Beware of the dreaded "XP Antivirus 2008"

More and more computers are being infested by the dreaded "XP Antivirus 2008" malware/virus.

"Antivirus XP 2008 is a new rogue anti-spyware program that is advertised through Trojans and other malware. It is advertised in the form of fake security alerts and warnings on web sites that state you are infected with malware or are being attacked in some manner. When you click on these ads, it will automatically download the installer for Antivirus XP 2008 and install it on your machine. In some cases, this program is installed without any intervention at all from you.

"Once installed, Antivirus XP 2008 will scan your computer and display a variety of security risks found on your computer that can only be removed if you purchase a license of the software. These risks, though, are all fake and are only being displayed to scare you into thinking you are infected and thus purchase their software. Another tactic that Antivirus XP 2008, and the accompanied malware, uses is to change your desktop background to be a message stating you are infected, popups and fake alerts stating your computer is being attacked, and a fake Internet Explorer page that states Google has found your computer to be infected."

Some people who fell for this and decided to purchase Antivirus XP 2008 using their credit card have apparently had vast amounts of money fraudulently taken, stolen, by whoever is behind this little monster.

My husband's computer got infected a couple of days ago when he visited DivXVine where he has a few DivX videos hosted. This malware/virus is a real pain in the backside and can, according to some, destroy your hard-drive. There is a number of videos on YouTube which offer different ways of getting rid of it, none of which worked - it seems that the makers of this little monster have changed some of its properties to make it almost impossible to get rid of. It interferes with one's browser in such a way that when one wants to go to a website giving instructions on how to get rid of it, one lands on totally different and unrelated pages. It makes the downloading of .exe files that can help one get rid of it impossible, or disables some of the information which corrupts or empties these .exe files.

After over 24 hours of very frustrating struggles in trying to get rid of this little monster, I finally found a solution that did work. I downloaded the free trial version of Spyware Doctor (it will detect the little monster, but one needs to purchase it in order to clean it out) and then purchased the license online (about $34). I put the .exe file onto an external drive, then we connected the external drive to my husband's computer, and he grabbed, slid and dropped the .exe file onto his desktop and installed it. After that, he entered the name and the license number (one may install it into 3 computers), activated it, downloaded the latest definitions, did a full scan - it worked like a charm and zapped and destroyed the little monster!

I found Spyware Doctor at pctools.com after doing a lot of research on the subject. Beware - some of the sites that one finds via a google search when googling for that malware/virus by name are traps, some are attack sites. Happily, I am well protected and get warnings when going to these sites.

I am going to install it on my computer too, as it prevents such little monsters from ever entering one's computer. I can only advise others to also purchase it before getting hit by this little monster, and if you're already a victim, well, now you have the solution.