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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Malware
  • Windows
  • Verified · Jul 2019

How to remove PRISM virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Gabriel E. Hall · Passionate web researcher

PRISM virus – a fine-demanding threat that pretends to be from the Computer Crime Prosecution Section

PRISM ransomware

PRISM virus is a money-demanding malware that accuses users of violating the USA laws. This virus works as a scam, however, it also has earned the name of PRISM ransomware as its roots appear to come from Reveton trojan family. The scamming message presents false claims about illegitimate copyright, software usage, and children pornography activities. As a way to avoid prosecution is to transfer a fine of $300 via MoneyPak[1] in the 48 hours period. According to the message, paying such amount of money will also allow you to regain screen access.

Name PRISM virus
Type Scam/ransom-demanding virus
Family Reveton ransomware
Delivery Exploit kits, unsecured pages, spam messages
Aim To gather money from gullible victims
“Crimes” Users are falsely accused of violating the USA laws by distributing pornography content, misusing copywriting texts, and using unlicensed products
Fine Crooks urge payment of $300 to avoid prosecution
Payment conditions The money needs to be transferred via MoneyPak in 48 hours
Similar malware Metropolitan Police virus
Detection tool After booting your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, we suggest using software such as FortectIntego to scan the entire system and search for possible relations to malware

Believes in PRISM virus and its provided message will bring you only monetary losses as no NSA Internet Surveillance Program would report about illegitimate activities and penalties through these types of notifications. Additionally, try not to get tricked by the National Security Agency and similar logos that are here just to create a legitimate look.

PRISM MoneyPak ransom will cover your entire computer screen with its rogue message. Besides, this malware will supposedly identify your location and display a website that suits it. Nevertheless, the scam notification might also be written in different languages depending on the discovered location of the user. The English text looks like this:

NSA Internet Surveillance Program.
PRISM.
Computer Crime Prosecution Section.

Your Computer has been locked!

Your computer has been locked due to suspicions of illegal content downloading and distribution.

Your case can be classified as occasional/unmotivated, according to 17 (U.S Code)
Thus it may be closed without prosecution.
Your computer will be unblocked automatically.

In order to resolve the situation in an above-mentioned way you should pay a fine of $300 (MoneyPak)

PRISM virus is very similar to another similar scam named Metropolitan Police virus. This previous malware also presents itself to be from a law institution and accuses users of violating some laws by using pornography-related content that involves children. DO NOT believe in any of these claims as hackers are trying to gain benefit from you.

Besides just locking the screen, PRISM virus can disable various Windows functions to avoid detection and elimination. This allows the message to be displayed for a longer period of time and it has better chances of convincing users. Also, it is known that mostly these types of scams travel via exploit kits,[2] email spam, and third-party networks.

PRISM virus

If you have found PRISM virus on your computer and it has prevented you from accessing your computer screen, you should boot your system in Safe Mode with Networking to disable any malicious ongoing processes. This should help you to get rid of the lock screen and will ease the termination process of the scam and any additional threats.

Before PRISM virus removal, you need to perform a thorough system check-up with a program such as FortectIntego. Once the scan is done, you will be able to see possibly-infected sources and all additional malicious components that might have come together with the scam. Once results are investigated, you can take actions toward the elimination process.

Our suggestion would be to remove PRISM virus with the help of anti-malware software as the automatical technique will provide you with a safer and more effective process. Besides, by trying to remove the cyber threat on your own, you might complete some crucial mistakes that can provoke a hard system or software damage.

Remember, DO NOT pay any ransom to the criminals as you will definitely be left scammed. DO NOT fall for believing in PRISM virus provided threatenings about imprisonment that is claimed to take up to 10-15 years for crimes involving pornography and 2-5 years as a penalty for misusing copyrighting rights and carrying tasks with unlicensed software.

PRISM ransomware virus

Malware distribution sources and avoiding tips

IT technology experts from SenzaVirus.it website[3] have done intense research and found out that malicious scams, ransomware, trojans, and other malware are capable of reaching the system in different ways. However, the most popular ones are spam messages, exploit kits, infected hyperlinks, and outdated software.

The key to full computer security is the user's own cautiousness when carrying out browsing actions and computing work. First of all, you need to ensure that the websites you are visiting are safe for exploring and usage. Secondly, you should regularly update all of your software, including antivirus programs that are also crucial for system protection.

Furthermore, you should carefully manage all of your email messages. We suggest not to open any that fall in the “spam” section and send them straight to trash. Also, always identify the sender and do not access/download any attachments that have a questionable look. Better scan them with anti-malware and see what the check-up results say.

Complete the following to get rid of PRISM virus

PRISM virus might be provoked to appear on the Windows computer system by a Trojan horse[4] or similar malware. If you have been receiving a particular scam lately, note that almost in every situation there is some type of threat behind the rogue message's delivery. This malicious content needs to be eliminated together with the virus itself.

What you need to do is choose a malware detection tool and scan the entire computer system for infection signs. You can pick from these three: FortectIntego, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. Once the check-up is done, you will be able to remove PRISM virus safely and successfully by cleaning all infected directories in your system.

Be careful and use only reputable tools for PRISM virus removal. Manual elimination for this threat and its “friends” is not a possibility in this case as malware might be hiding anywhere and hard to detect. Besides, trustworthy anti-malware will complete the process more effectively than a human being would be able to.

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