Antivirus Vista 2010 is another counterfeit security software that can be downloaded unknowingly from a website created primarily to promote this program. When installed on the computer, Antivirus Vista 2010 will start running its own virus scan that represent false detection. An excessive alerts is also displayed by Antivirus Vista 2010 that may force users to obtain the registered version of this unwanted program.
What are the Symptoms of Antivirus Vista 2010 Infection?
It will modify Windows Registry and add the following entries:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run “Antivirus Vista 2010 ”
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “%1” %*
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “%1” %*
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “%1” %*
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “%1” %*
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe”
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe” -safe-mode
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command “(Default)” = “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe” /START “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe”
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center “AntiVirusOverride” = “1”
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center “FirewallOverride” = “1”
The threat will drop the following malicious files:
- %Program Files\Antivirus Vista 2010\av.exe
- %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\av.exe
- %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\[random]
- %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\av.exe
- %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\[random]
How to Remove Antivirus Vista 2010 Manually
1. Restart your computer in SafeMode
– After Power-On the computer, just before Windows start, press F8
– From the selections, Select SafeMode
2. Remove Registry entries that the threat added. You MUST BACKUP YOUR REGISTRY FIRST.
– Click Start > Run
– Type in the field, regedit
– Navigate and look for the registry entries mentioned above and delete if necessary
3. Delete malicious files that the threat added:
– Base on the given location above, browse and delete the file
– If no location is given, click Start>Search> and search for the files.
– If cannot be deleted, press Ctrl+Alt+Del to access Task Manager, see if the file is running in the process. If it is, select the file and click End Process. Perform file delete again.
4. Scan computer with Antivirus Program
– Update antivirus program
– Scan computer and delete all detected threats.
How to Easily Remove Antivirus Vista 2010
1. Download and run Removal Tool to remove Antivirus Vista 2010
I tried following the manual removal instructions, and now I can’t open ANY exe files on my PC!!! I get a message saying that I need to go to the “Set Associations Control Panel”. So I’m not sure I’d recommend following these instructions, because I’m now probably going to have to completely reset my PC.
You can still run the broken .exe files, however this only works in safe mode. A system restore to a time before you caught the virus should fix it, be sure to run malwarebytes again to catch anything that may have existed before av2010 took over.
SPrey, make that administrator mode not “safe”. To do this, right click on the file and “run as administrator”.
You can do this for executables in your start programs menu as well, system restore should be under accessories > system tools.
Be sure to update windows again for the most updated version.
Hope this helps
This 2010 was a tough one. I was determined to get rid of it using free programs. Malwarebytes was my first choice but 2010 would not let me install the program. Smart. I looked for a solution to that problem online. Older post said rename the bam File (that’s the start up file for malwarebytes) that did not work. So needed another FREE program 2010 did not know about. Went to download.com and used ” a-squared free” malware removal program.
It loaded and updated so I ran it . It found lots of problems on the PC. It found the 2010 malware and labeled as a high threat. It got rid of the 2010 malware. Great.
But after reboot the laptop no longer open any EXE files. That means no program would open since every program starts with a EXE file to open. Made the laptop useless. Now I have no idea if a-square free messed with my registry or if 2010 took a finale parting shot and disabled open EXE files.
There are lots of paid programs saying they can fix this. But I’m cheap so I decided to restore the laptop to the latest know working condition in the restore menu. That worked and the 2010 did not come back with the restore. Problem solved and NO money changed hands.
Malwarebytes loaded after that and would recommend to any one to load the free version and run it often.
ken mol
march 4 2010
This 2010 was a tough one. I was determined to get rid of it using free programs. Malwarebytes was my first choice but 2010 would not let me install the program. Smart. I looked for a solution to that problem online. Older post said rename the the MBAM File (that’s the start up file for malwarebytes) that did not work. So needed another FREE program 2010 did not know about. Went to download.com and used ” a-squared free” malware removal program.
It loaded and updated so I ran it . It found lots of problems on the PC. It found the 2010 malware and labeled as a high threat. It got rid of the 2010 malware. Great.
but after reboot the laptop no longer open any EXE files. That means no program would open since every program starts with a EXE file to open. Made the laptop useless. Now I have no idea if a-square free messed with my registry or if 2010 took a finale parting shot and disabled open EXE files.
There are lots of payed programs saying they can fix this. But I’m cheap so I decided to restore the laptop to the latest know working condition in the restore menu.
That worked and the 2010 did not come back with the restore.
problem solved and NO money changed hands.
Malwarebytes loaded after that and would recommend to any one to load the free version and run it often.