My laptop is being bombarded by Norton Internet Security risk / anti-virus alerts. How do I get rid of these ?

This is Malware, stuff that hides well, deeply rooting itself in your system. Anti-virus scanners and the Restore Point Utility are not a good thing to use against such invasion for this reason.

You should download the programs listed on a USB stick from another computer (Internet Café, Public Library or friend's computer) as this malware may block you from fully downloading the protection. If you still cannot use MBAM, rename it Alteregobytes to confuse the Malware (but be sure to keep the .exe extension on it) and use it as an alternative for solution A.

Here are solutions (use them in the order stated): A) Download MBAM (MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware): http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/... - Install the application and make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish ( If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version ).

Once the program has loaded, select "Perform Quick Scan", then click Scan ( The scan may take some time,so please be patient ). When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.

Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected ( When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart - The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM ).

B) Try my technique (tricks and free programs I use): 1) Flush every single possible accumulated junk in ALL browsers. As you explore the web, browsers stores information about your browsing. You should delete that information from time to time.

Method One (now):

In Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, then Delete Browsing History and in the box, click the Delete all button (bottom left) and Yes.

In Firefox, go to tools, clear private data, make sure all boxes are checked and then click on the clear private data now button.

Method Two (in the future - about every two weeks for normal use of the internet - every week for heavy use):

In Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, then click Delete Browsing History and in the box that opens, do the following steps (in order)

a) click the button near Temporary Internet Files, click Yes and wait for the box that opens to close.

b) click the button near History, click Yes and wait for the box that opens to close.

Finally, click the close button (bottom right) to finish.

In Firefox, Go to tools, clear private data and uncheck all except Browsing History, Cache and Authenticated Sessions boxes and then click on the clear private data now button.

Note: You should close your browser ( This is good for Internet Explorer and Firefox ) when you're done to clear cookies that are still in memory. For older versions of the programs or for other browsers, check help files for guidance on doing the cleanup.

2) Turn off the restore point utility ( here is a guide for XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405 and an article for Vista: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Hel... )

3) Install this free cleaner: http://www.glaryutilities.com/gu.html to remove junk files and/or remnants of installs (there is always some) and use it in Windows "safe mode" (for a better cleanup job).

4) Defragment your drive with your Disk defragmenter.

5) Turn restore point utility back on. ( the same guide and article given in part 3 )

6) After this, if you don't have an anti-virus scanner, use Avira http://www.download.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Fre... along with an Email scanner ( http://www.spamdel.com/ OR http://www.glenn.delahoy.com/software/files/Inbox.... ) and if you have a GOOD one, make sure your virus database is updated.

( A word of caution, be sure to read all help files completely so that you can apply fixes right the first time ! )

With this, you are on your way to being well protected BUT never relax your guard !

P.S.: Stay away from AVG free

You can run antivirus and antispyware programs, but the sad fact is if you have found one virus on your computer, you probably have several. Cleaning the computer now requires you to follow these steps, because modern viruses and spyware entrench themselves in files that your computer needs in order to run: 1. Virus-check your data files (not application files-- you have installer CDs for those). 2. Back up the data files, getting them off your hard drive. 3. Get your original operating system CDs that came with your computer. 4. Boot your computer from the operating system CD. 5. Select the option that erases your hard drive and then reinstall your system software. 6. Turn on your software firewall that came with your operating system. 7. Reconnect to the internet, and download *all* Windows updates, no matter how long it takes. 8. Reinstall your application software, and update the applications as much as you can. 9. Reinstall your data files. 10. Create a limited user account on your system that does *not* have administrator access, and web surf only from this account. Yes, this is a pain in the butt. No, there is no other way. No, antivirus and antispyware programs cannot fix this problem on its own. So, what do you do in the future? 1. Never click on links you find in an e-mail. 2. Never open an e-mail attachment, ever. 3. Only download files from a reputable website that you know is on the up-and-up. 4. Never use bit-torrent and other file-sharing programs. 5. Never use an unsolicited drive-checking site. 6. Turn off all java and java scripting by default, and only enable java and java scripting for sites that you know you can trust. 7. Never read an unsolicited e-mail, and delete spam immediately. It is possible to be hacked by reading an e-mail alone. Please adhere to the 'dont's' I provided above, because you will have to repeat the cleaning steps that I listed first *every time you get infected.* Anti-spyware and anti-virus programs are good to have, but they are a second line of defense. The best way to protect your system is you, and changing your behavior. Good luck!

It sounds like what was happening to my computer. I'm not an expert, but I asked a similar question. At first I couldn't find the file so as to delete it. Then when I could find it it wouldn't give me the option of deleting it. Then it moved on me. It wasn't a completed download, so it wasn't showing up on my Program files. This thing hides very well, creating its own file imbedded somewhere where it would take forever to find. Then they are capable of moving when attempting to delete them. I almost gave up, but the pop ups weren't only annoying but kept dropping my screen, saying my computer was being attacked. Devin J, who also has an answer posted on this question of yours, told me about an uninstaller. I googled "uninstaller" and downloaded the Revo Uninstaller. The Revo Uninstaller has a tool called the Hunter. Click on it and a crosshair icon will show up on your desktop. I waited for one of the pop ups to pop up and then I placed the crosshairs on it. I clicked "uninstall" but it wouldn't let me, because it wasn't a completed download. So I tried it again, this time I chose the "Kill or Delete Process" and it worked. I already had an Antivirus Protection Software installed into my computer, so I ran it. My computer is back to normal now. The Revo Uninstaller is absolutely free and is a good tool to have in your computer. Give it a try.

How to remove Fake Software, Pop-Ups, Spyware, Trojans and Viruses:

Download, install, update and scan your computer with both Malwarebytes and SuperantiSpyware, delete what ever they find, if this fails to completely remove the virus/spyware download then update Avast and run a boot scan (click schedule boot-time scan and restart your PC), all the software below is free and safe to use.

Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

SuperantiSpyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/

Avast Anti-Virus: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

To protect your PC in the future you'll need to install anti-virus software and a firewall, id recommend using Avast and Comodo Pro firewall both are very effective and completely free, you should also switch to Firefox 3 if you are browsing with IE as its much safer and a lot easier to use. (links on my profile)

Ok sounds like you have a virus. Liston to it. Norton is one of the better computer protection services. Scan your computer or lab top then remove the virus. If you scan it and nothing is wrong try emailing you calling norton, They might be able to help.

What's happening is actually a symptom of a virus...you have already been infected so need to do a complete system clear...you should also reboot the computer.

Congrats, you have a virus.

Getting rid of these can be very difficult for an inexperienced user.

I would suggest doing a hard drive wipe/reformat and starting over.

have u by any chance got a gold and black sheild in ur taskbar?

if u do its a fake anti-virus program.

download avg completely free and it shud get rid of any viruses or this fake virus checker.

sounds like its a fake norton antivirus screen i suggest getting a new AV

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_installer.html

Norton is crap. Dump it and install Windows Live OneCare. Free trial on their site