PersonalAntiSpy Free

PersonalAntiSpy Free is a rogue anti-spyware program developed by Innovative Marketing that poses as a legitimate antivirus program. It attempts to persuade users to buy the software by displaying ads and other nagware.

Method of Infection/Variants

In a typical infection, the user may encounter a pop-up that states that their computer is infected and that an online anti-malware scan should be completed. Regardless of which button on the pop-up is pressed, the user will be brought to a page that poses as an anti-malware scanner. When the scanner has finished, it will state that the computer is infected, and that PersonalAntiSpy should be downloaded and installed in order to protect the computer.

Symptoms of infection

Once the rogue software is installed it may present a user with a series of fake alert notifications, prompting the user to purchase the software. PersonalAntiSpy Free also hijacks the user's desktop and typically displays exaggerated or false claims of spyware found to frighten the user into paying for the program.

Removal

PersonalAntiSpy is a new rouge application as of October 2008, and as such is not detected by many common anti-malware scanners. Programs that remove this application include CA Antispyware, VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware, and Malwarebytes' AntiMalware. As always, a user should only use verified anti-virus programs.

The following files are related to AntivirusGold: InstHelp.exe, pas.exe, PersonalAntiSpySetup.exe, personalantispy_ifree.exe, UserAgent.dll, and unins000.exe.

See also

• Rogue software