Vista Antivirus 2014: what it is and how to remove it
Vista Antivirus 2014 is one of those fake anti-viruses that can easily flood your computer with fake alerts and system scanners that all report about tens of different viruses. If you started noticing such notifications on your computer, be sure that they are displayed only for trying to steal your money.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
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Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
An automatic scan can look at hunter.exe and the other programs installed around the same time.
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Start the stepsVista Antivirus 2014: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Vista Antivirus 2014 |
| Type | Rogue antivirus |
| Symptoms | An unknown process in Task Manager |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 4 more facts
| Files and processes | hunter.exe |
|---|---|
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
| First seen | 26 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Vista Antivirus 2014 a real security program?
- File:
hunter.exe
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
What is Vista Antivirus 2014?
Vista Antivirus 2014 is one of those fake anti-viruses that can easily flood your computer with fake alerts and system scanners that all report about tens of different viruses.
If you started noticing such notifications on your computer, be sure that they are displayed only for trying to steal your money. In most of the cases, Vista Antivirus 2014 displays such notifications:
If Vista Antivirus 2014 infects the system, this malicious program initiates constant system's scanners without any permission asked. Of course, their results indicate that computer is infected and that a user should buy the licensed version. Beware that this fake anti-virus has no virus data base; therefore, it cannot detect neither trojans nor serious viruses or malware.
If you decide to eliminate those invented viruses and click on Vista Antivirus 2014 alert, you should be prepared for a requirement to pay for it. Of course, you should never purchase its license in order to eliminate infections that you don't have.
It should be noted that if you pay money for this fake license, you may not only loose it, but may also share your bank account information and other private data with its creators. Do not be surprised after finding difficulties when trying to remove this parasite from your system. It is able to block every attempt to run a legitimate anti-spyware.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
How can Vista Antivirus 2014 infect my computer?
If you are using Vista OS, you should be very careful because this rogue anti-spyware is designed for infecting only this operating system.
There are two main methods that are for the distribution of this virus: fake pop-ups and spam. Just like Vista Protection 2014, Vista Antivirus 2014 is mainly spread via fake pop-ups that can be found on both, legitimate and illegal, websites.
Typically, people are offered to scan their computers for free and check their state. However, instead of scanning, victim receives a gift - this rogue anti-spyware. In addition, various trojans may help Vista Antivirus 2014 get inside your computer unnoticed. In most of the cases, such viruses are hiding in untrustworthy emails and spam.
If you got a message, which states that you should check some bill or other important document, you should double check it for type or grammar mistakes because it might be fake. If you happen to click on infected attachment, you can easily install such virus as Vista Antivirus 2014. If you notice any, it is advisable to do not open the file.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Vista Antivirus 2014
- Vista Antivirus 2014 has blocked a program from accessing the internet.
- This program is infected with Trojan-BNK.Win32.Keylogger.gen.
- Private data can be stolen by third parties, including credit card details and passwords.
- System security threat was detected.
- Viruses and/or spyware may be damaging your system now.
- Prevent infection and data loss or stealing by running a free security scan.
How to remove Vista Antivirus 2014
Nothing it reports is real.
These steps remove it and undo a payment if you made one.
Step 1: Do not pay, and undo a payment if you made one
Nothing that Vista Antivirus 2014 says it found needs fixing by it. Close its windows and do not enter card details.
If you bought it, contact your bank or card issuer about a dispute and cancel any renewal, keeping the receipt e-mail as evidence. Uninstalling it from Windows 11 or Windows 10 removes the program but leaves the subscription running.
Full procedure with screenshots: What to do after paying a scammer
Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Vista Antivirus 2014 rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 4: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after Vista Antivirus 2014, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86)too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Vista Antivirus 2014 that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
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There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
How to remove Vista Antivirus 2014 virus?
Do not ignore Vista Antivirus 2014 alerts because they can lead to serious problems, such as money or identity theft.
Having in mind that this program is not a simple program but a serious virus, we highly recommend you to use AUTOMATIC REMOVAL OPTION and avoid manual removal. For that, you should download a reputable anti-spyware, update it and run a full system scan. If you need a detailed guide explaining how to do that, read this guide.
ATTENTION! If you can't download or launch any them, try these options:
1. USING SYSTEM RESTORE TO DISABLE VIRUS:
2. REBOOTING TO SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING:
3. CREATING GUEST ACCOUNT FOR SCANNING COMPUTER:
If you have another user (guest) account, you can try to run a full system scan from it. You just need to log into it and download for a full system scan. You can activate your guest account with a help of these steps:
4. USING ANOTHER PC FOR DOWNLOADING ANTI-SPYWARE:
- Click Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.
- As soon as Restore system files and settings window shows up, select Next.
- Choose the restore point that you want and click Next .
- Click Finish to confirm and wait until your PC reboots.
- Now download and run a full system scan after updating it.
- Restart your computer
- As soon as your computer becomes active, start pressing the F8 key continuously until you see Advanced Boot Options screen.
- Here, select Safe Mode with Networking (for that, use the arrow keys) and then hit Enter.
- Login as the same user as you were in normal Windows mode
- Now right click on IE or other browser's icon and select Run As or Run As administrator. Enter your Administrator account password (if needed).
- Enter this link to your address bar: https://www.2-spyware.com/download/hunter.exe and download a program on your desktop. Launch it to remove malicious files.
- Click Start -> Control Panel and select User Accounts and Family Safety.
- After a new window shows up, click on Add or Remove User Accounts -> Guest Account.
- Now click on Turn On button and restart your computer
- Now wait until you see Windows log on screen and select Guest account for downloading recommended anti-spyware.
- Take another computer that is not infected by this virus and download or on it.
- After completing the procedure, transfer this anti-malware to the CD/DVD, external drive, or USB flash drive.
- In the meanwhile, kill malicious processes on your infected computer. For that you can use this tutorial.
- Stick the device you used for transferring anti-spyware program to your infected PC and launch it.
Questions about Vista Antivirus 2014
Is hunter.exe safe?
It depends on where the file is and who signed it, not on the name. Open Task Manager, go to the Details tab, right-click hunter.exe and choose Open file location. A file inside Program Files or System32 with a valid digital signature from a known company is usually part of a legitimate program.
A file in AppData, Temp or ProgramData with no signature, especially one that restarts itself after you end it, is suspicious. If you cannot tie the process to anything you installed, uninstall recent unfamiliar programs and run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
hunter.exe keeps coming back. What should I do?
A process that returns after you end it has a restart mechanism, and that is a reason to treat hunter.exe as unwanted. Check Settings > Apps > Startup, Task Scheduler and the Services list for entries pointing to its folder, and disable them.
Look in Installed apps for anything added the same day and uninstall it. Then delete the folder and run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan, which works before Windows starts and can remove files that are locked or hidden while the system is running.
What could the caller do while connected to my PC?
Anything you could do. Callers working with fake alerts like Vista Antivirus 2014 typically show you Windows logs as "proof", install their own remote tool for later, and steer you to online banking or a gift card purchase. Some add a password to Windows or lock the PC if you refuse to pay.
Remove every remote access program you did not install yourself, check Settings > Accounts > Other users for new accounts, and change important passwords from a clean device. If you cannot be sure what was changed, a reset of Windows is the safe choice.
I called the number from Vista Antivirus 2014. What now?
End the call and do not let them reconnect. If they installed a remote-access tool, disconnect the PC from the internet and uninstall that tool from Installed apps. Change passwords for e-mail, banking and anything you typed during the call, using another device.
If you paid, contact the bank today for a chargeback. Report the number to the authorities in your country. The program behind an unfamiliar process called hunter.exe in Task Manager still needs removing: follow the plan in this guide, then run a full scan in Windows Security.
Why does Vista Antivirus 2014 look so official?
Because copying the design costs nothing and makes people trust it. The program behind an unfamiliar process called hunter.exe in Task Manager borrows Windows colours, icons and wording, sometimes even the name of a well-known security brand. None of that gives it access to real security information.
A real alert can be checked in seconds: open Windows Security from the Start menu and look at Protection history. If nothing is listed there, the official-looking window is fake, and the program that draws it is what needs to be removed.
Is my card safe after buying Vista Antivirus 2014?
Treat it as exposed. The order page belongs to the seller of Vista Antivirus 2014, and you cannot know how the number is stored or shared. Ask your bank for a replacement card, which is usually free, and dispute the original charge as a misrepresented product.
Until the new card arrives, check your account daily for small or foreign transactions. If the bank offers alerts for every card payment, turn them on. Keep the receipt and screenshots, because they support the dispute.
Someone called offering a refund for Vista Antivirus 2014. Is it genuine?
Almost certainly not. Refund calls are a well-known second stage of scareware and tech support scams. The caller says you are owed money, asks you to install a remote access program to "process" it, then opens your online banking, makes it look as if too much was refunded and asks you to send the difference back.
Hang up. Real refunds go back to the card or PayPal account you paid with, through your bank or the payment provider, and never need remote access or a gift card.
Do I need to reinstall Windows to get rid of Vista Antivirus 2014?
Usually not. A thorough clean-up is enough when the offline scan finds nothing afterwards and you do not see an unfamiliar process called hunter.exe in Task Manager again. A reset is the safer choice if an attacker had remote control, if security tools were switched off, or if detections come back after every clean-up.
Windows 11 can reset itself without a USB stick under Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Copy documents and photos out first and scan the copies. A reset does not change passwords or undo stolen data, so the account steps still apply.
Will Fortect remove Vista Antivirus 2014?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Vista Antivirus 2014, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)