Unknown Scareware

[cork1958]

Not running in safe mode isn't an issue, that's just to try and get around the screen lock.

After MalwareBytes, I'd run whatever other AV/AM tools you like and just make sure you got everything.

Personally after this kind of infection I always format, I'd just rather not to take the risk. Entirely up to you though >.<

What's the sense of reformatting AFTER finding the infection? For one, this infection ISN'T that big of an issue and another, reformatting should be a very last resort.

It's obvious it was the fake FBI warning and other than locking you out of the screen for a bit, it isn't s**t!!

EXACTLY why everyone should have Malwarebytes AND SupserAntiSpyware installed and updated EVERY DAY!!

That stupid FBI Warning comes out of the blue from anywhere. There should be law against that kind of crap and then those people who created it should be hung by the gonads!!

[Top Qat]

I use this one:

http://www.avg.com/gb-en/avg-rescue-cd

Didn't know about the Kaspersky one so thanks for that, always usefull to have options.

[goatsniffer]

I've cleaned this and other MBR viruses successfully without having to reformat. If you think something is damaged, just do a repair install. Reformatting is overkill.

[articuno1au]

What's the sense of reformatting AFTER finding the infection? For one, this infection ISN'T that big of an issue and another, reformatting should be a very last resort.

It's obvious it was the fake FBI warning and other than locking you out of the screen for a bit, it isn't s**t!!

EXACTLY why everyone should have Malwarebytes AND SupserAntiSpyware installed and updated EVERY DAY!!

That stupid FBI Warning comes out of the blue from anywhere. There should be law against that kind of crap and then those people who created it should be hung by the gonads!!

The point of reformatting AFTER finding the infection is because infections very rarely come out cleanly. Even if you remove the infection, the system is likely to be less stable, which presumes you can actually remove the infection properly.

A lot of these malware types demand payment and wipe your computer if you try and go around them. Without knowing exactly which malware variant this is, all I can suggest is general best practices.

Formatting has a lot of benefits, least of which is it's hard to infect a completely erased disk.

Given my degree is in Net Sec, I tend to be a lot more cautious than the average person, and formatting takes a few hours out of your day and guarantees a clean system.

I've cleaned this and other MBR viruses successfully without having to reformat. If you think something is damaged, just do a repair install. Reformatting is overkill.

As above.

There's more than one way to skin a cat. If you are satisfied with cleaning it out as best as the tool can, so be it. I'm cautious and I've yet to be bitten by being careful :\

[Anibal P]

I fall under the better safe than sorry crowd too, backup all essential files and nuke your install, it's never failed to clean out any infection.

It drives my family crazy when I do it, yet slowly but surely without needing to gimp my systems or disable half the internet the infections have slowed down to maybe once a year if that, and I have 3 teenagers who used to click on EVERYTHING