Windows PC Defender is just a repackaged version of recent malware pests Windows Guard Pro, Windows System Suite, Windows Additional Guard, and Windows Protection Suite. Like those fake applications, Windows PC Defender uses a blatantly Windows-y design to trick web users into thinking it’s legit. The annoying truth is that there’s nothing stopping malware makers from slapping the Windows name on whatever junky scareware they unleash on the world. You’d think Microsoft would use its infinite might to squash these web-vermin, but badware makers can be hard to track.

But Windows PC Defender popups are pretty open and obvious. Windows PC Defender pop-ups appear when you’re surfing the web, and they display a phony “Sample Scan” that results in “20 potential threats found.” Then, it creates a bunch of nonexistent threats with names like “Trojan-PSW.Win32.Hooker” and “Virus.BAT.Gray.705” and says you need to “get full protection” if you want to remove them from your computer.

And even if you don’t get tricked into registering for the full version, Windows PC Defender will keep annoying you with meaningless warnings and fake scan pop-ups until you fight back.

Microsoft may not have our backs on this, but since when did we need them? I’ll show you how to uninstall Windows PC Defender, for free.

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SoftSafeness is scareware dolled up to look like legit antivirus software. Like other fake security software, the only thing SoftSafeness is designed to remove is dough from your wallet. A twin of SafetyKeeper, SoftSafeness sneaks onto your machine through a Trojan or rogue website. What’s SoftSafeness is on your machine, it boots with your system and automatically spoofs checking your computer for threats. SoftSafeness will discover you’re infected with all sorts of badware that your real antivirus software never finds. Shocker. SoftSafeness then prompts you to pay up to remove this badware, with faux system alerts and Windows Security Center alerts, and SoftSafeness popups.

Don’t believe SoftSafeness’s hype — SoftSafeness just wants your money (if you paid for SoftSafeness already, call your credit card company and cancel the charge, and consider changing your card number). Even if you actually had any of the badware SoftSafeness says you do, SoftSafeness couldn’t remove it.

So let me show you how to remove SoftSafeness for free, before you set your PC on fire to block SoftSafeness pop-up ads.

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Omega Antivir is the latest invasive fake antispyware software from the delightful people who gave us Windows Protection Suite, Windows Additional Guard, and Windows Guard Pro. Remember those? The popups, the faux system alerts, the drag on your system… Oh, good times.

Anyway, Omega Antivir enters your hard drive as a Trojan horse and immediately wreaks havoc with Omega Antivir pop-ups, browser hijackings, and bogus system scans. If one of these Omega Antivir scans pops up on your computer offering “Maximum Protection” against whatever trumped list of viruses it says you have, don’t be fooled. Omega Antivir just wants to take your money and redirect your browser toward some of its badware buddies.

Maybe the worst thing about Omega Antivir is that it doesn’t waste time. Once it’s on your hard drive, it opens whenever you start your computer and bugs you every few seconds with some new fake Omega Antivir alert.

But don’t worry. If you’re ready to begin repressing all memory of Omega Antivir, I’ll show you how to uninstall Omega Antivir, for free.

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SafetyKeeper — or Safety Keeper — is scareware dressed up to look like legit antispyware software. Despite its fancy pants, SafetyKeeper is typical scamware that plays the usual tricks. A knock off of SaveKeeper, SaveDefense, and BlockDefense, SafetyKeeper follows their style. SafetyKeeper sneaks onto your machine through a Trojan or rogue website, and nestles into your registry so it launches when your system reboots. SafetyKeeper automatically spoofs scanning your system from threats. Turns out you’re infected with badware you’ve never heard of, and that your legit antispyware software has never found on your machine. Surprise! To remove this junk? Pay SafetyKeeper protection money. Don’t want to? You’re smart and see past the emperor’s new clothes, because even if you were really infected with badware besides SafetyKeeper, the only thing SafetyKeeper removes is money from your wallet. But SafetyKeeper will keep harassing you, with SafetyKeeper popups and fake system alerts.

Before you trash your computer to stop SafetyKeeper pop-up ads, let me show you how to uninstall SafetyKeeper, for free.

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Error Sweeper — which boldly pimps itself as the “Most Advanced PC Error Fixer!” — is in fact badware that either tricks you into downloading it or enters your computer as a Trojan horse. ErrorSweeper promises to clean your computer of registry errors, but in reality ErrorSweeper’s just another scareware app trying to scam money out of good, hard-working people. Yeah, like we need more of those, espesh right now.

Here’s how Error Sweeper’s scam works. Once installed, an ErrorSweeper popup displays all sorts of meaningless warnings about your computer and then says something like, “Total Problems Found: 24.” But it doesn’t really scan your computer. ErrorSweeper just wants to fool you into buying the so-called “full” version, which doesn’t exist.

Don’t feel like getting ripped off today? I’m with you. So let me show you how to uninstall ErrorSweeper, for free.

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AwareRemover.com is spam website that pushes fak eantispyware app Antivirus System PRO. Once AwareRemover.com’s scareware sneaks onto your computer, it changes your Windows Hosts file and turns your browser into an insane spam-zombie until you purge it from your computer.

Some of AwareRemover.com popups will say your computer is infected with harmful content, or that you have an insecure connection. You’re then prompted to take actions such as turning off your firewall (bad) or downloading more fake software (also bad). AwareRemover.com will bug you for money for a “full” version of Antivirus System PRO. But a “full” version of Antivirus System PRO is like AwareRemover.com’s credibility — non-existant.

If you see a link to Awareremover.com, be aware that the site is not your friend. And if you end up with Antivirus System PRO on your computer, follow these steps to block AwareRemover.com on your PC, for free.

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If your idea of a great antispyware program is one that scares you, makes up lies about threats on your computer, takes your money, and then does nothing whatsoever to help you, then Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009 is a dream come true.

Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009 — that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it? — pops up on your computer and offers to perform a “Free Online Scan.” After a few minutes, a phony Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009 alert says, “Free Online Scan results: Found 77.” This alert leads directly to a Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009 payment screen, which will gladly take your money.

But don’t expect to get anything in return. Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009 is nothing more than an anti-spyware impersonator that will sabotage your hard drive and send your browser places you don’t want to go. None of this is good.

Before you set fire to your computer to get rid of these Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009 popups, let me show you how to remove Online Antivirus XP-Vista 2009, for free.

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SaveKeeper — or Save Keeper — is the latest release from the makers of SystemCop, BlockDefense, and SaveDefense. Whoever keeps making this scamware must not think we’re very smart. They think all they have to do is keep changing the name on their spyware, and we’ll keep falling for it over and over. And over. Again.

Like earlier versions of the same scareware, SaveKeeper pops up on your screen with a phony scan, and it will probably display a bunch of made-up information like, “Scanning Object: C:\Windows\7z99tr5j7cc.bin,” and then it will tell you, “Infections Detected: 284.” This is the same thing it tells everyone. SaveKeeper has no real ability to scan your hard drive.

What SaveKeeper can do is spy on you, spam you through your browser, beg you for money, and be an all-around pest. Before SaveKeeper makes you take a bat to your monitor, I’ll show you how to remove it from your PC, for free.

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Personal Guard 2009 is the latest fake spyware program to hit the web. With the brilliant tagline, “Best protection for best times” (whatever that means), Personal Guard 2009 pops up on your computer and asks if you want to scan your PC for “unwanted spyware, malware, and even viruses.”

It goes on to brag, “One of the strongest solution in the industry, Personal Guard gives you best to protect your data – now and today!” I don’t know about you, that kind of grammar doesn’t exactly give me a warm fuzzy feeling.

But even if the grammar were impeccable, this is just more phony software trying to scare you into shelling out $49.95 for a program that does nothing. Don’t fall for their fancy graphics and smooth talk. Here’s how to remove Personal Guard 2009, for free.

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Remember how much fun we had a couple months back with rogue spyware application Personal Antivirus? Well, we’re in luck, because it’s back, thanks to browser hijacker Best-Antivirus03.com.

I was skimming NYTimes.com’s review of Jay-Z’z latest when my browser was hijacked by Best-Antivirus03.com’s popups:

“Warning!!! Your system requires immediate anti-viruses scan! Personal Antivirus can perform fast and free virus and malicious software scan of your computer .”
“Your computer remains infected by threats! They might lead to data loss and file structure damage, and needed to be heal as soon as possible. Return to Personal Antivirus and download it secure to your PC.”
“Potentially dangerous software. These programs may damage your computer and steal your private information. Online Security Checker needs Personal Antivirus components to repair your computer. Please click Ok to download and install Personal Antivirus tool.”

Best-Antivirus03.com also runs a fake system scan to alert you that your system is infected with a bunch of made-up threats, and then it tries to get you to download an antispyware application, which turns out to be—you guessed it, our old, fake friend Personal Antivirus.

Let’s get you back to NYTimes.com — or whatever you were really reading. Let me show how to block Best-Antivirus03.com.

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