Win Server Defender
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Win Server Defender?
Win Server Defender is a rogue antivirus program that infects the Windows Server operating system. The program imitates a security scan, and after generating a list of fake security infections, advises computer users to purchase the full version. This scam originates from a family of name-changing rogue programs called Braviax.
This particular bogus program is the only known fake antivirus software to specifically target the Windows Server operating system. That is not to say that it does not attack others; note that this rogue is capable of adapting its name according to the operating system it infiltrates.
For example, for a system running Windows 7, the name is modified to appear as Win7 Defender and for Windows XP, it appears as XP Defender. To give the appearance that your system is infected with viruses and malware, Win Server Defender disables the Task Manager, disallows execution of installed software, and generates fake security warning pop-ups.
PC users should not attempt to remove the supposedly-infected files (displayed by this rogue software) manually - these are harmless system files that Win Server Defender falsely 'identifies' as being malicious. If you notice Win Server Defender running on your computer, you are dealing with a fake antivirus program developed by cyber criminals.
Purchasing a full version of this program is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals.
Win Server Defender is a unique fake antivirus program targeting computers running the Windows Server operating system. Rogue programs from the Braviax family are distributed using fake video codecs, Trojans, and fake online security scanner pop-ups.
The best practice to avoid such infections, is to keep your operating system updated and use legitimate security programs. If your computer is already infected with this rogue, use the removal instructions provided to eliminate this scam.
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Quick menu:
- What is Win Server Defender?
- STEP 1. Remove Win Server Defender using a registration key.
- STEP 2. Remove Win Server Defender manually by deleting files and registry entries.
Win Server Defender removal:
IMPORTANT! Before downloading: Click on the "Activate" button located at the top right corner of the Win Server Defender program main window, in the opened window click the "Manual Activation" button and enter the provided registry key in the "Enter activation code here" field, and then click "Activate":
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When the registration key is entered, Win Server Defender will behave as if you have purchased it, and will stop generating fake warnings. It will also allow you to run programs and legitimate anti-spyware programs. Note that registering this program will not remove it from your PC, it will merely disable the fake security warning messages.
After you enter this key, you can now download a recommended anti-spyware program and remove this fake security software.
NOTE: If you cannot run the remover, try to right-click over it and select "Run as administrator". If installation of the spyware remover fails, or you cannot open the .exe files, try our Customized installer, developed by our technicians to bypass spyware infections and install removers regardless. It is a DOS program that most spyware is unable to block.
If, after or before removal of this scam, you cannot run your installed programs, Win Server Defender has modified your operating system .exe file associations. When you try to run any executables, Windows opens the "select program" dialogue and will not execute a program.
To fix this, download the registry fix (link below). Save it to your computer, double click it, click yes, and then OK. After rebooting your PC, file associations should function normally.
If you cannot open your browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome):
Win Server Defender hijacks Internet browsers, modifies registry settings and disables execution of programs. For these cases, our developers have designed a custom installer. This is useful when you cannot browse the Internet or execute .exe files. It starts like an MS-Dos program, runs some registry fixes, and then initiates execution of a installer.
This installer has been tested on Windows 7, Windows Vista, and the XP operating systems infected with the most common spyware infections.
To use this installer, click Windows logo button (Start)
In the Search field enter this link: www.pcrisk.com/installer.com and then press ENTER.
Win Server Defender will generate a fake warning after pressing ENTER. Please ignore this, and click "No, stay unprotected..." on this message
File download dialogue will appear, reporting that you are downloading file installer.com. Click Run, wait for download to finish, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Windows may warn you that opening unknown files may be unsafe. Please ignore these warnings.
If your Internet browser's work, you can use this button to download the customized installer.
If installation or downloading fails:
If you still cannot run or download the removal tool, download the registry fix file. It enables normal execution of applications and fixes web browser errors. Click on the link below. When download completes, click run, click yes, and then OK.
If the installation of spyware remover fails, try our Customized installer, designed by our technicians to bypass infections and install removers regardless.
Manual Win Server Defender removal instructions
Some spyware can block the downloading of spyware removers. If you cannot download it using the default location, try one of the alternative download locations below:
- Location 1 (the file is renamed to "iexplore.exe", since most spyware does not block this file)
- Location 2
If installation of the remover fails, please try downloading the customized installer, designed by our technicians to bypass spyware infections. Download customized installer
If you still cannot download or run the spyware removing software, please perform these steps:
Step 1
Download registry fix for Win Server Defender malware. This fix removes registry entries that disallows execution of programs in some variants of this spyware. To download it, click the link below. After downloading, double click win7_av_fix.reg file, click Yes when asked, and then click OK.
Step 2
Some variants of this spyware modify the system proxy settings so that you are unable to access the Internet and website addresses are redirected to malicious or phishing websites. To reset the proxy settings to default, download and run this tool:
Step 3
Win Server Defender modifies the system Hosts file. The Hosts file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses. When it is changed, the user may be redirected to malicious sites, despite seeing legitimate URLs in address bar. It is difficult to determine sites are genuine when the Hosts file is modified.
To fix this, please download the Microsoft Fix It tool, that restores your Hosts file to the Windows default. Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:
Step 4
That's It! You can now try to download Spyware remover or install and run it if already downloaded.
Summary:
The fake antivirus programs (also known as "rogue antivirus programs" or "scareware") are applications that tries to lure computer users into paying for their non-existent full versions to remove the supposedly detected security infections (although the computer is actually clean). These bogus programs are created by cyber criminals who design them to look as legitimate antivirus software. Most commonly rogue antivirus programs infiltrate user's computer using poop-up windows or alerts which appear when users surf the Internet. These deceptive messages trick users into downloading a rogue antivirus program on their computers. Other known tactics used to spread scareware include exploit kits, infected email messages, online ad networks, drive-by downloads, or even direct calls to user's offering free support.
A computer that is infected with a fake antivirus program might also have other malware installed on it as rogue antivirus programs often are bundled with Trojans and exploit kits. Noteworthy that additional malware that infiltrates user's operating system remains on victim's computer regardless of whether a payment for a non-existent full version of a fake antivirus program is made. Here are some examples of fake security warning messages that are used in fake antivirus distribution:
Computer users who are dealing with a rogue security software shouldn't buy it's full version. By paying for a license key of a fake antivirus program users would send their money and banking information to cyber criminals. Users who have already entered their credit card number (or other sensitive information) when asked by such bogus software should inform their credit card company that they have been tricked into buying a rogue security software. Screenshot of a web page used to lure computer users into paying for a non-existent full version of win server defender rogue and other rogue antivirus programs:
To protect your computer from win server defender rogue and other rogue antivirus programs users should:
- Keep their operating system and all of the installed programs up-to-date.
- Use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
- Use caution when clicking on links in social networking websites and email messages.
- Don't trust online pop-up messages which state that your computer is infected and offers you to download security software.
Symptoms indicating that your operating system is infected with a fake antivirus program:
- Intrusive security warning pop-up messages.
- Alerts asking to upgrade to a paid version of a program to remove the supposedly detected malware.
- Slow computer performance.
- Disabled Windows updates.
- Blocked Task Manager.
- Blocked Internet browsers or inability to visit legitimate antivirus vendor websites.
If you have additional information on win server defender rogue or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
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