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I have SpyHunter 3 as well as an older version of Norton that is just a free version now. I can scan my computer and come up clean and still end up getting stuff from “Personal AntiVirus” how do I get rid of this?

Personal Antivirus

As you know, Personal Antivirus is one of those rogue antivirus programs that is really malware. It usually arrives through a worm and then generates fake security alerts in an attempt at tricking you into purchasing the Personal Antivirus product.

Inadequate Virus Protection

Right off the bat, since you are still seeing Personal Antivirus messages or alerts, your computer may be under protected with its old version of Norton and SpyHunter3. While Norton products are good, I wonder if your older, free version of Norton is receiving updates with the latest protections against viruses and spyware. I looked up SpyHunter3 and apparently it is a legitimate antispyware product developed by a company called Enigma Software. However, since these two products in conjunction are not ridding your computer of the fake, Personal Antivirus program, it’s time for a new approach.

Before moving forward, check Norton and SpyHunter3 to see that they are updated with the latest updates from their developers. If not, update each program and run full system scans. If you have Windows XP or Vista, download Microsoft Windows Defender (it’s preinstalled on Windows Vista), update it, and run a full scan with this tool.  

Online Malware Removal Tools

A number of online removal tools are available from leading computer security developers such as Microsoft, Trend Micro, McAfee, and Norton. Let’s see if any of these free tools will work for you.

• Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
• BitDefender Scan Online
• Trend Micro House Call
• McAfee Free Scan

Why Multiple Antivirus and Antispyware Tools are Necessary

I know it seems like overkill to run multiple anti-malware tools. Since each company develops its own products and discovers new threats independently, it makes sense that if one product doesn’t find a virus, another one (from a company that has already detected the threat and developed a fix) will.

I suspect that at least one of these free online tools will do the trick for you. If not, consider investing in a more modern antivirus product such as one of Norton’s latest PC security products or an Internet protection suite from one of the major computer security developers. If you are looking for a good antivirus/antimalware program, we reviewed numerous products earlier this year. All are reputable and several offered excellent protection for personal use at no charge. You can read the antivirus reviews at your leisure and decide which one makes the most sense for your system.

I was just about to turn off my Internet and all of a sudden I had this software called personal antivirus upload on my computer. I want to uninstall but it won’t let me. I tried to delete but it still doesn’t leave. Does anyone have any ideas?

Most likely, the reason that you are having difficulty getting rid of this “personal antivirus” application is that it is a form of malware or rogue antivirus program. Since you haven’t made mention to downloading any such program, this personal antivirus application probably came to you compliments of visiting a particular website, clicking on a link sent through an instant messaging service, clicking the security alert that appeared, or opening an unsolicited attachment.

Sometimes you can prevent the application from installing by closing out of your browser immediately and shutting down the computer. However, this strategy doesn’t always work and it is past that point for you.

What is Personal Antivirus?

The application, Personal Antivirus, was created by Innovagest 2000. It is a form of rogue antivirus that will eventually create pop ups telling you that you have security problems with your computer such as spyware or viruses. It makes use of Trojans, a form of malware that uses a great deal of Internet bandwidth and can upset the functioning of your computer. As long as you don’t click on the security alert that appears, the application shouldn’t fully install. However, it is designed to load automatically upon the start of Windows.

What are Rogue Antivirus Programs?

A variety of rogue antivirus programs exists and infects computers every day. These fake antivirus applications can create a lot of problems on your computer. So, you really do want to get it removed as quickly as possible.

How to Remove Fake Personal Antivirus Applications

The first strategy that you need to take is to run a thorough scan using an up-to-date anti-virus/anti-spyware program. If you have such a program, check the website for it and make sure that you have the latest version. Once you have done that, you can run the application and hopefully, it will remove the fake personal antivirus program. You can check the log file for most anti-virus/anti-spyware programs to see what programs have been removed.

If you don’t already have an up-to-date anti-virus/anti-spyware program, you need to obtain one. I can recommend Anti-VirusPLUS. It’s a great application that should be able to remove the fake one.

What Signs Exist for Personal Anti-Virus?

If you check the log file for your legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware program, you will most likely see some of the following types of data:

• Rogue.PersonalAntiVirus
• C:\Program Files\Personal AntiVirus
• C:\Program Files\Personal AntiVirus\Explorer.ico
• C:\Program Files\Personal AntiVirus
• PerAvir.exe

These are just a few of the entries that will show up in the scan. Once they are removed by your legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware program, you should be fine.