Remove IRMA virus (MoneyPak scam)

The Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) MoneyPak Ransom is a computer virus, which will display a bogus notification, that pretends to be from the Business Software Alliance trade group and states that your computer has been blocked due to it being involved with the distribution of pornographic material, SPAM and copyrighted content.
The Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) 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 Euro in the form of a MoneyPak code.
Furthermore, to make its alert seem more authentic, this virus also has the ability to access your installed webcam ,so that the bogus Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) notification shows what is happening in the room.
If your computer is infected with Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) virus,then you are seeing any of the below notifications:

The bogus alert from the Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) Ransom will display the following message:

All activity of this computer has been recorded. If you use a webcam. All Activity were saved for identification.

Your personal computer has been noticed in viewing, storing and using of forbidden and pirate software, audio and video content.

Now your PC is locked by Business Software Alliance trade group and Information Resources Management Association.
This project was created to struggle for purity of the Internet. You are visiting, viewing and using forbidden content, sponsoring the owners of this content (forbidden and pirate). You are putting yourself and your computer at risk by using this content. Real creators of this content, who are concerned about your security, are loosing billions of dollars.

Warning! Do not use pirate (forbidden) content.
How the pirate (forbidden) content can be dangerous? There are hidden procedures for tracing and transmission your personal data running with this content. Your personal data can be used for fraudulent purposes. Using, watching, saving pirate (forbidden) content you are violating at least one act of the law of our country. In the worst case, you may break up to four acts of pirate content law.

If you don’t pay the fee, all data about using of pirate (forbidden) content, your personal IP address. webcam data (if you use it) will be sent to the self-government, where your case will be considered on an individual basis and appropriate measures will be taken.

How to protect yourself and don’t lock your computer again?
You have to use licensed only software, store only licensed and legal files and programs on your computer. You shouldn’t use any software for downloading audio, video and other types of pirate and forbidden content on your computer. You should avoid any registrations and publications at sites, containing pirate and forbidden content. Your computer shouldn’t be used for transmission of forbidden data.

How to unlock your computer?
You should buy MoneyPack code denominated of 250 dollars.
The number of code needs to be entered in the field below. After entering, check correctness of the code number and press “OK” button. Your computer will be unlocked in 1-72 hours.

Read attentively! After paying the fee!
After paying the fee, this application will unlock your PC for 7 days (168 hours), and will be activated again after this term. You have this time to remove pirate (forbidden) content. After payinselled to pay the fee again. After paying the fee you can get the free consultation at support@irma-international.org, send a fax to +1-253-512-8497 or get a support on the phone calling +1-202-872-5501.

The Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) 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 this cyber criminals,as this could lead to identity theft,and if you have, you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charge stating that the program is a scam and a computer virus.

Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) MoneyPak Ransomware – Virus Removal Guide

STEP 1: Remove Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) lock screen from your computer

The Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) MoneyPak Ransomware has modified your Windows registry so that when you’re trying to boot your computer it will launch instead its bogus notification.To remove this malicious registry change,we can use any of the below methods:

Method 1: Restore Windows to a previous state using System Restore

1. Restart your computer, and then press and hold F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in safe mode with a Command prompt.
   Note: With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you will get a stuck key message. If this occurs, instead of pressing and holding the “F8 key”, tap the “F8 key” continuously until you get the Advanced Boot Options screen.
2. Use the arrow keys to select the Safe mode with a Command prompt option.
   
3. At the command prompt, type cd restore, and then press ENTER.
   Next,we will type rstrui.exe , and then press ENTER
   
4. The System Restore window will start and you’ll need to select a restore point previous to this infection.
   
5. After System Restore has completed its task,you should be able to boot in Windows normal mode,from there you’ll need to perform a system scan (as seen on STEP 2) with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro to remove the malicious files from your machine.

Method 2: Use a Kaspersky Kaspersky Rescue Disk CD to remove the bogus Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) lock screen

IF you cannot access Safe Mode with Command Prompt we will need to use a Kaspersky Rescue Disk Bootable CD to clean the Windows registry and to perform a system scan to remove the malicious files.
What you’ll need to perform this removal guide :

1. A computer with Internet access.
2. 1 blank DVD or CD
3. 1 DVD/CD Burner
4. Software which can create a bootable CD
5. A copy of the latest Kaspersky Rescue Disc
6. About 1 -2 hours depending on how much data you have on C:

STEP A: Download and create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk CD

1. Download the Kaspersky Rescue Disk ISOimage from below.
   KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new page from where you can download Kaspersky Rescue Disk ISO)
2. Download ImgBurn, a software that will help us create this bootable disk.
   IMGBURN DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new page from where you can download ImgBurn)
3. You can now insert your blank DVD/CD in your burner.
4. Install ImgBurn by following the prompts and then start this program.
5. Click on the Write image file to disc button.
   
6. Under ‘Source’ click on the Browse for file button, then browse to the location where you previously saved the Kaspersky Rescue Disk ISO file.(kav_rescue_10.iso)
   
7. Click on the big Write button.
   
8. The disc creation process will now start and it will take around 5-10 minutes to complete.

STEP B:Configure the computer to boot from CD-ROM

On some machines,if you restart the computer and repeatedly tap the F11 key it should bring up the Boot Menu, from there you can select to boot from the CD.
IF this doesn’t happen then you’ll need to configure your computer to boot for a CD like you’ll see below.

1. Use the Delete or F2 keys, to load the BIOS menu.Information how to enter the BIOS menu is displayed on the screen at the start of the OS boot:
   
2. In your PC BIOS settings select the Boot menu and set CD/DVD-ROM as a primary boot device.
   
3. Insert your Kaspersky Rescue Disk and restart your computer.

STEP C:Boot your computer from Kaspersky Rescue Disk

1. Your computer will now boot from the Kaspersky Rescue Disk,and you’ll be asked to press any key to proceed with this process
   
2. In the start up wizard window that will open, select your language using the cursor moving keys. Press the ENTER key on the keyboard.
   
3. On the next screen, select Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Graphic Mode then press ENTER.
   
4. The End User License Agreement of Kaspersky Rescue Disk will be displayed on the screen. Read carefully the agreement then press the C button on your keyboard.
   
5. Once the actions described above have been performed, the Kasprsky operating system will start.

STEP D: Launch Kaspersky WindowsUnlocker to remove the malicious registry changes

This ransomware trojan has modified your Windows system registry so that when you’re trying to boot your computer it will instead launch his lock screen.To remove this malicious registry changes we need to use the Kasersky WindowsUnlocker from Kaspersky Rescue Disk.

1. Click on the Start button located in the left bottom corner of the screen and select the Kaspersky WindowsUnlocker.
   
   IF you can’t find the WindowsUnlocker button, you can select Terminal and in the command prompt type windowsunlocker and then press Enter on the keyboard.
2. A white colored console window will appear and will automatically start loading the registry files for scanning and disinfection. The whole process will take only a couple of seconds and after this process you should be able to boot your computer in normal mode.
   

STEP E:Scan your system with Kaspersky Rescue Disk

1. Click on the Start button located in the left bottom corner of the screen and select the Kaspersky Rescue Disk then click on My Update Center and press Start update.
   
2. When the update process has completed, the light at the top of the window will turn green, and the databases release date will be updated.
   
3. Click on the Objects Scan tab, then click Start Objects Scanto begin the scan.
   
4. If any malicious items are found, the default settings are to prompt you for action with a red popup window on the bottom right. Delete is the recommended action in most cases but we strongly recommend that you try first to disinfect , and if it doesn’t work chose to quarantine the infected files just to be on the safe side.
   
5. When all detected items have been processed and removed, the light in the window will turn green and the scan will show as completed.
   
6. When done you can close the Kaspersky Rescue Disk window and use the Start Menu to Restart the computer.

STEP 2: Remove the malicious Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) ransomware files from your computer

STEP A: Run a system scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE

1. Download the latest official version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE.
   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)
2. Start the Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware installation process by double clicking on mbam-setup file.
   
3. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button. If Malwarebytes’ prompts you to reboot, please do not do so.
   
4. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start and you’ll be prompted to start a trial period , please select ‘Decline‘ as we just want to use the on-demand scanner.
   
5. On the Scanner tab,select Perform quick scan and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer.
   
6. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for malicious files as shown below.
   
7. When the scan is finished a message box will appear, click OK to continue.
8. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has detected.Please note that the infections found may be different from what is shown in the image.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the Remove Selected button.
   

STEP B: Run a system scan with HitmanPro

1. Download the latest official version of HitmanPro from the below link.
   HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download HitmanPro)
2. Double click on the previously downloaded file to start the HitmanPro installation.
   
   IF you are experiencing problems while trying to start HitmanPro, you can use the Force Breach mode.To start HitmanPro in Force Breach mode, hold down the left CTRL-key when you start HitmanPro and all non-essential processes are terminated, including the malware process. (How to start HitmanPro in Force Breach mode – Video)
3. Click on Next to install HitmanPro on your system.
   
4. The setup screen is displayed, from which you can decide whether you wish to install HitmanPro on your machine or just perform a one-time scan, select an option then click on Next to start a system scan.
   
5. HitmanPro will start scanning your system for malicious files as seen in the image below.
   
6. Once the scan is complete,you’ll see a screen which will display all the malicious files that the program has found.Click on Next to remove this malicious files.
   
7. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove the malicious files.
   
8. HitmanPro will now start removing the infected objects.If this program will ask you to restart your computer,please allow this request.

If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove  Information Resources Management Association (IRMA) virus from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.