Windows Premium Shield

What is Premium Shield?

The Windows Premium Shield fake antivirus program reports non existent security infections in order to scare PC users into believing that their computers are infected with high-risk malware. To remove the supposedly 'detected' security infections, computer users are encouraged to 'Activate Ultimate Protection' (i.e. purchase a license key for this program).

Do not trust Windows Premium Shield - it is a scam created by cyber criminals. Paying for the full version of this program is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals - you will lose your money and your operating system will remain infected with a rogue antivirus program. In fact, no security threats reported by this program actually exist on users' computers.

Commonly, Windows Premium Shield infiltrates users' operating systems through fake online security scanners that appear when visiting malicious or hacked websites.

If you notice a pop-up ad scanning your computer for security infections, and offering download of Windows Premium Shield to clean the system, be aware that this is a scam - cyber criminals use deceptive pop-up ads to proliferate their rogue antivirus programs.

After successful infiltration, Windows Premium Shield modifies the operating system registry files, blocks execution of installed programs, disables the Task Manager, and configures itself to run automatically on each system startup.

Windows Premium Shield originates from a family of fake antivirus programs called FakeVimes. Previous variants were named Windows Efficiency Console and Windows Activity Booster.  This rogue security scanner differs from other fake antivirus programs, since it blocks the desktop (similar to the behavior of a ransomware virus), thus making its removal more complicated.

This added functionality demonstrates that the rogue antivirus software business is profitable, and therefore, cyber criminals continue to develop updated variants of their bogus software.

To protect your computer from rogue programs, keep your installed programs (Java, Flash, etc.) up-to-date and use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware software. Computer users who observe Windows Premium Shield scanning their computers for security infections should use this removal guide to eliminate this scam.

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Quick menu:

• What is Premium Shield?
• STEP 1. Remove Premium Shield using command prompt.
• STEP 2. Remove Premium Shield using Safe Mode with Networking.

Windows Premium Shield removal:

Before downloading the removal software for this rogue antivirus program, complete these steps:

1. Wait until Windows Premium Shield completes the fake security scan and click "Settings" (at the top of the main window).

2. Select "Allow unprotected Startup."

3. After selecting "Allow unprotected Startup", close Windows Premium Shield. The notification will appear, "Unprotected startup is unsafe for your private data!" Click "OK".

4. Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the "Search programs and files" field, type "Command Prompt". In the opened list, click the right mouse button over the "Command Prompt" entry and select "Run as administrator".

Windows XP users: Click Start and navigate to Accessories menu - Start > All Programs > Accessories. Select Command Prompt.

5. In the opened window (Command Prompt), type: taskkill /IM guard* and press Enter.

6. After killing the Windows Premium Shield process, download legitimate anti-spyware software to completely remove this rogue antivirus program from your computer.

If you cannot download or run the spyware remover, try running the registry fix (link below). It enables execution of programs. Download the registryfix.reg file, double click it, click YES and then OK.

Windows Premium Shield removal using Safe Mode with Networking:

Step 1

Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer starting process press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Video showing how to start Windows XP in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Step 2

Remove proxy settings from Internet Explorer. This rogue antivirus program adds a proxy to users' Internet connection settings to display various errors when user attempt to access the Internet. To remove proxy settings: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. In the opened menu select "Internet Options".

In the opened window select the "Connections" tab.

In the "Connections" tab, click on "LAN settings".

If "Use a proxy server for your LAN" is checked, uncheck it and click OK.

Step 3

Download legitimate anti-spyware software to completely remove this fake antivirus program from your computer.

Step 4

After removing this rogue software, you should reset your Hosts file. Do not skip this step, since Windows Premium Shield modifies your Hosts files and you will encounter browser redirect problems if malicious entries are not eliminated.

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:

Other tools known to remove Windows Premium Shield:

• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

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 premium shield antivirus and other rogue antivirus programs:

To protect your computer from premium shield antivirus 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 premium shield antivirus or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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