Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Newsvine
Facebook
Google
YahooHow to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
A friend of mine was recently hit with some malware that would put a little shield in the system tray of windows which would show reports of virus infections and all types of problems. Every time you click on it, it would open up a page for a product called Virus Protect Pro. Of course you have to pay for this, and what you're paying for is really a glorified uninstaller of their malware. Here's how to clean it from your system...
Products Tested
I first tried AVG Anti-Virus but to no avail. This isn't technically a virus. It's malware, so it wasn't detected. Next we tried Ad-Aware but it also could not remove the VPP malware. I ran Hijack This and turned off a few recommended things but that program is so technical I couldn't quite figure out if I had done anything good with it. I decided to just leave things be.
Quick Solution
I searched around and heard of success using a product called SuperAntiSpyware. I had never heard of it before and was very skeptical but had tried everything else I trusted to no avail, so I gave it a shot. After updating, it found absolutely everything including the Virus Protect Pro malware and removed all of it successfully. I have no affiliation with that company but their product really did hands down work the best in this case.
What NOT to do if you have the Virus Protect Pro infection
This thing is a scam. It is not anti-virus software. It installed itself on your pc, in effect being a virus, then claiming that it is detecting viruses and trying to get you to pay to remove them, which is really just removing itself. Don't click on it, don't give them money, don't buy in to any of it. Just get rid of it. I highly recommend trying SuperAntiSpyware before anything else as it worked 1st try for me, but I'm sure eventually more products will support removal of VPP. Please post a comment if you find another product that supports VPP removal now. I will keep a list up-to-date here for others to use. Good luck!
Related Articles on Robert Green's DIY:
46 Comments
Post a comment here or discuss this and other topics in the forumsKaspersky
I recommend everybody to use Kaspersky to get rid of all intruders in your Pc and to really protect it against hackers attack or other things like that. I use it too and thaat's why I recommend it to you cause it's highly professional. http://www.trustdownload.com/Antivirus-and-Spyware-Cleaners/Antivirus/Ka...
virus protect pro virus
I tried bleeping computer.com and went into safe mode with networking and virus still pops up. the only way to get to the cmd prompt is in full safe mode but then i'm unable to download any fixes. anyone have any ideas?
For all you people who are
For all you people who are running spybot,super anti spyware etc, if and in any case, SWITCH SYSTEM RESTORE OFF FIRST, or if machine is disable, run malware remover then switch off system restore then run malware remover again, then switch sysyem restore back on again. you must do this or it is still on your machine.
Frosty
Virus Protector malware
How does one correct the problem if this is the ONLY program that runs? It runs in safe mode, task manager cannot be evoked to stop the process - I am completely dead in the water. Not a single program will run - no flash drive programs, boot discs - NOTHING. NOW WHAT?
Run From the Command Prompt
I had the same problem tonight. I already had Malwarebytes' loaded on my machine, and was able to start windows in the "safe mode" and selecting command prompt. I then ran the clean-up program from the command prompt. If you do not have an anti-malware program on your machine, start your browser from the command program, download the program and run it.
You may have to pull the hard
You may have to pull the hard drive out, bring it to another computer and work on it there. If it's a laptop hard drive, you can get enclosures for about $20 that will let you plug it in via USB. Once you scan it from a healthy PC, you'll be able to fix it up. If it's really bad, you will want to consider reinstalling Windows. Call your PC's manufacturer's support and they will send you a new Windows install disc.
Nothing workd
when i logg into my laptop virus protect pops up straight away, and my background, start menu, computer things i.e. internet tab - none of it pops up so how am i to download what you said if I cannot access internet?
I dont understand. The
I dont understand.
The VIRUSPROTECTOR won't let me download any sort of anti spyware.
it keeps terminating it.
and i cant do system restore either, it wont open.
help!
Success
I couldn't get SpyBot to install (but it did pop up a couple of nasty ads), so I tried SUPERAnti-Spyware. Worked like a charm, first try. The only hiccup was that I had to re-install IE; it still wouldn't connect after everything else had returned to normal. Thank goodness I had Firefox and Safari installed! Thanks for the help.
Protect Pro Virus Remover
I think I got rid of mine by restoring to a previous date. Before trying this the Protect Pro would not allow me to run any programs, nor would it let me use Control-Alt-Delete to turn off any applications. I shut down several times and finally tried the Restore Windows app and while it indicated it could not run current application and would shut down, it came up with a window that restore was successful. The icon is gone and their pesky windows stopped popping up. I have installed new Anti-Virus software (Norton 360) and so far so good ( one day and counting )
virus infections
Does anyone know how a company who steals with such malace can stay in business for so long without being stoped?
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
This malware can be removed with SpyBot. Accomplished this morning so I know it works.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Excellent info. I'm sure there are more products that are supporting it this week.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
that virus is such a dumb and nagging thing!thank you so much for helping meGod Bless UGood Bye
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Just took your advice, wonderful! Thank you so much! Worked and it didnt take too long! Have no idea how the virus protect pro got on there!
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
I tried the super anti spyware, but it's still on my pc! How frustrating! I can't seem to remove it
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Try rebooting, rerunning and rebooting again. That did the trick for me. Also, make sure your antispyware is up-to-date!
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Here is how I did it:First I tried using my old faithful Spy Sweeper. This program has always worked in the past, although removing a lot of junk, no success.Then I tried the recommended Super AntiSpyware. Removed more stuff, but still no go.Finally I took the suggestion about SpyBot !!! Thank you spybot. It worked perfectly removing my problem and others. So if you want to get it the first time go with spybot.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Ran spybot 3 times including on reboot and I still am infcted with VPP. Weird part is spybot did find and fix VPP but its still there so ...
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
I tried all the tips above, but I still have at least the little annoying shield in the tray at the bottom corner of the screen. All the spyware destroying programs I've downloaded have deteled many viruses, but i still have some on my PC.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
i had the same problem as dw! rad spybot 3 times, detected it and fixed it, but it's still there the next time!!!
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
I used the "System Restore" function,went back to yesterday,rebooted,problem solved
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Might need to make sure the SYSTEM RESTORE option is disabled prior to running any cleaners. otherwise you'll simply reinfect your machine.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
THank you so MUCH!!!! The download worked GREAT!!! GONEI with there would be a way to send these virus protect people to jail.Thanks AGAIN!!
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Dear Robert Green,Thank you so MUCH!!! I got rid of it by downloading SuperAntiSpyware and will purchase the software whether or not you are affiliated. I was going to beat my PC to death. You saved its life. Good of you and may you be rewarded in life. For surely what goes around comes around.Donald
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
hey thanks alot man that thing was doing my head in and had tried various things to remove it. superantispyware worked a charm.once again thanks for the info.a very happy monkeyboots
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
I got this a couple of days ago, but didn't manage to remove it using Spybot.However, using System Restore in XP to restore my pc to a day before I got the spyware fixed it for me. I found this under Accessories/System Tools/System Restore.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Tried Spyhunter could not get rid of it. Ran ad-aware three times Spy-bot four times Ewido once much better now. Thanks.
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
FYI: Spybot did not work for me
re: How to remove the Virus Protect Pro malware
Tried Superantispyware which did not work. then ran cCleaner again did not work. i then gave AVG Anti-spyware didnt work either. last resort was system restore but it didnt work. does spybot work there are mixed results here??? any suggestions on what to use would be great.
Post new comment