!”.

~DtD

~DtD

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

You don't have to purchase it.. just get the free version.

I only used it to remove this specific products.. most other products I used failed.. after cleaning your system, you might want to scan it with a few anti-spyware solution.. such as spybot search and destroy.