Survivor's Alert!

Like many of you may know, recently I've been unlucky enough to be plagued by nasty viruses of one kind or another. This is what I've been hitting myself in the head over the last couple of days...and if you're experiencing any kind of erratic computer behavior, keep reading, because this might help you!!! 

(Note: this may only apply to users of Windows Vista.)

• Opening any program such as Mozilla Firefox (which I use), Internet Explorer, Microsoft Paint, Powerpoint, Windows Movie Maker, etc. results in an "OPEN WITH" window that forces you to choose what program you want to open the program with (redundant, I know...but you should choose to open Internet Explorer with Internet Explorer, Firefox with Firefox, etc.)
• It's impossible to open iTunes at all. If you click on iTunes from the Start Menu, it shows a message:

C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe
"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."

• Or if you try to open iTunes by clicking on your desktop shortcut (icon), you see a shorter, but similar message like "This application is not available."

...either way, you can't access iTunes. What the *beeeeeeeeep* ?!?!?

Well, let me tell everyone reading this that I am NOT at all a computer-savvy technician of a nerd. I can find my way around just fine, but when someone needs serious help, I'd be the one looking for the helper, not being the helper. But with a million Google searches, I managed to find my way out of this mess! Here's the stuff you really need to know:

I had the great good luck to get infected by a very notorious malware called 
VISTA ANTISPYWARE 2010. 

Other Names This Malware Uses (Alphabetical order):

• Antivirus Vista 2010
• Antivirus XP 2010
• Antivirus Win 7 2010
• Vista Guardian
• Vista Antivirus Pro
• Vista Internet Security
• Vista Internet Security 2010
• Win7 Guardian
• Win 7 Antivirus Pro
• Win 7 Antispyware 2010
• Win 7 Internet Security
• Win 7 Internet Security 2010
• XP Guardian
• XP Antivirus Pro
• XP AntiSpyware 2010
• XP Internet Security
• XP Internet Security 2010

There are many kinds of malware, but one of the most common kinds is a self-installing program that just appears on your computer without explanation that usually tries to scare you into buying their fake anti-virus software. They send you notifications that your computer is badly infected and, like Vista AntiSpyware 2010, may run computer scans by itself without you initiating them. (Yes, really: programs infecting your computer, telling you that your computer's infected. The irony...!)

If the experts are correct, all the supposedly "infected" stuff that shows up in the chart of the scanning window are either fake, don't exist, or are actually NOT infected. 

They are LYING. 
They are a FAKE, MALICIOUS software. 
DO NOT believe them! 
Got that? 
Good.
P.S: The creators of these things should just go to hell.

On a side note, it's always a good idea to do a quick Google search on any programs that show up on your computer and any programs you download, just to make sure you're doing the right thing for your computer. I only found out that Vista AntiSpyware was a rogue malware after doing so.

SO HOW IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD DO YOU ACTUALLY FIX THIS THING?!?

There are one or two ways that I've heard of. Here's one of them, the method that I used:

1. Download the file "FIXEXE.reg" here: download.bleepingcomputer.com/reg/FixExe.reg Or create the file manually (here's a how-to): http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-vista-antispyware-2010.html 
2. Download the free version of Spyware Doctor, a very thorough and efficient anti-spyware software (no lies this time, it's completely safe!) that often picks up infections, worms, tracking cookies, etc. that other programs don't. Download here free: http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/
3. Start up Spyware Doctor and run a full scan. 

Keep in mind that the free version of Spyware Doctor cannot remove viruses, worms and general bad stuff that it detects! It can only notify you that you have them.  

HOWEVER, after you finish the full scan, even though it's not the full version and can't delete anything, you should find that you can open up iTunes again and also, all the annoying "Open With" windows have disappeared!

More info here: http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=38629

I also recommend downloading MalwareBytes AntiMalware. Like Spyware Doctor, it's also free, very thorough and completely safe. I haven't had the chance to run a full scan of my computer using this, but I know that it works. Here's some info: http://www.myantispyware.com/2010/01/28/how-to-remove-vista-antispyware-2010-vista-antivirus-2010-vista-guardian/ 

Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware here: http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

HUZZAH!!!!

  

And just in general, DO scan your computer regularly for viruses and things of that nature. I know for a fact that my computer still has a frightening number of infections of varying degrees, but as long as I can open programs without too much fuss, I'm currently apathetic to the other problem. Do not seek to rouse me from my glee!