If you’ve received an email with the subject “Conflicker.B Infection Alert,” you’ve been targeted by a malware company trying to get a free ride on Microsoft’s good name. The email looks like this:

Dear Microsoft Customer,

Starting 18/10/2009 the ‘Conficker’ worm began infecting Microsoft customers unusually rapidly. Microsoft has been advised by your Internet provider that your network is infected.

To counteract further spread we advise removing the infection using an antispyware program. We are supplying all effected Windows Users with a free system scan in order to clean any files infected by the virus.

Please install attached file to start the scan. The process takes under a minute and will prevent your files from being compromised. We appreciate your prompt cooperation.

Regards,
Microsoft Windows Agent #2 (Hollis)
Microsoft Windows Computer Safety Division

It actually sounds kind of real, but when you look more closely, it’s all lies. Even if Microsoft had access to your email address, they wouldn’t send something like this. That’s what Windows’s Automatic Update system is for.

If you make the mistake of installing the attached install.zip file, you’ll end up with the malware infection Antivirus Pro 2010, which we covered last month. The program hijacks your browser, subverts your security software, and displays this phony warning message:

Your computer is infected!
Windows has detected spyware infection!

It is recomended to use special antispyware tools to pervent data loss.Windows will now download and install the most up-to-date antispyware for you.

Click here to protect your computer from spyware!

Has the Conflicker.B Spam Trojan turned your computer into a twisted, irritating version of its former self? Let me show you how to remove this infection, for free.

Ready to get rid of Conflicker.B Infection Alert? Check our instructions on how to uninstall Conflicker.B Infection Alert.

Automatically remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert

(FY to the I: we earn a commish from Spyware Doctor. But we honestly dig the award-winning anti-badware — read our review.)

Do You Have Conflicker.B Infection Alert?

When you’re infected with badware — whether it’s Conflicker.B Infection Alert, spyware, adware, a Trojan, or a virus — there are a few key symptoms. Have you noticed…

• Slow computer performance: It just takes one parasite like Conflicker.B Infection Alert to slow your computer dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot, or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, you may be infected with Conflicker.B Infection Alert.
• New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Badware like Conflicker.B Infection Alert may change your Internet settings to redirect your homepage to another site. Badware can even add desktop shortcuts to your PC.
• Annoying popups: Badware can bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Through these popups, you may be tricked into downloading more spyware.

How to Remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert Manually

Before we get started, you should backup your system and your registry, so it’ll be easy to restore your computer if anything goes wrong.

To remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert manually, you need to delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert files. Not sure how to delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert files? Click here, and I’ll show you. Otherwise, go ahead and…

Stop Conflicker.B Infection Alert processes:

Remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert registry values:

Delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert files:

Note: In any Conflicker.B Infection Alert files I mention above, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. If you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP/7, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\JoeSmith”). If you have any questions about manual Conflicker.B Infection Alert removal, go ahead and leave a comment.

How Do You Remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert Files?

Need help figuring out how to delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert files? While there’s some risk involved, and you should only manually remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert files if you’re comfortable editing your system, you’ll find it’s fairly easy to delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert files in Windows.

How to delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert files in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7:

1. Click your Windows Start menu, and then click “Search.”
2. A speech bubble will pop up asking you, “What do you want to search for?” Click “All files and folders.”
3. Type a Conflicker.B Infection Alert file in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
4. Click “ Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop Conflicker.B Infection Alert processes:

1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click “OK.” You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find Conflicker.B Infection Alert processes.
4. Once you’ve found the Conflicker.B Infection Alert processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill Conflicker.B Infection Alert.

How to remove Conflicker.B Infection Alert registry keys:

Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you edit it. Editing your registry can be intimidating if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire system. Make sure you backup your registry before editing it.

1. Select your Windows menu “Start,” and click “Run.” An “ Open” field will appear. Type “regedit ” and click “ OK ” to open up your Registry Editor. In Windows 7, just type “regedit” into the “Search programs and files” box in the Windows start menu.
2. Registry Editor will open as a window with two panes. The left side Registry Editor’s window lets you select various registry keys, and the right side displays the registry values of the registry key you select.
3. To find a registry key, such as any Conflicker.B Infection Alert registry keys, select “ Edit,” then select “ Find,” and in the search bar type any of Conflicker.B Infection Alert ‘s registry keys.
4. As soon as Conflicker.B Infection Alert registry key appears, you can delete the Conflicker.B Infection Alert registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “ Modify,” then clicking “ Delete.”

How to delete Conflicker.B Infection Alert DLL files:

1. First locate Conflicker.B Infection Alert DLL files you want to delete. Open your Windows Start menu, then click “Run.” Type “cmd ” in Run, and click “OK.” In Windows 7, just type “regedit” into the “Search programs and files” box in the Windows start menu.
2. To change your current directory, type “cd” in the command box, press your “Space” key, and enter the full directory where the Conflicker.B Infection Alert DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the Conflicker.B Infection Alert DLL file is located in a particular directory, enter “dir ” in the command box to display a directory’s contents. To go one directory back, enter “cd .. ” in the command box and press “Enter.”
3. When you’ve located the Conflicker.B Infection Alert DLL file you want to remove, type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll”) and press your “Enter” key.

That’s it. If you want to restore any Conflicker.B Infection Alert DLL file you removed, type “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Did Conflicker.B Infection Alert change your homepage?

1. Click Windows Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options.
2. Under Home Page, select the General > Use Default.
3. Type in the URL you want as your home page (e.g., “http://www.homepage.com”).
4. Select Apply > OK.
5. You’ll want to open a fresh web page and make sure that your new default home page pops up.

Conflicker.B Infection Alert Removal Tip

Is your computer acting funny after deleting any Conflicker.B Infection Alert files? I recommend using a program like File Recover from PC Tools. File Recover saves deleted files that otherwise can’t be recovered by Windows operating system.

Want to save time finding Conflicker.B Infection Alert files? Download Spyware Doctor, let it find the Conflicker.B Infection Alert files for you, and then manually delete the Conflicker.B Infection Alert files.

How Did You Get Conflicker.B Infection Alert?

Wondering how Conflicker.B Infection Alert ended up on your PC? If you’re infected with Conflicker.B Infection Alert or other badware, perhaps you were using…

• Freeware or shareware: Did you download and install shareware or freeware? These low-cost or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like Conflicker.B Infection Alert. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly attached to free software to harm your computer and steal your personal and financial information.
• Peer-to-peer software: Do you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) program or other application with a shared network? When you use these applications, you put your system at risk for unknowingly downloading an infected file, including applications like Conflicker.B Infection Alert.
• Questionable websites : Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, badware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like Conflicker.B Infection Alert. I recommend you use Firefox web browser, if you don’t already.

Understanding Conflicker.B Infection Alert

If you’re infected with Conflicker.B Infection Alert, you should know what you’re fighting. I’ll explain some definitions related to Conflicker.B Infection Alert.

Conflicker.B Infection Alert May Be Rogue Anti-Spyware

Rogue anti-spyware refers to anti-spyware/antivirus software of questionable value. Rogue anti-spyware may not be proven to protect your computer from spyware, may popup fake alerts or create many false positives about your PC being infected, or may use scare tactics to try to get you to purchase the application. Rogue anti-spyware software may be installed by a Trojan, come bundled with other software, or install itself through web browser security holes. While it is fairly rare, some rogue anti-spyware is created and distributed by known spyware or adware companies, and the rogue anti-spyware may install spyware or adware itself.

Often when you’re infected with rogue anti-spyware like Conflicker.B Infection Alert, you’ll see a false popup security alert like this:

Rogue Anti-Spyware Tactics

Typically, rogue anti-spyware such as Conflicker.B Infection Alert has one or more of the qualities listed below, which is why rogue anti-spyware is considered anti-spyware software of questionable value.

• False positives/fake alerts: Rogue anti-spyware may produce a large number of false positives or use fake alerts, noting that your computer is infected with spyware parasites or other threats that do not really exist.
• Copycat looks: Rogue anti-spyware may copy the look and feel of other legitimate or rogue anti-spyware applications. Often, rogue anti-spyware applications may appear as close clones of other rogue anti-spyware software.
• High pressure marketing: Rogue anti-spyware may use scare tactics or other aggressive advertising and marketing tactics to try to trick you into buying the rogue anti-spyware application. Often, rogue anti-spyware may produce false positives and fake alerts about your computer being infected.
• Poor detection/scan reporting: Rogue anti-spyware may produce poor reports when it scans your PC. For example, rogue anti-spyware may say your computer is infected 11 parasites, but not specify which spyware parasites or what type of parasites. Rogue anti-spyware may also report that your PC is infected with SafeAndClean, but not tell you which related files, DLLS, etc. were found on your computer.
• Weak scanning/detection: Rogue anti-spyware may not only poorly report on computer infection, but rogue antispyware may also poorly scan your PC. Rogue anti-spyware may skip over important folders and files of your computer that should be scanned to detect spyware.

Did Conflicker.B Infection Alert use these tactics to trick you into buying Conflicker.B Infection Alert?