Microsoft Security Center 2011

Do not believe anything that Microsoft Security Center 2011 tells you about your computer's security. Despite its name, Microsoft Security Center 2011 is not affiliated with Microsoft, and Microsoft Security Center 2011 is not actually a security program. Microsoft Security Center 2011 is just another fake anti-virus software scam, and unfortunately, that means Microsoft Security Center 2011 is typical malware, out to scare people into paying money for a useless license.

Microsoft Security Center 2011 has a name that is meant to be misleading, because Microsoft Security Center 2011 is extremely similar to the name of a pre-installed feature of Windows, which is Microsoft Security Essentials. The important differences are that Microsoft Security Essentials can help to keep your computer secure, it never costs anything, and it doesn't ever have a year after its name. The “2011” in the name of Microsoft Security Center 2011 is there to make the malware sound more legitimate than Microsoft Security Center 2011 really is. Don't let the name of this fake security application fool you, and don't let Microsoft Security Center 2011 put you off of the perfectly benign Microsoft Security Essentials.

Symptoms Caused by Microsoft Security Center 2011

The reported symptoms of an infection with Microsoft Security Center 2011 are very common for fake security applications. Users affected by Microsoft Security Center 2011 report the following:

• Microsoft Security Center 2011 runs every time Windows starts, and then Microsoft Security Center 2011 runs a fake system scan. The scan reports that multiple viruses have been found, and then Microsoft Security Center 2011 says that only Microsoft Security Center 2011 can remove the threats – for a fee.
• Microsoft Security Center 2011 generates pop-up alerts or error messages that claim that Microsoft Security Center 2011 has found threats on the affected PC.
• All programs other than Microsoft Security Center 2011 are prevented from running. This includes Task Manager.
• Microsoft Security Center 2011 disables Internet access or redirects the browser to Microsoft Security Center 2011's own site, every single time the user tries to view any website.
• The infected PC is effectively locked up and rendered useless.

While it can be frustrating and frightening to have your PC held hostage by Microsoft Security Center 2011, it is important to remember that paying the "license" fee that the malware demands will not cause Microsoft Security Center 2011 to leave your computer alone. It is possible to remove Microsoft Security Center 2011, without paying money to the crooks who created the program.

How Does Microsoft Security Center 2011 Infect PCs

Microsoft Security Center 2011 is installed on the victim PC without the user's consent. Given the kinds of files that are installed and the fact that no one seems to remember allowing Microsoft Security Center 2011 to install, it is likely that the culprit is a Trojan dropper. The most common method of infection for a Trojan dropper, especially when it supports a fake anti-virus program, is for it to be hidden in a fake program update or video codec, or possibly even in a spam email attachment. Occasionally, these Trojan droppers are installed automatically via drive-by downloads, when you visit a malicious website. In any case, once the Trojan is downloaded, it sets up the files for Microsoft Security Center 2011, it makes some changes to the registry, and then Microsoft Security Center 2011 becomes active the next time Windows is started.

In order to protect your PC from Microsoft Security Center 2011, the most important steps you can take are to use a good anti-malware program, and to browse the Internet defensively, by using settings and practices that will minimize your risk of being victimized by Trojans and other malware. Remember that nothing can turn Microsoft Security Center 2011 into a useful software, because Microsoft Security Center 2011 is fake.