Disable System Tools 2011 malware in Vista/Win7

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This is a little bit off-topic but after seeing how distressed a friend of mine was after being infected with System Tools 2011, I wanted to share how to quickly disable System Tools 2011 malware in Vista (this should work the same in Windows 7) so that others don't get as distressed as she did. This guide is not intended to remove the malware from your PC, only to disable it so you can take control of your system again in order to remove it correctly using a tool such as Malwarebytes.

At the time of this article being published, System Tools 2011 does not allow one to run Malwarebytes, which is what many people use to get rid of this aggressive malware when it takes control of their system. And take control it does very well:

• Numerous programs will disappear from your taskbar, and many others will not be allowed to run; among them are: Task Manager, Malwarebytes and/or other malware removal tools, the Windows Registry Editor, and your antivirus program. Rebooting and trying to hotkey Task Manager before System Tools starts is difficult if not impossible.
• You will be constantly notified that your system is infected with all sorts of malicious things (this is a hoax), and told that if you wish to rid your system of these you must order a licensed copy of their software using your credit card (please do NOT do this).
• Your destop wallpaper will be changed to an ugly graphic (see below) warning you that your system is at dangerous risk to spyware (in very poor English).
• Your system will "blue screen" every so often. This was what scared my friend the most. This is not a real blue screen, it is a fake one generated by System Tools malware to scare you into buying their "fix".

 

 

 

Ok, so let's say you are infected with System Tools 2011. You can't run anything to save your ass, your browser barely works if it works at all. You can't download a fresh copy of Malwarebytes because it keeps stopping at 95%. Your system is blue screening and you are getting frustrated. If only you could get your system to boot one time without System Tools taking over, you could do what you need to do to start cleaning it off your system. By this time you are swearing off visiting adult sites forever so long as you can get your system fixed.

How to disable System Tools 2011 from running on reboot

• Make sure you have Hidden folders visible. To do this, you'll need to go to Control Panel > Folder Options, and click the View tab, then scroll down to Hidden Files and Folders and select Show hidden files and folders; finally, click Apply. (It's possible System Tools 2011 may not allow you to run Control Panel from your start menu. If you can't, try hitting the Windows symbol + E on your keyboard at the same time to open Windows Explorer [the Windows symbol is usually located in the bottom left row of your keyboard, between the CNTRL and ALT keys; if you can't find the E on your keyboard, that is beyond the scope of this guide]. From there you can find the Control Panel folder in the left pane; click it, and it will load the Control panel for you.)
• Using Windows Explorer still, navigate to the Program Data folder (most likely on your C:/ drive, just above your Program Files folder). System Tools 2011 saves the files it needs for reboot here. To find them, sort the contents of that folder by Date Modified, and you should see a weird folder name that was created around the time you got infected. It's usually a few letters and a string of numbers; it's different for every person. Inside that folder should be two files with the same or similar name to the folder. Right click and select rename on each file. Rename them to whatever you wish.
• That's it. Reboot and visit Malwarebytes for their latest instructions on removing System Tools. Just because your system appears to work fine after you reboot does not mean it is healthy.

 

Disabe System Tools 2011 Malware is © Copyright 2011 webtemplateszone.com