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400,000 PCs Infected With Fake "Antivirus 2009"

Posted by timothy on from the please-keep-up-now dept.

nandemoari writes "The second month of Microsoft's campaign against fake security software has resulted in the removal of the rogue "Antivirus 2009" application from almost 400,000 infected PCs. Microsoft claims that December's version of the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) — the free utility included in Windows Update every month — specifically targeted 'Antivirus 2009.' According to Microsoft, MSRT removed the rogue application from over 394,000 PCs in the first nine days after it was released on December 9."

9 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. Tomorrow's Headline by meadowsoft · · Score: 4, Funny

    "over 394,000 PCs report massive amounts of virus infections due to the accidental removal of Antivirus 2009"

    1. Re:Tomorrow's Headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      barack obama will make you touch his junk liberally.

  2. When will the Malcious software removal tool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Remove my win32 directory?

    1. Re:When will the Malcious software removal tool... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Run a search, I'd bet it already did.

  3. Good job Microsoft! by Chryana · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now let's hope Symantec is not going to sue them... :)

  4. Re:Malwarebytes by peragrin · · Score: 3, Funny

    the wooshing noise you heard was the sound of thousands of linux boot disks flying over your head.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  5. At least Zunes are safe by MrNonchalant · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks Microsoft for thoughtfully protecting all the Zunes from this outbreak.

  6. Very few PCs run Windows? by flyingfsck · · Score: 3, Funny

    If only 400,000 machines were infected, then it would seem that Apple And Linux have taken over the desktop.

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  7. Re:how many users will complain about removal? by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 3, Funny

    iirc some of the malware and adware 'vendors' had eulas that forbade users to remove their programs

    But if you remove it, you're in violation of the EULA, and therefore are not allowed to use the program, so you must remove it!

    Absolutely no problem there.

    --
    Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.