Avoiding and Removing Green Antivirus 2009 (Green AV)

Green Antivirus 2009 (Green AV) Overview

Green Antivirus 2009 (also known as Green AV) is a variant of scareware. Scareware (similar to a virus or spyware) uses tricks to get the consumer to install software that is very difficult to remove. Some viruses / spyware steal personal information, or turn computers into email spammers. The goal of scareware like Green Antivirus 2009 is to get you to believe your computer is infected with a virus / spyware so that you will install and pay for software to fix the problem. The trick is this - the software you are asked to install is the problem.

A common approach used by companies behind scareware is to temporarily buy Internet sites that look completely innocent, populate the website with legitimate looking content and then include in that website bogus warnings that your PC is infected with a virus. The bogus warnings are drawn to look like a valid Windows operating system warning - if you see a warning like this immediately shutdown and restart your PC without pressing any of the buttons in the bogus warning. The sites sometimes show dynamic scans that make it look like your PC is being checked - in fact you are really only watching a movie created to trick the consumer.

Once installed, scareware is extremely difficult to remove. Scareware like Green Antivirus 2009 (Green AV) burrows into your Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system - latching on to system processes and using a variety of clever tricks to prevent removal. While installed, this software can make a PC virtually unusable thorugh frequent pop-ups and warnings. The scareware raises the noise level while constantly asking for you to pay for the software. Once you've paid that's the end game.

The companies behind nasty software like this are hard to track down, operate outside the US and are constantly changing names to avoid being shut down. For more information on avoiding virus and spyware infections click here.

Symptoms that your PC has been infected include:

• Frequent warnings and pop-ups of a virus infection from software you didn't install
• Problems surfing websites - you are frequently redirected to a different website than the one you entered
• Pop-ups and warnings that you need to pay to remove a virus or spyware infection
• Slow computer - your computer is running much slower than it was before
• Desktop keeps disappearing / crashing - your Windows taskbar (at the bottom of the screen) keeps disappearing
• Computer is restarting every few minutes
• More generally your computer has become unusable due to any combination of the problems listed above

support.com Customer Stories:

There are many forums and free help sites available for the more experienced computer user to help clean up an infected PC. If you choose to use support.com's experienced Solutions Engineers to help, here are recent comments from customers who had the problem solved by support.com:

• "About two months ago, the Green AV Virus/Trojan got into my machine. Microsoft spent 3 day (about 6 hr ea day) working to get it out since it came in as a 'Microsoft download'. When they got thru, I had also lost all USB devices. The printer, stamp machine, and webcam wouldn't function. Gio and Jeff got all the program info again and my printer WORKS for the first time in two months! Thank you guys, I'll KEEP your number for future." Betty, Texas
• "I had a virus called Green AV on my computer that was slowing my system down. I called support.com and the technician was able to fix this problem." Letitia, New Jersey
• "On 8/9, we learned we had what we thought was a Virus, but later learned it was some sort of Spyware/Malware under the name of 'Green AV', on our computer. 'Green' would disguise itself as Windows Security and pop up warnings of password compromises and possible identity theft to try to get us to give personal info.to keep the computer safe. Scott at support.com demonstrated knowledge, professionalism and expertise in helping us rid our PC of the 'Green Monster'. Thanks, Scott and support.com!" Ketura, Alabama
• "Referred by brother, and I've been a customer for over 3 months. You're able to remove this 'green av' trojan agent I've been dealing with for the past month. It really was a nuisance. Thanks for getting rid of it." Michael, California
• "I had a bunch of nasty viruses infecting my computer and was unable to clean any of them up. I was skeptical about contacting the the support team but was reassured by Bob that he could help me. I soon realized that he was right! Both he and Jim did a fantastic job at fixing the problem. And I didn't even have to take my computer to a shop to be fixed in a week... it was done in 2 hours!!!! Hats off to a wonderful team. Susan."Susan, Missouri
• "Virus that kept reappearing. I tried to run it down myself but it got worse. Your support person got it cleared up within an hour. Thanks." Dale, Texas
• "My daughter downloaded a photo and the AntiVirus 360 popped up and I tried as much as I could think of to fix it -probably only making the problem worse not knowing what malware is. When I finally got on-line to look up the 360, what looked like a solution was actually the problem." Suzanne, Kentucky
• "Antivirus 360 and 2009, does it get any uglier? Thank God it's gone. Keith was great." Mary, Alabama
• "I was printing when the 360 pop up came. Not being computer wise I could not get rid of it, nor could my son or daughter. A neighbor who is in computers told me I had a virus. We could not get your phone number on my computer, the 360 prevented any access to computer information and AVG." Carolyn, New York
• "I was on the Internet on Sunday am and was informed that I had a trojan virus and that I needed to download A360. This is much to my surprise was a virus all in its self. I called Monday pm and spoke to Scott and he was able to fix the issue and had me back up and running in less than 1hr. I appreciate all of the kind and supportive things that was shown to me about my computer that I did not know. Thank You, Scott and AVG support.com." Janice, Ohio
• "One of our business computers had anti-virus 360. Scott was outstanding in fixing our computer and explaining everything that he did." Jennifer, North Carolina
• "I was on my computer when I got this pop-up telling me that I was infected with a virus. It advised me that I should download Antivirus360 (at a cost of about $150.00 U.S.) to solve the problem. It looked legitimate so I downloaded it. It basically took over my computer. Keith at support.com solved my problem. He was very knowledgeable. Very nice person to deal with." Denise, Florida
• "I had an antivirus 360 pop up on my desk top, unsure how it got there. I was unable to use my computer properly, the antivirus 360 blocked my access to internet on/off. The antivirus pop ups were annoying and I was unable to freely use my computer. support.com engineer, Troy, was so patient with me during the process and he was very knowledgeable about my problem and was able to solve it readily." Janice, Nevada

support.com Can Rid your Computer of Scareware Infections

support.com Solutions Engineers are experts in fixing all sorts of computer problems. Every day, thousands of customers use us to get support for a variety of problems, like Green Antivirus 2009 (Green AV) infections. Getting help from us is simple, just call!

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