PrintThis document pertains to HP and Compaq computers with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, and Windows XP.
A critical error message appears when browsing the Internet. This type of error message is a "misleading" virus disguising itself as a legitimate program or application of Windows. This type of error message is a virus.
It is not a Windows program, and it does not repair your computer. Instead, it installs Trojans and other malware to your computer. In some cases, an accompanying message asks you to pay to register the software that removes these non-existent threats.
CAUTION: DO NOT use this program to scan or fix your computer. DO NOT supply any credit card information through this software. Click the red X on each Window to close the program.
If your computer is infected by this virus, see Remove the virus from the PC
on this page.
In addition to displaying pop-up windows and error messages, the virus hides your files, Desktop shortcuts, or Start Menu shortcuts.
Remove the virus from the computer
HP recommends using the Microsoft Safety Scanner to scan and remove the virus. The Microsoft Safety Scanner is available from Microsoft as a free download at the following URL:
You can also use the Anti-virus or Anti-spyware software solution currently installed on your computer. Contact the manufacturer of that software for more details.
If you are not concerned about losing personal files or data on the computer, the best method to remove the virus is by performing a full recovery from the recovery partition or the recovery discs. See
Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 7)
for more information.
For more detailed instructions on manually removing the virus, see the non-HP links below.
See also
If your computer is infected with the Win32/FakeRean virus, see
Microsoft Support Page
for more information about removing this virus. To see a list of fake names used by the Win32/FakeRean virus, see
Microsoft Malware Protection Center: Aliases for Rogue:Win32/FakeRean
(in English).
