Hey all, recently my computer has been giving me some problems and I want to see if anyone here has any advice. About a few months ago I bought a new Lenovo laptop with Windows Vista Home Basic pre-installed. The computer has worked fine since then, I've used the internet at wi-fi hotspots around my city, with never a single problem...until last night. While I was on-line at home, I was checking a website that I have always checked before without issue when my Windows Defender suddenly popped open and said that my computer was under threat and blocked Internet Explorer from me and started running a diagnosic. Well apparently it said that I had like 26 infections in my computer. That I had worms, spyware, adware, that someone was watching my key logs, etc, etc, and it gave me the option to click on the remove all. So I clicked on it, but instead of doing anything, another message box appeared saying that my Windows Defender is not the full version and that I must either purchase the full version or enter my key code for it. I don't have a key code since I never bought this program, was pre-installed.

Anyways, now whenever I try to open Internet Explorer, the Windows Defender pops up and says that my IE is infected and asks if I would like to purchase the full Windows Defender. I have clicked on both options. If I say "no", the computer blocks my IE, if I say yes, it opens my IE, but instead of taking me to a Windows website, it takes me to www.antivirus-care.com, which my browser says does not exist and instead takes me to another page with a listing of anti-virus program sites to buy from.

Well, all this seems fishy to me because I can't do anything with the Windows Defender program. I can't turn it off, I can't change its settings, or even look at other options it has. Instead whenever I try the message window of "would I like to buy the full version now?" appears and keeps appearing.

Now I have turned off my high speed net, turning off the wi-fi radio on my laptop, but it is still giving me these warnings. Now Windows Defender keeps running automatically without me even being on the net, saying that I'm being attacked and keeps telling me to buy the program.

Anyways, sorry for the long message but I'm just curious about this. I've talked to a couple of computer store clerks and they tell me that either I have a virus, or an adware pretending to be Windows Defender. I would just like some advice to figure out whats going on so I know whether to just by an anti-spyware/adware program, or take it to a specialist and dole out $200.

Thanks a bunch!

I concur. It was a virus 'come on' that flashes this and that. In under 10 seconds this virus has you all balled up wondering what you have done and the only logical step is to click the "CLICK HERE NOW!" button. This one was slick as it said Window Defender. Knowing MS has Window Defender as part of the security set-up you did like 99.99% of the folks using Windows...you trusted it! When I get these and we all do, I simply click out of it and log off the internet. I then run AV and Malewarebytes. This is what you need to do as well. So, go download Malwarebytes (free edition) and scan your computer. Keep you AV up to date. If this pops up again, remember, you have AV programs and they certainly would have told you about a virus when you scan you computer a few times a month. If it is another AV program other than what you installed telling you there is a problem suspect it is the 'come on' AV program looking to make trouble like this one did. Click out and off the internet.

Hey guys! It is me again! I just wanted to post and give you all my most sincere and heartfelt thank yous! You really helped me. I did as you guys suggested, I downloaded the Malewarebytes and installed it and ran the program. Apparently I had two viruses in my computer. A trojan.falsealert and some hotkey tracker. Anyways, Maleware found and deleted them both and now my computer is running beautifully! Right after I bought McAfee Antivirus Pro and scanned my computer again with both of them, so far it is clean. I want to thank you all so much! You really helped me and I definitely will come here if I have any problems again. Thanks!

Also, if Malewarebytes does not alert you and your new AV program McAfee does not alert you but a "YOU GOT A VIRUS" pops up from the ABC Antivirus Company then you know something stinks real bad because you do not have av from the ABC anitvirus company. You are now that much wiser to what people consider as fun. Close out the internet. Scan your computer. Glad it worked out!

Originally Posted by richc46

Let me give you some good, but not asked for advice. If you get a pop up that you think may be malware, do not get rid of it by clicking on the X in the upper right corner. That may actually activate the virus. Always use the task manger to end the process. Right click on the task bar to bring it up.

I did not know that. I often get freezing websites several times, and had to logging off. But, I will use a task manager next time. Thanks!