Remove Polícia de Segurança Pública virus (Removal Guide)

The Polícia de Segurança Pública lock screen is a computer virus, which will display a bogus notification, that pretends to be from the Polícia de Segurança Pública (Portuguese 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 Polícia de Segurança Pública 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 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 Polícia de Segurança Pública notification shows what is happening in the room.

If your computer is infected with Polícia de Segurança Pública virus, then you are seeing the below notification:
[Image: Polícia de Segurança Pública virus]
Cyber criminals often updated the design of this lock screen, however you should always keep in mind that the Portuguese police will never lock down your computer or monitor your online activities.
The message displayed by the threat can be localized depending on the user’s location, with text written in the appropriate language :

Polícia de Segurança Pública
Guarda Nacional Republicana
Ministério da Administração Interna
ATENÇÃO! O seu PC está bloqueado devido a, pelo menos, por uma das seguintes razões.
Você violou “Direitos de Autor e direitos conexos com a lei correspondente. (Vídeo, Música, Software) e uso ilegal ou distribuição de conteúdo protegido por direitos autorais, assim, infringido o artigo 128 do Código Penal da República Portuguesa.
O artigo 128 do Código Penal prevê unia multa de 200 a 500 salários mínimos ou a privação de liberdade de 2 a Panos.
Você estava a ver ou distribuir conteúdo Pornográfico proibido (Pornografia InfantiliZoofilia e etc). Violando assim o artigo 202 do Código Penal da República Portuguesa. Artigo 202 do Código Penal prevê uma pena privativa de liberdade de 4 a 12 anos. Acesso ilegal a dados de computador foi iniciado do seu PC, ou você tem sido…
O artigo 208 do Código Penal prevê uma multa de €100.000 eiou a privação de liberdade de 4 a 9 anos.
Acesso ilegal foi iniciada do seu PC sem seu conhecimento ou consentimento, seu PC pode ser infectado por um malware, porque, você está violando a Lei sobre uso negligente do computador pessoal.
O artigo 210 do Código Penal prevê uma multa de €2.000 a €8.000.
O distribuição de spam ou publicidade ilegal tenha sido efectuada do seu PC como uma atividade com fins lucrativos ou sem o seu conhecimento, seu PC pode ser infectado por malware.
O artigo 212 do Código Penal prevê uma multa de até €250.000 e uma privação de liberdade até 6 anos. Se esta atividade foi realizada sem o seu conhecimento, você será culpado conforme do referido artigo 210 do Código Penal da República Portuguesa.
Sua personalidade e endereço estão identificados, um processo criminal vai ser movido contra você sob um ou mais artigos especificados acima nas próximas 72 horas.
De acordo com a alteração do Código Penal da República Portuguesa de 04 de fevereiro de 2012, esta infracção da lei (se isto acontecer pela primeira vez) pode ser considerado como condicional no caso de você pagar a multa para o Estado.
AS multas só podem ser pagos durante 72 horas após a infracção. Assim, depois de 72 horas, a possibilidade de pagar a multa será expirada, e um processo criminal será movido contra você automaticamente dentro das próximas 72 horas!
O valor da multa é €100. Você pode pagar urna multa PaySafeCard ou Ukash.
Quando você pagar a multa, seu PC vai ficar desbloqueado de 1 a 72 horas após o dinheiro serão depositado na conta do Estado.

Under no circumstance should you send any money via Ukash to these cyber criminals, as this could lead to identity theft, and if you have, you can  should request a refund, stating that you are the victim of a computer virus and scam.

Polícia de Segurança Pública Lock Screen – Virus Removal Guide

STEP 1: Remove Polícia de Segurança Pública lock screen from your computer

Polícia de Segurança Pública Ukash Ransom has modified your Windows registry and added its malicious files to run at start-up, so whenever you’re trying to boot your computer it will launch instead its bogus notification.To remove these malicious changes, we can use any of the below methods :

Method 1: Start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking and scan for malware

Some variants of Polícia de Segurança Pública virus will allow the users to start the infected computer in Safe Mode with Networking without displaying the bogus lock screen. In this first method, we will try to start the computer in Safe Mode with Networking and then scan for malware to remove the malicious files.

  1. Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
  2. Press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts.Please keep in mind that you need to press the F8 key before the Windows start-up logo appears.
    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.
  3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking , and then press ENTER.
    [Image: Safe Mode with Networking]
  4. If your computer has started in Safe Mode with Networking, 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.

IF the Polícia de Segurança Pública virus didn’t allow you to start the computer in Safe Mode with Networking,you’ll need to follow Method 2 to get rid of its lock screen.


Method 2: Restore Windows to a previous state using System Restore

System Restore can return your computer system files and programs to a time when everything was working fine, so we will try to use this Windows feature to get rid of Polícia de Segurança Pública lock screen.

  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.
    Enter Safe Mode with Command Prompt
  3. At the command prompt, if you are using Windows Vista, 7 or 8 type C:\windows\system32\rstrui.exe , and then press ENTER.
    If you are using Windows XP, you will need to type C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.
    [Image: Start System Restore from Safe Mode with Command Prompt]
  4. The System Restore utility will start, and you’ll need to select a restore point previous to this infection.
    Restore points in Windows 7
  5. After System Restore has completed its task, you should be able to boot in Windows normal mode, and perform a system scan (as seen on STEP 2) with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro to remove the malicious files from your machine.

IF the Polícia de Segurança Pública virus didn’t allow you to restore your computer to a previous point, you’ll need to follow Method 3 to get rid of its screen lock.


Method 3: Remove Polícia de Segurança Pública lock screen with msconfig utility

When your computer was infected with the Polícia de Segurança Pública virus, this trojan has set a its malicious files to start whenever your computer is booting. IF you didn’t have a restore point, we can use msconfig to remove it’s malicious start-up entry.

  1. While your computer is in Safe Mode with Command Prompt, type msconfig to start the Windows System Configuration utility.
    [Image: Type msconfig in the Command prompt]
  2. Click on the Startup tab, then search for any suspicious or unknonw entries (random numbers or letters, ctfmon.exe, and other suspicious or unknown entries), and unckech them from startup, then click on OK.
    This will stop the Polícia de Segurança Pública virus from starting with Windows, however it won’t remove the malicious files from your computer.
    [Image: Uncheck any suspicious entries from start-up]
  3. Type shutdown /r in the command prompt to restart your computer, then  perform a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro as seen on STEP 2.

IF the Polícia de Segurança Pública virus didn’t allow you to start the computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt you’ll need to follow Method 4 to get rid of its screen lock.


Method 4: Remove Polícia de Segurança Pública virus with HitmanPro Kickstart

IF you couldn’t boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt or didn’t have a System Restore point on your machine, we can use HitmanPro Kickstart to bypass this infection, and access your computer to scan it for malware.

  1. We will need to create a HitmanPro Kickstart USB flash drive,so while you are using a “clean” (non-infected) computer, download 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. Insert your USB flash drive into your computer and follow the instructions from the below video:
  3. After you have create the HitmanPro Kickstart USB flash drive, you can insert this USB drive into the infected machine and start your computer.
  4. Once the computer starts, repeatedly tap the F11 key (on some machines its F10 or F2),which should bring up the Boot Menu, from there you can select to boot from your USB.
    Next,you’ll need to perform a system scan with HitmanPro as see in the below video:
  5. After HitmanPro Kickstart 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.

STEP 2: Remove Polícia de Segurança Pública malicious files from your computer

Run a computer scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

  1. You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link,then double click on it 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)
  2. 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.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]
  3. On the Scanner tab,select Perform quick scan and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]
  4. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for Polícia de Segurança Pública virus as shown below.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanning for Polícia de Segurança Pública virus]
  5. When the Malwarebytes scan will be completed,click on Show Result.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]
  6. 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 than what is shown in the image.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the Remove Selected button.
    [Image:Malwarebytes removing virus]
  7. After your computer will restart in Normal mode, open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and perform a Full System scan to verify that there are no remaining threats

Run a computer scan with HitmanPro

  1. Download HitmanPro from the below link,then double click on it to start this program.
    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
    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)
  2. HitmanPro will start and you’ll need to follow the prompts (by clicking on the Next button) to start a system scan with this program.
    HitmanPro scanner
    HitmanPro installation
  3. HitmanPro will start scanning your computer for Polícia de Segurança Pública malicious files as seen in the image below.
    HitmanPro scans after
  4. Once the scan is complete,you’ll see a screen which will display all the infected files that this utility has detected, and you’ll need to click on Next to remove these malicious files.
    HitmanPro scan results
  5. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
    HitmanPro 30 days activation button

If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove Polícia de Segurança Pública virus from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.

How to Stay Safe Online

Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:

  1. Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.

    Shield Guide

    It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.

  2. Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.

    updates-guide

    Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.

  3. Be careful when installing programs and apps.

    install guide

    Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."

  4. Install an ad blocker.

    Ad Blocker

    Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.

  5. Be careful what you download.

    Trojan Horse

    A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.

  6. Be alert for people trying to trick you.

    warning sign

    Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.

  7. Back up your data.

    backup sign

    Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.

  8. Choose strong passwords.

    lock sign

    Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.

  9. Be careful where you click.

    cursor sign

    Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.

  10. Don't use pirated software.

    Shady Guide

    Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.

To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.