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How to remove Antivirus Plus (Uninstall Instructions)

Posted by Grinler on October 23, 2008 @ 09:17 PM · Views: 58,561

 

What this programs does:

Antivirus Plus is a rogue anti-spyware that uses false advertisements as a way to convince you to install their product. Once installed, Antivirus Plus will be configured to start automatically by launching the file C:\Windows\system\rundll32.exe. Once launched the program will scan your computer and state that your computer is infected with a variety of malware, but does not allow you to remove anything unless you first purchase the program. While Antivirus Plus is running you will also see frequent nag screens stating that you should purchase the program as well as fake security alerts stating your computer is infected. Furthermore, this program will launch a pop-up Window that pretends to be the Windows Security Center. This Window is just another advertisement trying to scare you into purchasing the software and should be ignored as it is not the real Windows Security Center.

 

Antivirus Plus screen shot
Antivirus Plus screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 5 images you can view.

 

This guide will walk you through removing Antivirus Plus and any associated malware that may have been installed with it.

 

Threat Classification:

 

Advanced information:

View Antivirus Plus files.
View Antivirus Plus Registry Information.

 

Tools Needed for this fix:

 

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe C:\WINDOWS\system\rundll32.exe
O1 - Hosts: 66.249.93.104 security.microsoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.pt
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.co.uk
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.no
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.com
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.nl
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.com.au
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.co.jp
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.dk
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.de
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.ch
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.at
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.ie
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.ca
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 search.yahoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.com.br
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.gr
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.fi
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.be
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.it
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.se
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 uk.search.yahoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.fr
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.es
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 us.search.yahoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.com.mx
O1 - Hosts: 89.149.210.170 www.google.co.za
O2 - BHO: Antivirus Plus BHO - {C2B5AAB8-2183-4be7-81A6-F11493C45872} - %UserProfile%\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.70155.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AntiVirus Plus] "C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe" "%UserProfile%\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.70155.dll", start 70155
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AntiVirus Plus] "C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe" "%UserProfile%\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.70155.dll", start 70155
O4 - Startup: AntiVirus Plus.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
O4 - Global Startup: AntiVirus Plus.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe

 

Guide Updates:

10/23/08 - Initial guide creation.
11/17/09 - Updated for new version.

 


Automated Removal Instructions for Antivirus Plus using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

 

  1. Print out these instructions as we may need to close every window that is open later in the fix.

  2. Before we can do anything we must first end the processes that belong to Antivirus Plus so that it does not interfere with the cleaning procedure. To do this, download the following file to your desktop.

    rkill.com Download Link

  3. Once it is downloaded, double-click on the rkill.com in order to automatically attempt to stop any processes associated with Antivirus Plus and other Rogue programs. Please be patient while the programs looks for various programs and closes them. When it has finished, the black window will automatically close. If your desktop was hidden, you should also now be able to view it again. Do not reboot your computer at this point, or the programs will start again.

  4. Now you should download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:

    Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link


  5. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.

  6. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.

  7. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing and is at the last screen, make sure you uncheck both of the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware check boxes. Then click on the Finish button. If Malwarebytes' prompts you to reboot, please do not do so.

    If you receive a code 2 error while installing Malwarebytes's, please press the OK button to close these errors as we will resolve them in future steps. The code 2 error will look similar to the image below.


    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Screen

  8. As this infection deletes a core executable of Malwarebytes' we will need to download a new copy of it and put it in the C:\program files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\ folder. To download the file please click on the following link:

    Malwarebytes' EXE Download
    When your browser prompts you where to save it to, please save it to the C:\program files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\ folder. When downloading the file, it will have a random filename. Please leave the filename the way it is as it is important that it is not changed. You may want to write down the name of the file as you will need to know the name in the next step.

  9. Once the file has been downloaded, open the C:\program files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\ folder and double-click on the file you downloaded in step 8. MBAM will now start and you will be at the main program screen as shown below.


    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Screen

  10. Before you can perform a scan, you must first update the program. To do this click on the Update tab, and that at the new screen click on the Check for Updates button. Malwarebytes' will now check for new updates and download and install them as necessary. When the update is completed, you will be prompted with a message stating either that you already have the latest updates or that they have been updated. Either way, you should now click on the OK button to continue.

  11. Now click on the Scanner tab and make sure the the Perform full scan option is selected. Then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Antivirus Plus related files.

  12. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.


    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Scanning Screen

  13. When the scan is finished a message box will appear as shown in the image below.


    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Scan Finished Screen

    You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the AntivirusPlus removal process.

  14. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.

  15. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below. Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.


    Malwarebytes Scan Results


    You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.

  16. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.

  17. You can now exit the MBAM program.

Your computer should now be free of the AntivirusPlus program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:

Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log

 


 

Associated Antivirus Plus Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\EULA.url
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AntiVirus Plus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\avp.ico
%UserProfile%\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus
%UserProfile%\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.70155.dll
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\AntiVirus Plus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\AntiVirus Plus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\EULA.url
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AntiVirus Plus.lnk

 

Associated Antivirus Plus Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{C2B5AAB8-2183-4be7-81A6-F11493C45872}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "AntiVirus Plus"

 


 

This is a self-help guide. Use at your own risk.

BleepingComputer.com can not be held responsible for problems that may occur by using this information. If you would like help with any of these fixes, you can post a HijackThis log in our HijackThis Logs and Analysis forum.

If you have any questions about this self-help guide then please post those questions in our AntiVirus, Firewall and Privacy Products and Protection Methods forum and someone will help you.

 

 



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