XP Internet Security 2010 also known as XP Guardian, XP AntiSpyware 2010, XP Antivirus Pro and Antivirus XP 2010, XP Smart security 2010, XP Defender Pro, Total XP Security is a rogue antispyware program that reports false infections and shows fake security alerts as a method of scaring you into buying the software. The rogue is distributed through the use of trojans. When the trojan is started, it will download and install XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) onto your computer.
During installation, XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) will register itself in the Windows registry to run automatically every time when you start an application (files with “exe” extension). The rogue also uses this method of running to block the ability to run any programs, including security applications.
Once running, XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) will begin to scan your computer and list a large amount of infections. All of these infections are fake, so you can safely ignore them. What is more, while the rogue is running, it will display fake security alerts and notifications with “Spyware infection has been found” or “Tracking software found” header. However, all of these alerts are fake.
Last but not least, XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) will hijack Internet Explorer and Firefox and display fake warnings when you opening a web site.
As you can see, XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) is designed with one purpose to scare you into thinking that your computer in danger as method to trick you into purchasing the full version of the program. If your computer is infected with this malware, then most importantly, do not purchase it! Uninstall the rogue from your PC as soon as possible. Use the removal guide below to remove XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) from the system for free.
Use the following instructions to remove XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian, XP AntiSpyware 2010, XP Antivirus Pro or Antivirus XP 2010) (Uninstall instructions)
Step 1. Repair “running of .exe files”.
Method 1
Click Start, Run. Type command and press Enter. Type notepad and press Enter.
Notepad opens. Copy all the text below into Notepad.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"
Save this as fix.reg to your Desktop (remember to select Save as file type: All files in Notepad.)
Double Click fix.reg and click YES for confirm.
Reboot your computer.
Method 2
Click Start, Run. Type command and press Enter. Type notepad and press Enter.
Notepad opens. Copy all the text below into Notepad.
[Version]
Signature="$Chicago$"
Provider=Myantispyware.com
[DefaultInstall]
DelReg=regsec
AddReg=regsec1
[regsec]
HKCU, Software\Classes\.exe
HKCU, Software\Classes\secfile
HKCR, secfile
HKCR, .exe\shell\open\command
[regsec1]
HKCR, exefile\shell\open\command,,,"""%1"" %*"
HKCR, .exe,,,"exefile"
HKCR, .exe,"Content Type",,"application/x-msdownload"
Save this as fix.inf to your Desktop (remember to select Save as file type: All files in Notepad.)
Right click to fix.inf and select Install. Reboot your computer.
Step 2. Remove XP Internet Security 2010, XP Guardian, Antivirus XP 2010 associated malware.
Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Once downloaded, close all programs and windows on your computer.
Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MalwareBytes Anti-malware onto your computer. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to “Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware” and Launch “Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware”. Then click Finish.
MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
As MalwareBytes Anti-malware will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main menu. You will see window similar to the one below.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window
Make sure the “Perform quick scan” option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
When the scan is finished a message box will appear that it has completed scanning successfully. Click OK. Now click “Show Results”. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below.
Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items
Make sure all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected” button to remove XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010). MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) files and registry keys and add them to the programs’ quarantine. When MalwareBytes Anti-malware has finished removing the infection, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.
Note 1: if you can not download, install, run or update Malwarebytes Anti-malware, then follow the steps: Malwarebytes won`t install, run or update – How to fix it.
Note 2: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.
XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) creates the following files and folders
%AppData%\av.exe
%AppData%\WRblt8464P
XP Internet Security 2010 (XP Guardian or Antivirus XP 2010) creates the following registry keys and values
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\runas\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\start
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\start\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\runas
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\runas\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\start
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\start\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command | @ = “”%AppData%\av.exe” /START “%1″ %*”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command | IsolatedCommand = “”%1″ %*”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe | @ = “secfile”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe | Content Type = “application/x-msdownload”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command | @ = “”%AppData%\av.exe” /START “%1″ %*”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command | IsolatedCommand = “”%1″ %*”
Hi,
I tried this out and it worked perfectly. Thank you kindly for creating this, and bravo.
Down with Trojans!
Pat,
My computer refuses to acknowledge fix.reg as a .reg file. If I double click it only notepad opens up with the correct code, but nothing happens. If I right click and click Merge it once again just opens notepad and does nothing.
Any advice?
BTW, I made sure to save the file as a .reg in All Files and as ANSI.
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i still couldnt download it via internet but i had my mom send it to me over skype and it worked like a charm! you are amazing i will always come her!
I’m no longer getting pop ups from the “XP Security” crap. Instead I’m just now able to go directly through exe’s by using a loop hole in which i double click the file that belongs to the exe first. So, essentially, I still am not allowed to double click exe’s.
I used “Hijack This” to delete some crap. I wonder if it backfired.
Anyway, executables will not open unless I bypass them by opening files that lead to them.
Curious, eh?
hey i got instructions from another website and its pretty similar but i didnt do the command thing. do i need to do that?
and also i ran malwarebytes on my computer but it doesnt detect the xp internet security virus. please help!!
Hey Patrik! I followed all of your instructions. However, I had to manually remove MSASCUI.EXE from the registry shell open command, and for some reason, Malwarebytes has only found the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\AntiVirusDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\FirewallDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\UpdatesDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\(default) (Hijacked.exeFile) -> Bad: (secfile) Good: (exefile) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
What should I do??
Patrick you are a genius and I like to thank you, I just got my internet turned on 2 days ago and I got the virus. Thank to your help i am up and running, again thank you and keep up the good work
Fred,
1. use good antivirus and antispyware.
2. use firewall
3. use an alternate browser.
4. be careful when opening attachments and downloading files.
Mona,
Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions
In right panel right click to NoExtensionManagement and select delete. Confirm it. Close registry editor and reboot your computer.
Jess, the fix.reg twice, then run it once again.
Brian, run click Start, Run, type command and press Enter. Command console opens. Type regedit and press Enter. Registry editor opens. Click File->Import.
Brian, try first step once again. If it does not help, then open a new topic in our Spyware removal forum.
Matt, only if you still having troubles with this malware.
Jey, computer works fine now ?
Pat,
Thank you very much for that simple instruction. The only change I had to make was to integrate the .reg file in safe mode with the command prompt, since regular mode wasn’t letting me open it.
Thanks again!
Ran Malware Bytes and destroyed the (BLEEP). Although, once I did and rebooted I couldn’t access exe’s again, so, I ran fix.reg one more time. It worked. Thanks once again for your generous assistance Pat. Really, thank you!
Let me just say that we should all be appreciative of Patrik’s generosity in dealing with idiot’s like me.
There seems to be a war brewing between the malware morons and the truly compassionate honesty of the internet community.
May compassion and honesty win!
🙂
This worked great. I am now back online. Only problem I am having is computer runs much slower tahn before. Is there a fix for this. Thanks so much for this web site. This is my second bout with this virus.
when i tried to open the file, there’s a message saying Ërror accessing the registry. I tried Start-Run-Command-regedit-import fix.reg but it still doesn’t work. i’m going crazzzyyy 😀
When I double click on the fix.reg file I get “Registry Editor has encountered a problem and needs to close.” Now what do I do? Please! Help! Anybody?
It is people like you, Patrick, that make fixing something so easy. Thanks for your help as I too was infected with the XP Guardian and had checked several other sites. Yours was one of the few that offered the help for free and in a simple language that was easy to follow. Thanks again!
Patrik, my computer is working fine, but I was wondering if I needed to do anything else, since Malwarebytes didn’t actually locate and remove the .exe file.
Have XP Internet Security 2010. Step 1- Error msg trying to run fix.reg: “Cannot import fix.reg: Error accessing the registry”. Do I need quotes on Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 ? Please help!
Just tried importing fix.reg in regedit(v5.1), but get the same “Cannot import – Error accessing the registry”. Any suggestions?
Patrick: I’m getting the same response as Kim from Feb. 27. I cannot get my fix.reg to run after double clicking.“Cannot import “…”, The specified file is not a registry script…
I opened the fix.reg in the notepad. Click File, Save as. In the dialog, set Encoding to ANSI and click Save and rewrite old file. Run it.
Nothing changes. Any help? Thanks
I had this nonsense pop up yesterday (not sure how or from where) and was a bit panicked. However after initially being unable to open ANY programs this morning, I rebooted for a 3rd or 4th time over the last 12 hours or so and it seems to have disappeared altogether? Has anyone else found it just goes away under these circunstances.
May I add my thanks and praise for the work I see you doing here Patrik; it is appreciated by us all.
Wow! I was a skeptic but it worked and was free!! No more problems and I think the computer works as fast now as it did yeas ago! Thanks guys!
this infected my good work computer at noon today. of course searching for porn… when i first got it and realized what happened i was so sick!!! that was so smart searching for porn on work computer 🙂
since xp internet security 2010 kept closing my browser i paid for malware bytes. i had to jump drive it in, but it worked perfect! thank god all back to normal. lost 7 hours in time and a year in stress terms!
Absolutely fabulous method! I have both AVG and Spybot and AVG did absolutely nothing to ward off my laptop from this stupid virus/malware. Thank you SO incredibly much for this! It definitely saved me having to make another $75 trip (I got hit with viruses mid-January, hence having Spybot and AVG) to get my laptop fixed. I tried running Spybot cause my firefox icon got changed/disappeared and IE ddnt work but Spybot doesn’t get rid of the whole problem. Found out I could open Firefox b/c of step 1 and this method works like a charm aside from some difficulty trying to get the Malware Bytes install menu to open. Thanks again!!!