This page is infected by malicious advertising code

31 August 2009 Popup 3 Comments

An Internet browser warning that says “This page is infected by malicious advertising code…” is a fake alert coming from rogue security program called Personal Antivirus. This message will appear on heading section of Internet browser, spoofing actions of Internet Browser when soliciting user’s consent. This misleading act will redirect user’s Internet browser to questionable web sites where drive-by-download method will drop and install a copy of rogue program on visitor’s computer. The technique is possible if the malicious web site can locate a security hole on target computer that serves as doorway.

Technical Details and Additional Information:

Damage Level: Medium

Systems Affected: Windows 9x, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7

Malware Behavior
Obviously, this fake alert will initiate by visiting malicious web sites or if browser hijacker is present on your computer. This message usually appears by pulling-out an add-on if there is a request for web address. Unsuspecting user may perceive that the alert is originating from a web site, where in fact it is process locally. The objective is to promote a program that will protect the system against malicious code from preferred web sites. The full message reads:

This page is infected by malicious advertising code. Such code can seriously affect your computer. Click here to protect your computer with Personal Antivirus.

1. Temporarily Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP). [how to]
2. Open your antivirus application and update the virus definition file. This method ensures that your antivirus program can detect even newer variants of 'This page is infected by malicious advertising code'

3. Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking.
- From a power-off state, turn on the computer and press F8 on your keyboard repeatedly.
- Your computer will display Windows Advanced Boot Options menu. Please select Safe Mode with Networking.
- The system will now boot Windows and loads only necessary drivers and files.

4. Open your antivirus program and run a full system scan. After the scan, delete all infected items. If unable, better place them in quarantine. Once the scan is complete, please proceed with the next step.

Online Virus Scanner:

Another way to remove 'This page is infected by malicious advertising code' without the need to install additional antivirus application is to perform a thorough scan with free online virus scanner that can be found here or on websites of legitimate anti-virus and security provider.

5. Go to Online Virus Scanner list and run a virus scan. This may require plug-ins, add-on or Activex object, please install if you want to proceed with scan.
6. After completing the necessary download, your system is now ready for online virus scanning.
7. Select an option in which you can thoroughly scan the computer to make sure that it will find and delete entirely all infections not detected on previous scan.
8. Remove or delete all detected items.
9. When scanning is finished you may now restart the computer in normal mode.

Automatic Removal of 'This page is infected by malicious advertising code'

In order to completely remove the threat, click here to download and run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Sometimes, Trojans will block the downloading and installation of MBAM. If this happens, download it from a clean computer and rename the executable file before executing on the infected machine.