[onlooker]

Yes I am having trouble with a nasty virus that is popping up when I access a few sites including PO. the virus name is by DNSUnlocker
Any ideas of now to eliminate it would be greatly appreciated

[SeaGypsy]

Big problem. Its ransomware. As far as I know it is impossible to get off without either- pay the ransom- reformatt back to factory settings (& lose your data).

[PrestonSturges]

what antivirus and antimalware tools are you running now?

[onlooker]

A Sea not ransomware, as I do have access to computer and no demands for ransom. Preston I am just using a simple antivirus called Windows Security Essentials.

[SeaGypsy]

Sounds like ransomware. Your security maybe preventing the ransom message? DNS unlocker has been going rampant, blackmailing institutions. Everything still works, but the more you dig, the more you find the warning. Since this one came out it has been very important not to click dubious links. I'm pretty sure I have dozens of infected messages in my spam box.

[onlooker]

thanks for the help guys, so far no luck, tried a few things. who the heck comes up with these nasty viruses

[KaiserJeep]

The real deal is called "Microsoft Security Essentials", and is freely downloadable, although you must take reasonable care that you get it from a real Microsoft server, not a hacker's clone server downloading malware.

If what you are using is really called "Windows Security Essentials", then they got you already. Save whatever personal files you can, format the hard disc, and either reinstall from CDs or upgrade your hardware and operating system if it is 4 or more years old. Then reintroduce those personal files only after scanning the media with a good commercial virus checker that you paid real money for.

As for who writes the stuff, the corporate CEOs all thought it would be so clever to offshore software development to places like India, Pakistan, Sal Salvador, and other places where labor is cheap. Then they offshored software testing the same way. Common operating systems like Windows and Android now come with "trap door" vulnerabilities built in by design, in 2nd world countries, by software developers who have two jobs, the second of which is getting paid for enabling malware.

[onlooker]

Wow Gary thanks for alerting me. Pretty nefarious, wonder what is the motivation for the malware are they rival companies, terrorist types, blackmailers just wondering. By the way stay safe over there in Cali, with the freakish weather happening. oh no my boo boo it is MSE

[radon1]

May try setting up a trial version of a well-known anti-virus program. Then run a full virus check. This might help.

[onlooker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('radon1', 'M')ay try setting up a trial version of a well-known anti-virus program. Then run a full virus check. This might help.

[davep]

According to google, it's not that hard to get rid of. This url uses well-known malware removal tools, so their solution is worth trying https://www.how-to-remove.com/dns-unlocker/

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserJeep', 'I')f what you are using is really called "Windows Security Essentials", then they got you already. Save whatever personal files you can, format the hard disc, and either reinstall from CDs or upgrade your hardware and operating system if it is 4 or more years old. Then reintroduce those personal files only after scanning the media with a good commercial virus checker that you paid real money for.

[onlooker]

I fix it guys, thanks again. I paid a hefty sum, but I got a technician from National Help Desk who did the technical work. Then I bought a apparently very good security anti-virus software program in Defender Pro. So my computer is now running great no pop ups or anything. By the way Keith and others you seem like real experts, I am novice so that is why I did it this way. So I guess you will have to put up with my posts still haha

[PrestonSturges]

You cam also use the MalwareBytes trial version for free, and it plays well with Microsoft Security Essential. MB catches thing MSE misses. The trial version will give you an annoying popup that disappears after a couple days.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('onlooker', 'I') fix it guys, thanks again. I paid a hefty sum, but I got a technician from National Help Desk who did the technical work. Then I bought a apparently very good security anti-virus software program in Defender Pro. So my computer is now running great no pop ups or anything. By the way Keith and others you seem like real experts, I am novice so that is why I did it this way. So I guess you will have to put up with my posts still haha

[davep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', 'Y')ou cam also use the MalwareBytes trial version for free, and it plays well with Microsoft Security Essential. MB catches thing MSE misses. The trial version will give you an annoying popup that disappears after a couple days.

[kanon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '
')I have never paid a dime for Linux applications, support services or antivirus, etc.

[Keith_McClary]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kanon', 'I') was the same for many years, but then I subscribed to Slackware, just because I decided I should contribute something to the people who put my Linux distribution together.

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Keith_McClary', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserJeep', 'I')f what you are using is really called "Windows Security Essentials", then they got you already. Save whatever personal files you can, format the hard disc, and either reinstall from CDs or upgrade your hardware and operating system if it is 4 or more years old. Then reintroduce those personal files only after scanning the media with a good commercial virus checker that you paid real money for.

[vox_mundi]

From IBM Threat Intelligence Quarterly 3Q 2015: ...

Ransomware as a service

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.').. Do not assume that if you are infected with encryption-based ransomware you can simply pay
the ransom and reliably get your data back. For example, ZeroLocker command-and-control servers that have not been properly configured may never have received your encryption key, so they can’t sell your data back to you. As a result, they are not only stealing your data, they can’t give it back to you even if you pay! In addition, the authorities or a competing threat group may have “taken down” the command-and-control servers between the time your machines get infected and the time you try to pay the ransom