Worrying pop-up message

[slowmotion]

Well I gave a quick scan using Malwarebytes (already had it installed) and restarted my computer. When I opened my browser, it claimed that the page couldnt be found or opened, so I just clicked close and everything seems okay now.
Turns out I had 70 viruses on my computer! They have all gone now though.

Well done. I read that there is one version of the virus that takes control of your laptop's camera and sends you a picture of yourself together with all the threatening legal twaddle. Quite a clever touch really.

 

[Crankarm]

And I first thought it was because the Authorities had found his Youtube posts .

 

[classic33]

Virus mate. I'm a police officer and had many people approaching me about this. I've also had it on my computer. Google will sort it

@Matthew_T,
Not a virus, Malware. Search for Ukash. Results show a virus, but its actually malware.
See
http://www.geekschat.net/threads/anyone-come-across-this-one.3779/

Microsoft dowload available here
http://issue-fix.com/windows/ukash-virus-removal.php?sq=ukash&mt=e&kw=+ukash&ad=1&src=bng

 

[swee'pea99]

I'm sure posts above are of more practical use, but The Guardian did an article on this 'ransomware' last weekend - for anyone who's interested...
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/oct/19/cryptolocker-attacks-computer-ransomeware

 

[Wobblers]

@Matthew_T: it's something called ransomware. Essentially it hijacked your browser to show you a threatening message in order to try and scare you to sending money to a bunch of thieving scammers. You've done exactly the right thing in ignoring it and using malwarebytes to remove it. As @Crankarm says, run some form of realtime virus protection. If you're running a version of Windows (it looks like Vista or 7 from the screenshots) I'd suggest you download and run Microsoft Security Essentials at a minimum. Since you use Firefox, I'd also suggest you get the noscript add-on. It blocks javascript from running on your browser so should make this sort of attack more difficult. It takes some time to learn how to use it properly - it breaks most websites when freshly installed and takes a fair amount of configuration to get working properly (so that the website you're looking at works properly) - but it's most certainly worth it.

 

[Smurfy]

Well I gave a quick scan using Malwarebytes (already had it installed) and restarted my computer. When I opened my browser, it claimed that the page couldnt be found or opened, so I just clicked close and everything seems okay now.
Turns out I had 70 viruses on my computer! They have all gone now though.

70 Viruses!!!

Use Linux!

 

[swee'pea99]

70 Viruses!!!

Use Linux!

That's a bit sledgehammer/nut isn't it? Just get Avast or AVG , free and effective.

 

[Matthew_T]

Well thanks guys for the advice. I didnt think I would get this kind of response but I am glad of it. I will keep my protection up to date from now on. Dont want to risk anything else getting through.

 

[Crankarm]

Well thanks guys for the advice. I didnt think I would get this kind of response but I am glad of it. I will keep my protection up to date from now on. Dont want to risk anything else getting through.

Less time head scamming, more time computer scanning .

 

[buggi]

i can't remember the exact path but i think if you go into the start menu, then "control panel", then "programs" and then "add or delete programs" and delete anything that was added on the date that this stuff appeared. Sounds like you've clicked on a site that's added this malware. This will back up any malware program you ran, in case something is still lurking. I've had those annoying pop ups that shake appear on mine and doing this sorted that.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

One tip for when your browser shows these dodgy popup messages (particularly when these prevent you performing other browser actions, such as opening new tabs): just open Task Manager, and kill the browser's process. Also, as the others said, get Avast!, which is an excellent bit of software .

 

[vernon]

You've got off lightly Matthew. You could have have been hit with Cryptolocker. There's no recovery from the infection other than to pay the ransom.

I'd not get too curious about unsolicited emails with attachments and unsolicited email links no matter how tempting they might seem and bin them without reading or clicking on them.

 

[Roadrider48]

As others have said, just get a decent security programme.

 

[Bman]

Once infected, its best practice to backup all your data, and reinstall your Operating System from a clean safe installation media.

You never know what is still on your machine and undetectable by AV programs you have installed after the initial infection. You may also find various system files have been modifed by the malware to try and further infect your computer or to hide/protect itself. So you could find yourself with an unstable and buggy OS.

 

[Roadrider48]

Good idea bong. Back up and system restore!