This fake message (popup) comes up on PCs infected with fake hard drive defragmenters, such as Smart HDD and Data Recovery that appeared yesterday with its new interface. These two rogues aim to scare users with the bunch of untrue information about their computer, and surely it is scary indeed for people who don’t even realize they’re dealing with a hoax. The program doesn’t ask for one’s permission to enter the machine. It comes without invitation, moreover, it immediately tunes up the PC to be suitable for implementation of its malicious plots. For example, it blocks running of Task Manager (to prevent your attempt to terminate it). Additionally, the malware modifies your PC in order to be started automatically together with every system startup (OS launching). The next step is when the hoax finally unveils the completeness of its evil intentions.
Archive for April, 2012
Critical Error – Drive sector not found error
April 28th, 2012Remove Data Recovery virus (uninstall guide)
April 27th, 2012Data Recovery program you see at the screenshot is not the right type of software to restore missing data, even though it actually can perform some imitation of file recovery. Here is how it works. First, the program deletes the majority of your important files, folders, icons, screenshots located at the desktop, adds hidden status to the majority of other files and folders. On the other hand, it creates the backup copy of the desktop data, quick launch items, list of programs in the Start menu, shortcuts and icons, etc. These backup copies are generally stored in a specially designated and created “smtmp” folder. As you see, this program first makes problems and then tells you that it can fix them on the condition that you first pay for its powerless “licensed” version. Such way of behavior is typical for all malwares that are known as fake hard drive defragmenters that ask users to pay for the activation key of it as the supposed remedy to fix their PC problems. The sad fact is that some people have already been tricked by this hoax (Data Recovery malware, in particular). They paid money for nothing good, because the program itself caused the multitude of problems and then prompted users into buying its “full version” as the solution to repair the multitude of fake system, hard drive and memory errors.
Data recovery after virus attack. How to restore missing files
April 26th, 2012Nowadays there are many rogue programs over the Internet (like Smart HDD) that hide the majority of files, folders and other data on the infected system. The desktop turns out to be entirely empty (black of blank). There are no quick launch items, shortcuts and icons on it anymore. The list of programs in the Start menu also disappears, except for the files having to do with the particular rogue program. These amendments are initiated by the malware for the purpose of scaring users, and, surely, sometimes this goal is successfully accomplished. The rogue keeps warning users with a lot of untrue information about various system errors, bugs and problems and then offers itself as the solution to fix these issues. However, it will not do anything for free, it first tells you to effect the payment in favor of the frauds that developed it. You should realize that this malicious application is the cause of such problems, including the issue of hidden or missing files. So, it first creates these problems and then tells you to pay for it to have them fixed. Don’t you think this is a really unfair way of making business? Even if the rogue’s full version can somehow restore your files it is not worth buying this scam, because by doing so you’re just wasting your funds for nothing. So, once you encounter this malicious tool on your PC, please do not obey its misleading instructions. Instead, you may follow this simple guide that will help you understand the basic principles of file restoration (recovery) after the attack of malware.
» Read more: Data recovery after virus attack. How to restore missing files
This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use – fake HDD error
April 12th, 2012If you get the message that is titled as “This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use” the chances are that it is by the fake system optimization tool known as Smart HDD (and, possible, other similar malwares). There are, in fact, many other similar fake error and problems notifications, reports, warnings and other popups that appear quite regularly. All of them have the only aim – to make users really scared about the condition of their system. Later on the malware brings users to the fake payment processing page where they are instructed to purchase the rogue product (like Smart HDD as an example).
» Read more: This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use – fake HDD error
Device initialization failed – fake HDD error
April 11th, 2012Do you keep permanently receiving messages that say “Device initialization failed”? Well, the chances are that these are fake notices generated by Smart HDD scam (rogue program). This malware enters your system in a hidden (secret) manner and almost immediately ruins your file and folder settings by setting up the hidden attribute to them. In fact, some icons, shortcuts and quick launch items are even deleted, even though the backup copy of them is saved by the virus and transferred to some specially designated folder (known as “smtmp”). It is peculiar to this malware program that it displays many fake system error notices, similar to the one like “Device initialization failed”. In fact, there are many other bogus warnings that warn of same unreal system problems.
Seek Error – Sector not found fake HDD error
April 11th, 2012“Seek Error – Sector not found” is a fake popup coming up repeatedly during the fake scan of your system arranged by Smart HDD rogue program. This application is classified as fake hard drive defragmenter (bogus system optimizer). When it appears on your computer you may face its GUI you see at the screenshot. As you see, it looks like some legitimate system recovery /system restore software, even though this is just the imitation of such capabilities. The program is not capable of assisting users in fixing real computer problems, so, stay away from buying its fake license (this is the goal of the hoax to convince you to do so).
Serious Disk Error Writing Drive C:\ – fake system error
April 9th, 2012“Serious Disk Error Writing Drive C:\” is the annoying and deceptive popup alert that often comes up on a system infected with Smart HDD fake system optimizer application that appeared quite recently and now continues to infect many computers all over the world. Additionally to this bogus system error notice, there are many other fake threats that should be ignored when they are reported by Smart HDD rogue. This malware penetrates into infected system without your consent, and immediately it starts telling you how bad the condition of your PC is. In particular, the rogue reports various memory, hard drive and other system bugs, troubles and breakdowns. In reality this information doesn’t even coincide with the truth. What we have instead is an entirely useless and helpless fake system utility. Probably the worst thing about it is that is indeed damages and partially destroys your personalized (customized) system settings. Failure to remove this scam on a timely basis may lead to unpredictable and surly non-desirable consequences. In fact, sometimes this hoax may cause the loss of your important information. In the majority of the cases it actually deletes many of your desktop shortcuts, icons, quick launch items and clears the list of programs in the Start menu, but it also creates the backup copy of them and places this data into a specially created “smtmp” folder. As for other files, folders, pictures on your computer, the malware sets the hidden attribute to them all. So, surely Smart HDD is a very bad program that should be removed from your system. You must likewise ignore all its bogus notifications, like “Serious Disk Error Writing Drive C:\” and all others, and avoid paying for its useless and helpless licensed version.
» Read more: Serious Disk Error Writing Drive C:\ – fake system error
System message – Write Fault Error fake warning
April 3rd, 2012‘System message – Write Fault Error’ notification is not worthy of your trust. This misleading and faulty message accompanies Smart HDD virus (it actually precedes its appearance on the attacked PC). By the way, this scary alert comes up several times without actual reason for such a multitude of similar popups’ appearance). The only purpose of such warning is to make users scared for the status of their PC. Smart HDD is a fake hard drive defragmenter that appears soon after ‘System message – Write Fault Error’ notice, it represents itself as some program that is intended for fixing all system errors, bugs, problems and troubles having to do with hard drive, system memory, registry, etc. But the only truth we know about this program is that it is not able to perform any single good deed for your machine. Instead, it ruins your customized system settings that have to do with location of your files, folders on the desktop, as well as icons, shortcuts and other important preferences of yours. The data is relocated to a specifically predestined folder known as ‘smtmp’. Don’t worry, your important information is not deleted but simply hidden. In the paragraph below we will explain to you how to restore the files back to their initial location.
» Read more: System message – Write Fault Error fake warning
System Error. Hard disk failure detected fake alert
April 3rd, 2012The warning titled as ‘System Error. Hard disk failure detected’ is a newly designed, well-composed but yet scary and misleading notice implanted by hackers into Smart HDD rogue program. It appears just before Smart HDD fake hard drive defragmenter appears in front of the desktop of the infected PC. Its purpose is to scare users into believing that something horrible takes place with their workstations. As we’ve already said, this program (also referred to as SmartHDD) is a product of online fraudsters, and this time they probably hired more professional designers and content writers to create the program with a better design, better English, better general outlook. What we mean is that System Check (previous fake HDD sample) was evidently designed with lack of good vocabulary, probably in haste to start ripping users off as soon as possible. Still, these amendments didn’t make the very program better. Just like System Check, the hoax ruins the custom-featured settings of specific PC, hides the majority of important data (files, folders, shortcuts, desktop icons, programs, quick launch items, etc.) and starts scaring users with a lot of untrue warnings, alerts, notifications and other annoying popups. The fake scan of this badware are initiated with each system startup, on a regular basis. The final and the key trick of this malware is when it leads users to the page where they are instructed to effect the payment for the full version of this rogue (its activation key) as the supposed remedy against all fake problems supposedly identified by the rogue during its imitated scan. No doubt, getting such a notice is quite unpredictable and might be even scary for those users that haven’t been prepared to resist the attack of Smart HDD. Here is what this particular message says once the scam infects the system:
» Read more: System Error. Hard disk failure detected fake alert
Polisen Enheten for databrott ransomware removal
April 3rd, 2012Polisen Enheten for databrott is actually the heading (title) of another ransomware virus that is prepared by online hackers to hijack computers primarily in Sweden and thus to demand money from users deceived by the large volume of untrue information. In particular, typical to all other ransomwares, this pest tells that users were noticed to watch, promote and spread illegal information over the Internet having to do with extremely explicit content, spreading spam and even being engaged in support of terrorist activities. No doubt, such information is quite scary when received by unprepared users (not aware about presence of this type of infection in the cyber world). The malware literally prompts users to pay the forfeit (fine) in the amount of 100 Euro by means of indicating special PIN codes of Ukash or Paysafecard vouchers. As you probably understand, doing so is the waste of funds. There is no guarantee that this scam will unlock your PC, and the chances are that the crooks will simply use your money simply for reaching their covetous plots. Even if the problem can be resolved (desktop unlocked) by means of indicating the Ukash or Paysafecard PIN codes – still, this is not the correct solution of the problem. There are many other wonderful things you could invest your money into, but surely not in favor of the criminals that produced this scareware device. By the way, here is what it says in Swedish language, in particular:
» Read more: Polisen Enheten for databrott ransomware removal
