Red Dot – Your computer is infected!

Your computer is infected!
Windows has detected spyware infection!
It is recommeded to use special antisphyware tools to prevent data loss. Windows will now download and install the most up-to-date antispyware for you.
Click here to protect your computer from spyware!

Have you recently received this message? It was one of the most annoying spyware/virus I’ve gotten. Sure enough, I got it while using Internet Explorer! Trust me, if you wanna stay away from viruses and spyware, do NOT use IE! Use Firefox instead!

Solution (For Windows XP)

I spent hours looking for a solution and came across many phony websites asking you to download unheard of spyware protection. I wouldn’t download anything I never heard of if I were you.

Do this:

• Get a trustworthy antivirus (ie. Norton, McAfee, Panda, ZoneAlarm,..) I tried using McAfee, but didn’t work so good. I downloaded the Norton 360 Antivirus, 15 day trial from Norton.
• Install the antivirus and run a FULL system scan. Make sure it’s a full system scan. By default, some antiviruses just scan common files
• Once the scan is complete and the virus/spyware was found, restart the PC.
• If the balloon with the message keeps popping up (it happened to me) do this:
  • In the keyboard, hit CTRL+ALT+Delete to open the Task Manager
    
  • If you see a process named “brastk.exe”, select it and click “End Process” button. The red dot should disappear.
  • Click Start->Run->Type “regedit” and click OK. It will open the Registry Editor window.
  • Go to this path:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE ->Microsoft -> Windows -> Run
  • In the Run folder you will see “brastk”
  • Click on “brastk”, right click and click delete. **Note** Backup registry files in case errors occur. To backup click File -> Export
  • Done