OK, so here it is 2010, and nasty virus and malware are running roughshod on Windows XP computers. Fact is, the newest malware thing, called Personal Security, is so insidious that no antivirus scanner is capable of removing it, but for one. So if it can’t be removed, can it be stopped? Well, the answer depends on your reaction to the threat.

I have been testing various removers, anti-malware solutions, scanners, cleaners, and nothing – and I mean nothing – is doing the job, except one obscure company, and I’m not telling you which it is. But I will tell you how not to get infected.

I have attempted to defeat the Personal Security virus with the mighty McAfee Antivirus, challenged it with the bloated Norton 360, dared it with the colossal AVG, tested it against the puny Trend Micro, experimented with Goliath ComboFix, tried removing it with the sleepy Panda, defied the odds with almighty Kaspersky – all to no avail. But fear not, I did find a solution, a fix, a magic potion, the proverbial silver bullet that will kill the beast.

Benjamin Franklin might have said it best:” An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In this case we’re talking about keeping the Personal Security virus out of your computer. Here’s the scenario: you’re blissfully surfing the Internet looking for the latest cool fashions or perhaps that special gizmo, and up pops a warning advising you might be infected with virus.

The warning looks official so you take notice. It says you need to run a scan, and you accept. Of course, when it runs the scan, lo-and-behold, infections are found. You take a moment and look at the results. Yes, you believe you’re infected. What to do? You’re summoned to the button that will remove the threat. Just click it. Go ahead, click. That’s a good user. Click it. (Not.)

You click. The scanner runs, and you feel relived as it purges your system of all those nasty viri, but wait. The Personal Security system now beckons. For just $59.95 it promises to wipe out the virus it has found and keep you protected. After all, the name implies personal security. So, go ahead, give the software makers a credit card number. It’s safe – isn’t it? Give your credit card number over the Internet, to a stranger, in South America. (No, don’t do this.)

If you handed over your credit card number, you’ve just been had. The Personal Security (PS) notification is a fake. The scan is fake, the viri it detects are fake. Fake, fake, fake. By selecting the scan option you have just imbedded the virus. You just infected yourself.

Here’s what you need to know. Do not allow the software to scan your computer, do not accept an offer, never input credit card information, don’t click the X to exit, and do not click cancel. All choices are wrong. To properly exit the screen and avoid infection: Locate your ALT key and your F4 key. Hold the ALT down (like a shift key), then press the F4 key. Keep holding the ALT key down and keep pressing F4 until you have closed all browser windows and the browser itself has closed.

Do not turn off or reboot your computer. Do download Malwarebytes from www.downloads.com (aka CNet), install the free version, update definitions and run it. Remove everything it finds. Then reboot. Call a professional that possesses the magic bullet, buy the full version of Malwarebytes (get the reason why first – hint: IP Blocking) and remember the lesson (ALT + F4).

If you fell for the scam and rebooted your computer – well, contact a professional. Ask which antivirus is recommended, keep this article handy and good luck.

Oh, by the way, Windows 7 avoids this threat.

For more information, contact William Claney at ComputersUSA, 7730 Brentwood Blvd., Suite C in Brentwood or by phone at 925-516-9985.