Computer not working since "Safety Center" popped up.
- When I turn on my computer, a pop-up that displays something like the Windows insignia, with the name "Safety Center" seems to take over the computer. It alerts me to the fact that my computer has either spyware or a virus. When I click out by "x"ing out, a bigger box comes up that says "System warning" and lists several topics such as Windows Defender (which it says is not installed), etc. If I "X" out of that, another box pops up that says, "Select application" and lists: spyware scanner, surfing protection, cookies remover, registry doctor, firewal, memory manager, update manager, program settings, license manager; then suggests that I buy the full license. I "x" out of that. At some point a smaller "Safety Center" box pops up in the lower, right corner. It tells me "SafetyCenter software managed to detect and block the attack attempt! Please follow the instructions to get full protection!" It will also indicate some kind of threat that it has blocked; e.g., "firewall warning; incoming attack from ip: 121,121,217.48." Eventually, there will appear a picture of a gay person suggesting that I call an international number. At that point, I always shut down the computer. I have run Windows Defender and XoftSpyE without improvement.
Because I am a senior citizen, living on an insufficient pension, I do not have funds to purchase additional software packages; but I do need my computer to complete some projects for the court system.
Thanks for any help that can be provided. I'm desperate.2 people got this answerI do too
Answers
- J King,
See my colleague MVP Steve's reply.
In addition...
1. Read and follow: How to get rid of malware
2. If still no joy you can find Microsoft MVPs and other trained analysts at the following help sites:
Aumha.org
Atribune.org
SpywareHammer
BleepingComputer
Safer-Networking
3. If you need more help with virus-related issues, contact Microsoft Product Support Services.
For support within the United States and Canada, call toll-free (866) PCSAFETY (727-2338).
For support outside the United States and Canada, visit the Product Support Services Web page.
4. If you need more assistance for the virus/worm post to the Microsoft Newsgroup - Security - Viruses.
Via your newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus
Via Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.security.virus
Hope this helps,
Vincenzo Di Russo - Microsoft MVP Windows Internet Explorer, Windows Desktop Experience & Security - Since 2003. ~~~ My MVP Profile: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Vincenzo- Marked As Answer bySyed V - Microsoft SupportMicrosoft Support, ModeratorSunday, September 20, 2009 3:41 PM
All Replies
- Your computer is infected with rogue security software . These free programs can help remove it:
For more information, see Safety Center Analysis and Removal
Steve Winograd, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)- Proposed As Answer byVincenzo Di RussoMVPWednesday, September 09, 2009 11:42 AM
- J King,
See my colleague MVP Steve's reply.
In addition...
1. Read and follow: How to get rid of malware
2. If still no joy you can find Microsoft MVPs and other trained analysts at the following help sites:
Aumha.org
Atribune.org
SpywareHammer
BleepingComputer
Safer-Networking
3. If you need more help with virus-related issues, contact Microsoft Product Support Services.
For support within the United States and Canada, call toll-free (866) PCSAFETY (727-2338).
For support outside the United States and Canada, visit the Product Support Services Web page.
4. If you need more assistance for the virus/worm post to the Microsoft Newsgroup - Security - Viruses.
Via your newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus
Via Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.security.virus
Hope this helps,
Vincenzo Di Russo - Microsoft MVP Windows Internet Explorer, Windows Desktop Experience & Security - Since 2003. ~~~ My MVP Profile: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Vincenzo- Marked As Answer bySyed V - Microsoft SupportMicrosoft Support, ModeratorSunday, September 20, 2009 3:41 PM
- Hi and Welcome to Microsoft Answers Community.
I would share a recommendation:
The best approach is to "re-format" your PC and install a clean installation of your Operating System (OS).
If you need any further assistance,
please feel free to contact me and let me know.
I hope this information was helpful...
Have a nice day...
Best regards,
Fisnik
Itknowledge24.com - I recommend Spyware Doctor. Download it from Google Pack website. This version removes infections for free.
http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_installer.html (select only Spyware Doctor to install)
Also take a look at Safety Center manual removal guides:
http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-safety-center.html
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-safety-center
Good luck! That is so wierd. that is exactly what is happening to me. it has totally taken over my computer and and now the gay ____ pop up keeps coming up with no x out button. i have tried to get around it and even went the saftey.live.com, but it will not let me run the scan. keeps telling me to turn off pop up blocker ive tried. and when i call microsoft they say they cant help untill i run the scan. i feel traped in catch 22, very frustrating. kb
- This happened to me recently at work.Exactly the same stuff (augmented with some attempts to get me to click on ____ popups). Our tech suggested setting my copy of XP back to the previous known good configuration using system restore. It appears to have worked. I haven't had any such problems for a couple of weeks now.In XP, system restore opens from the Help and Support button that you click on Start.I was fortunate that my computer had saved a version of itself shortly before the infection occurred (I got it from a Venezuelan web site), so I did not lose anything.I hope you've solved the problem you had. Apologies for not seeing this sooner.Cheers
- I am having exactly the same problem that J King had last month. That is a safety center web site is trying to get me to buy their service. Their pop-ups keep coming. I tried to delete them thru the add/remove , but it says uninstall complete, but they are still there. I ran the short Microsoft windows malicious software removal short scan, but found nothing. I am now 20 minutes into the full scan, but nothing yet... Any ideas...
