The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Ukash Ransom is a computer virus, which will display a bogus notification, that pretends to be from the Australian police and states that your computer has been blocked due to it being involved with the distribution of pornographic material, SPAM and copyrighted content.
The Australian Federal Police virus will lock you out of your computer and applications, so whenever you’ll try to log on into your Windows operating system or Safe Mode with Networking, it will display instead a lock screen asking you to pay a non-existing fine of 100 $ in the form of a Ukash or PaySafeCard code.
Furthermore, to make this alert seem more authentic, this virus also has the ability to access your installed webcam ,so that the bogus Australian Federal Police notification shows what is happening in the room.
If your computer is infected with Australian Federal Police virus, then you are seeing any of the below notifications:
AFP Australian Federal Police
Attention!
Your PC is blocked due to at least one of the reasons specified below. You have been violating “Copyright and Related Rights Law” (Video, Music, Software) and illegally using or distributing copyrighted content, thus infringing Article 128 of the Criminal Code of Australia. Article 128 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of 2 to 5 hundred minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty for 2 to 8 years.
You have been viewing or distributing prohibited Pornographic content (Child Porn/Zoophillia anr etc.) Thus violating article 202 of the Criminal Code of Australia.
Article 202 of the Criminal Code provides for a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 12 years. Illegal access to computer has been initiated from your PC, or you have been… Article 208 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to AUD $100,000 and/or a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 9 years.
Illegal access has been initiated from your PC without your knowledge or consent, your PC may be infected by malware, thus you are violating the law On Neglectful Use of Personal Computer. Article 210 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of AUD $2,000 to AUD $8,00.
The Australian Federal Police Ransom is a scam, and you should ignore any alert that this malicious software might generate and remove this trojan ransomware from your computer.
Under no circumstance should you send any money to these cyber criminals, as this could lead to identity theft,and if you have, you should request a refund stating that the program is a scam and a computer virus.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) – Virus Removal Guide
This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove the Australian Federal Police infection from your your computer. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point STOP and ask for our assistance.
The Australian Federal Police will start automatically when you login to your computer and display its screenlocker so that you are unable to access your computer, therefore we will need to remove this infection by using any of the below methods:
OPTION 1: Remove Australian Federal Police lock screen virus with System Restore
OPTION 2: Remove Australian Federal Police virus with with HitmanPro Kickstart
OPTION 3: Remove Australian Federal Police virus with Kaspersky Rescue Disk
OPTION 1: Remove Australian Federal Police lock screen virus with System Restore
System Restore helps you restore your computer’s system files to an earlier point in time. It’s a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos.
Because the Australian Federal Police virus will not allow you to start the computer in Windows regular mode, we will need to start System Restore from the Safe Mode with Command Prompt mode.
STEP 1: Restore Windows to a previous state using System Restore
- Reboot your computer into Safe Mode with Command Prompt. To do this, turn your computer off and then back on and immediately when you see anything on the screen, start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard.
![Windows F8 key [Image: F8 key]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/F8-key.jpg.png)
If you are using Windows 8, the trick is to hold the Shift button and gently tap the F8 key repeatedly, this will sometimes boot you into the new advanced “recovery mode”, where you can choose to see advanced repair options. On the next screen, you will need to click on the Troubleshoot option, then select Advanced Options and select Windows Startup Settings. Click on the Restart button, and you should now be able to see the Advanced Boot Options screen. - Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter on your keyboard.
![Advanced Boot Options screen [Image: Starting computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Safe-Mode-with-Command-Prompt.jpg)
- At the command prompt, type rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.
![rstrui.exe command in Safe Mode with Command Prompt [Image: Start System Restore to remove lock screen virus]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/system-restore-command.jpg)
Alternatively, if you are using Windows Vista, 7 and 8, you can type: C:\windows\system32\rstrui.exe , and press Enter. And if you are a Windows XP user, type C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, then press Enter. - System Restore should start, and you will display also a list of restore points. Try using a restore point created just before the date and time the Australian Federal Police lock screen virus has infected your computer.
![Restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time [Image: Restore settings to remove ransomware]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/system-restore.jpg)
- When System Restore has completed its task, start your computer in Windows regular mode, and perform a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro, as seen in the next step.
STEP 2: Remove Australian Federal Police malicious files with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Even after using System Restore,
- You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link, then double-click on the icon named mbam-setup.exe to install this program.
MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free) - When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process, then at the last screen click on the Finish button.
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malware installation screen [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-installation.jpg)
- On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan, and then click on the Scan button to start searching for the Australian Federal Police malicious files.
![Run a Quick Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-quick-scan.jpg)
- Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for Australian Federal Police virus as shown below.

- When the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan has finished, click on the Show Results button.
![Malwarebytes when the system scan has completed [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-scan-results.jpg)
- You will now be presented with a screen showing you the computer infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected. Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked), then click on the Remove Selected button.
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malwar removing Australian Federal Police virus [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malwar removing Australian Federal Police virus]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-virus-removal.jpg)
STEP 3: Double-check for the Australian Federal Police virus with HitmanPro
- You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a web page from where you can download HitmanPro) - Double-click on the file named HitmanPro.exe (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or HitmanPro_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows). When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below.

Click on the Next button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.

- HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for Australian Federal Police malicious files.

- When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the Next button, to remove Australian Federal Police virus.

- Click on the Activate free license button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
![HitmanPro free 30 days trial [Image: HitmanPro 30 days activation button]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/hitmanpro-activation.jpg)
OPTION 2: Remove Australian Federal Police virus with with HitmanPro Kickstart
If you cannot start your computer into Safe Mode with Command Prompt mode, we can use the HitmanPro Kickstart program to bypass Australian Federal Police lock screen.
As the Australian Federal Police ransomware infection locks you out of your computer, you will need to create a bootable USB drive that contains the HitmanPro Kickstart program.
We will then boot your computer using this bootable USB drive and use it to clean the infection so that you are able to access Windows normally again.
You will also need a USB drive, which will have all of its data erased and will then be formatted. Therefore, only use a USB drive that does not contain any important data.
- Using a “clean” (non-infected) computer, please download HitmanPro Kickstart from the below link.
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro Kickstart) - Once HitmanPro has been downloaded, please insert the USB flash drive that you would like to erase and use for the installation of HitmanPro Kickstart. Then double-click on the file named HitmanPro.exe (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or HitmanPro_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows).
To create a bootable HitmanPro USB drive, please follow the instructions from this video:
- Now, remove the HitmanPro Kickstart USB drive and insert it into the Australian Federal Police infected computer.
- Once you have inserted the HitmanPro Kickstart USB drive, turn off the infected computer and then turn it on. As soon as you power it on, look for text on the screen that tells you how to access the boot menu.
![Windows Boot Menu screens [Image: Windows Boot Menu screens]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/windows-boot-manager.jpg)
The keys that are commonly associated with enabling the boot menu are F10, F11 or F12. - Once you determine the proper key (usually the F11 key) that you need to press to access the Boot Menu, restart your computer again and start immediately tapping that key. Next, please perform a scan with HitmanPro Kickstart as shown in the video below.
- HitmanPro will now reboot your computer and Windows should start normally. Then please Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro, and scan your computer for any left over infections.
OPTION 3: Remove Australian Federal Police virus with Kaspersky Rescue Disk
If any of the above methods did not clean your infected computer, we can use a Kaspersky Rescue Disk Bootable to clean the Windows registry and to perform a system scan to remove the Australian Federal Police virus.
To create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk, we will need the following items:
- A clean (non-infected) computer with Internet access
- A blank DVD or CD
- A computer with a DVD or CD burner
STEP 1: Download and create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk CD
- You can download Kaspersky Rescue Disk utility from link below:
KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download Kaspersky Rescue Disk (kav_rescue_10.iso) on your computer.) - To create the bootable rescue disk, we will need to use the ImgBurn program. You can download ImgBurn from the below link, then install this program.
IMGBURN DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new page from where you can download the ImgBurn program) - Insert your blank DVD or CD in your burner, then start ImgBurn and click on the Write image file to disc button.
- Under Source click on the Browse for file button, then navigate to the location where you previously saved the Kaspersky Rescue Disk utility (kav_rescue_10.iso), then click on the Write button.
![Creating Kaspersky Rescue Disk bootable CD [Image: Bootable Kaspersky Rescue CD]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/creating-bootable-kaspersky-rescue-disk.jpg)
That’s it, ImgBurn will now begin writing your bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk.
STEP 2: Start your computer using the Kaspersky Rescue Disk
- Once you’ve got the Kasperky Rescue Disk in hand, insert it into the infected computer, and turn off and then turn it on again.
- As soon as you power it on, you will see a screen that tells you to press any key to enter the menu, so please tap any key to boot your machine from the Kaspersky Rescue Disk.
![Starting infected computer from Kaspersky Rescue Disk [Image: Starting infected computer from Kaspersky Rescue Disk]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-boot.png)
- In the next screen, you will need to chose a language, then you click on Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Graphic Mode and press ENTER, to start the Kaspersky Rescue Disk.
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk Graphic Mode screen [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk Graphic Mode screen]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-graphic-mode.png)
STEP 3: Scan your system with Kaspersky Rescue Disk
- Within a few short seconds you should see the full working environment, with the Kaspersky Rescue Disk screen front and center as shown below.
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk scanner [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk scanner]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk.jpg)
- Switch tabs over to the My Update Center, and then click the Start update button to load the latest anti-virus definitions. Please be patience while this process its completed.
![Updating Kaspersky Rescue Disk antivirus definitions [Image: Updating Kaspersky Rescue Disk antivirus definitions]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-update.jpg)
- Switch back over to the Objects Scan tab, select the drives you want to scan, and then click the Start Objects Scan button.
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk scan [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk scan]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-scan.jpg)
- When Kaspersky Antivirus will detect the Australian Federal Police virus, you’ll be prompted to select an action. When this happens, please select Quarantine or Delete to remove this infection from your computer.
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk when detecting malware [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk prompt]](//malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-alarm.png)
- When the antivirus scan has completed, you can restart back into Windows regular mode, by clicking on the Kaspersky Start button
(lower left corner), and selecting Restart.
Once your computer will start in Windows regular more, download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro, and scan your computer for any left over infections.
Your computer should now be free of the Australian Federal Police infection. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future, and perform regular computer scans with HitmanPro.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove Australian Federal Police Ukash virus from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.
![Remove Australian Federal Police virus (Removal Guide) 1 [Image: AFP virus]](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/australian-federal-police-virus-290x290.jpg)


![Windows F8 key [Image: F8 key]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/F8-key.jpg.png)
![Advanced Boot Options screen [Image: Starting computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Safe-Mode-with-Command-Prompt.jpg)
![rstrui.exe command in Safe Mode with Command Prompt [Image: Start System Restore to remove lock screen virus]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/system-restore-command.jpg)
![Restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time [Image: Restore settings to remove ransomware]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/system-restore.jpg)
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malware installation screen [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-installation.jpg)
![Run a Quick Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-quick-scan.jpg)

![Malwarebytes when the system scan has completed [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-scan-results.jpg)
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malwar removing Australian Federal Police virus [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malwar removing Australian Federal Police virus]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/malwarebytes-virus-removal.jpg)




![HitmanPro free 30 days trial [Image: HitmanPro 30 days activation button]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/hitmanpro-activation.jpg)
![Windows Boot Menu screens [Image: Windows Boot Menu screens]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/windows-boot-manager.jpg)
![Creating Kaspersky Rescue Disk bootable CD [Image: Bootable Kaspersky Rescue CD]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/creating-bootable-kaspersky-rescue-disk.jpg)
![Starting infected computer from Kaspersky Rescue Disk [Image: Starting infected computer from Kaspersky Rescue Disk]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-boot.png)
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk Graphic Mode screen [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk Graphic Mode screen]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-graphic-mode.png)
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk scanner [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk scanner]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk.jpg)
![Updating Kaspersky Rescue Disk antivirus definitions [Image: Updating Kaspersky Rescue Disk antivirus definitions]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-update.jpg)
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk scan [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk scan]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-scan.jpg)
![Kaspersky Rescue Disk when detecting malware [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk prompt]](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Kaspersky-Rescue-Disk-alarm.png)
I have a serious problem that I need help with. I have the AFP Ukash virus on my laptop (Compaq V3703 running Windows XP). I cannot start in any of the Safe modes – Ukash actives a couple of seconds or so after restarting and the computer gets locked up once again – so most of the recommendations do not work for me. I then tried using HitmanPro Kickstart to circumvent this, but this also didn’t work. This provided me with the Kickstart boot menu, although this would then go into the Windows Advanced Options Menu (the screen you get after pressing F8). The computer then freezes whether I select start Windows normally or start in Safe Mode.
Oh yeah, I have tried reinstalling Windows XP on the C: drive partition, but this computer has a SATA hard drive which the installer does not recognise. I have tried going into the BIOS to change the SATA driver to IDE as suggested elsewhere, but the BIOS on this machine is very basic and will not allow me to make any changes.
What are my options? I desperately need access to this computer so I can save off a number of files that I have saved on D: drive (Windows is on C:), after which I am happy to reformat. I am not overly tech savvy so would appreciate a simple / lain language fix if one exists. Cheers.
Hello Jason,
You’ll need to create a Kaspersky Rescue CD as seen http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-ukash-virus/, on Method 3.
If everything fails, then you’ll need to create an account on our forums and a member of the staff will help you (with more advanced tools) to remove this nasty virus: http://malwaretips.com/Forum-Malware-Removal-Assistance
Thanks for getting back to me Stelian. I’ll give the rescue disk a shot and let you know how I go.
you are a diamond bro… thanks a lot…………
Thanks buddy worked well :)
I used the Hitman kickstart software and followed the two videos. Ihave XP and by following the videos everything worked and the virus was gone, Just to be sure I System restored my pc to an earlier date all seems as it was so a million thanks for the help , : )
Used Method 2. Absolutely brilliant. Thanks.
Messi = Football, Pilici = Computers
Mucho Gracios Mi Amigo!
Thanks for the advice. This insidious webpage locked my daughter laptop – using these steps cleared and unlocked the computer. Can’t imagine how much these mongrels fleece from unsuspecting users who get this. Thanks for your help
Thankyou seems ot have worked appreciate your assistance. ty
how do i get rid of the scam and can someone please explain the steps to me.
Hello Lisa,
This hole page is about how to remove AFP virus…Just read the article! :)
Sorry must have a later version of the AFP virus it keeps overriding the USB device boot and booting XP from the hard drive even when I set the bios to USB or CD drive and remove the HDD from the boot order, only thing I cand get into is CMD Prompt Window, nothing else works and it won’t see my CD drive or USB stick to launch from there, looks like a reinstall windows tommorrow if AVG support can’t help :/
Hello Pat,
You’ll need to created a Kaspersky Rescue CD as seen in this article, on Method 3.
If everything fails, then you’ll need to create an account on our forums and a member of the staff will help you (with more advanced tools) to remove this nasty virus: http://malwaretips.com/Forum-Malware-Removal-Assistance
Mine is strange, got the locked out screen, seemed fishy, so I turned my computer off, turned it on. And everything seems fine – my computer booted up then loaded all the websites etc I had before it got locked.
The scan has picked up some trojans though so hopefully that’s it. Thanks heaps!
Thank you Malware worked for me, I worry about the older people out there who may have limited computer knowledge and fall for this scam.
Method 2 worked for me. I followed the steps diligently and my laptop appears fixed. Thank you for sharing your expertise and knowledge. It is appreciated.
Hi, first of all thank you. I Had to use Method 2 cmd with command promt, however it would not let me go to C:\windows\system32 so i did a search and found out i have to do the following command I typed ( cd (space) windows\system32 ENTER) then I typed from there cd restore, waited a few seconds then typed rstrui.exe waited a few seconds and then it worked I was able to perform a system restore.
I then got a ERROR LOADING C:\documents…..\wgsdgsdgsgsd.dll clicked OK then just the windows wall paper screen appeared. I then restarted and went into SAFE MODE again start normally and am now doing a Virus scan to get rid of the stupid fake virus.
Its been over 5 hours of scanning now and I can now get into my Normal windows which is XP but still get that wgsdgsgdgsd.dll error, however i was not able to update the Malwarebytes which i am doing now. If all is good I will do another MW search and if that is good I will not post again. Thanks
OK GOOD news I updated my MW Bytes and did another full scan and it found 4 RANSOM Trojans and 1 other mall-ware i guess is associated with this terrible virus. So now i have rebooted 2 times and its all back to normal. Thank you so much for your post I really appreciate your time and effort. I also hope my information is helpful to you all. BTW when i said above fake virus i meant fake message. I will say i did sh*t myself and thought WT* but as soon as it said send money i smelled a rat and knew i would be able to find out how to beat them. If i did do anything wrong the police or government wouldn’t tell me about it via my computer LOL they would be knocking on my door. Thanks Again.
i love you, thx heaps!!!
Ignore my previous post – I realised the boot USB it a dual architecture bootable USB HOWEVER, I just did all this as instructed in the videos but after the scanning of the HDD got to about file 10’000 or so, the ransomware white screen took over and nothing else happened. Scan starts, it takes over but is then re-taken over by the ransomware again before it completes… I tried 3 times and same result and at the exact same file scan each time….. Any sugestions ?
Hi,
I have a little problem – all the computers I own and use are 64 Bit but my customers AFP Ransomware infected computer is 32 Bit. As a result, getting a bootable 32 Bit version of the reccommended program HITMAN PRO is pretty hard as you cant run the 32 bit on the 64 bit machine (unless I missed something) ?
I was forced to use an old HDD I had in a box with a 32 Bit image of Vista to boot using the customers computer to then go and download and create the 32 Bit version of the bootable USB drive and then swap the HDD’s, reboot from the 32 bit usb drive and go from there – is there an easier way ?
Thank you Stelian! I’ve used Method no. 1 and worked perfectly! Malwarebytes removed all the viruses from my computer!
Thank you and a Happy New Year from Sydney, Australia!
I have used Method 2, and it worked perfectly!
Thanks Stelian!
thankyou soo much throught i was screwed for a second there