HELP!!! Alpha Antivirus!!!

[Huggy Bear]

Oh god, my OH did somehting to my laptop yesterday and has downloaded some kind of virus!!! It's called Aplha antivirus and looks just like a windows antivirus programme, he didn't realise it was and thought it was a programme already on my laptop so clicked the button!! Now I can't get the blooming thing off and evertine I go online to try and dowload an antivirus programme to get rid of it, it won't let me download it!! i can't get on my facebook page at all either!!!! I'm sooooo annoyed, just wondered if any of you out there have come across this?? If so what did you do??? Also to warn you incase you see it, like I said it looks just like windows!! Don't click on it!!! AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

[Jane S]

This is spyware/rogue software - to remove it, you'll need to use an anti-spyware tool (if you haven't got one installed on your computer already). There are several free programs like Ad Aware, Spybot, Malwarebytes etc (just Google them to find download sites). There's also Windows Defender which is included with Vista but you can download it for XP:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

You can also find lots of info on manual removal of this Alpha spyware if you do a Google search. Here's a page I found: http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-alpha-antivirus.html

[Huggy Bear]

When I go onto a page that had a download link it blocks me that's what just happend when I tried to reply on my original thread!! Sorry but I just dont' know what else to try!!!! This is doing my head in!!!!! I've been on my laptop all day going through files etc....!! Every page it just blocks!!!

[Jane S]

You need to stop it running while you're downloading the antispyware tool. Did you look at the info for manually removing this Alpha thing? It tells you how to stop it running via your Task Manager. If you're using XP, right click on the blue toolbar to the right of your Start button and click on Task Manager. Then click on Processes & find the Alpha program file (AlphaAV.exe NetFilter.exe ), then highlight it with your mouse and click "End Process". See if you can download antispyware now.

[Huggy Bear]

done that but it still wont let me, I'm struggling to get on this page, each time i click it cuts me off!!! Don't know what to do,   it's vista I'm using on laptop.

[Jane S]

Have you tried doing the above in Safe Mode? I don't have Vista but apparently you need to do the following to boot your laptop into safe mode: To get into Safe Mode with Networking, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow key to get to Safe Mode with Networking from list of options, then hit ENTER.

[Huggy Bear]

Hi all, well I'm on the OLD computer in the study so thankfully it still works and I can get online! The thing is now we have to reformat the laptop!! Which means we need to wipe everything off it, photos videos films etc...... it's gonna take ages!!!  But at least then we will wipe out the blooming virus!!!! So anyone else out there please be very war of this!! It looked like the real thing, like any normal antivirus programme, but it's not!! Do not click on Alpha Antivirus if it comes up on your screen!!! Thanks for the help and advice!!

 

[Sarah.H]

Well I've just got my computer back on line after about three weeks of my Dad trying to get a similar virus off. He thought he'd cleared it but it had hidden in another file somewhere  . The virus had blocked the computer so he couldn't download any antispyware or start up in safe mode. In the end he got an IT specialist to look at it, the hard drive had to be wiped but when he tried to restart the hard drive was a goner. Thankfully he managed to save all our photos beforehand!

[JaspersMum]

Well I've just got my computer back on line after about three weeks of my Dad trying to get a similar virus off. He thought he'd cleared it but it had hidden in another file somewhere  . The virus had blocked the computer so he couldn't download any antispyware or start up in safe mode. In the end he got an IT specialist to look at it, the hard drive had to be wiped but when he tried to restart the hard drive was a goner. Thankfully he managed to save all our photos beforehand!

Sounds similar to what we had, unfortunately we lost everything including all our photos - reminder to all to back-up 

[Huggy Bear]

Yay!! We got my laptop sorted and all photos videos are safe on disk!!!  So pleased we got it fixed!!! Just need to find all my favourite websites to bookmark them now!!  Cockers online was the first! 

[Ben's mum]

I just wanted to say thanks Jane for the info you put on here, it has saved my sanity today (and probably my computer as well!)

I picked up Antivirus 2010 which seems to be the new version of Alpha antivirus, I thought my computer was completely infected with nasty stuff, and the virus was stopping me getting online to find out what to do.  Fortunately I was still able to open things on my favorites list, for some reason, and i wondered if anyone on here would be able to help.  To see this thread and realise what the problems were was such a relief, I can't tell you, I was convinced all my bank details had been poached  and was so worried.  I followed the link you gave Huggy Bear, downloaded the softwear and hey presto it was gone   

For someone like me with limited computer skills  you really saved the day, and the cost of me calling out a computer expert    It never ceases to amaze me the amount of knowledge, help and support to be found on COL.

I really hope no one else manages to pick this up - it was scary

thanks again, you are a star 

Bens mum
xx

[Jane S]

Glad it helped & thanks for the lovely Jackie Lawson card

[ludo]

Hi - if you are having problems downloading virus software, why not buy a disc from PC world.  Norton 360 is an excellent programme - it deals with viruses, malaware, spyware etc., and also protects your personal information/security amongst other things.  That should get rid of it and protect you in the future. 

[dazla]

Sorry to bump this post but i get soooooooo annoyed at supposed IT support people that just reformat hard drives.

I understand why they do- they can charge a premium for virtually no work.

i have cleaned lots of pcs that had variants of the scummy antivirus 2008/2010/etc. Admittedly it is a bit of a pig to get rid of but you should never have to lose any info.

Even if your IT person recommends a reformat there is nothing to stop them backing up your info first.

At a minimum you could run a linux live cd, purely and simply so that you can access your files and back them up to an external drive. Alternatively partition your harddrive and set it up so that your important files are on the new partition. In the event of a factory reinstall your files will be safe.

Even a virus that prevents your pc from booting cannot prevent you from backing up your files if you use a live linux cd.


The only time where losing files is unavoidable is when the hard drive starts to fail- even then though they could be recovered but the costs might be prohibitive.


Pm me if you want or go to a site such as bleepingcomputer.com