Windows Private Shield is a rogue security software that will display fake alerts, claiming malware has been detected on your computer.This security alerts are professional looking pop-ups and when you click on them, you’re advised to buy Windows Private Shield in order to remove the detected threats.
In reality, none of the reported issues are real, and are only used to scare you into buying Windows Private Shield and stealing your personal financial information.
If you’ve got a Windows Private Shield infection , you’ll be seeing this screens :
We strongly advise you to follow our Windows Private Shield removal guide and ignore any alerts that this malicious software might generate.
Under no circumstance should you buy this rogue security software 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.
Registration codes for Windows Private Shield
As an optional step,you can use the following license key to register Windows Private Shield and stop the fake alerts.
0W000-000B0-00T00-E0020
Please keep in mind that entering the above registration code will NOT remove Windows Private Shield from your computer , instead it will just stop the fake alerts so that you’ll be able to complete our removal guide more easily.
Removal Instructions for Windows Private Shield
STEP 1 : Start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking
- Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
- 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.
- On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking , and then press ENTER.
- Log on to your computer with a user account that has administrator rights
STEP 2: Remove Windows Private Shield malicious proxy server
Windows Private Shield may add a proxy server which prevents the user from accessing the internet,follow the below instructions to remove the proxy.
- Start Internet Explorer and if you are using Internet Explorer 9 ,click on the gear icon (Tools for Internet Explorer 8 users) ,then select Internet Options.
- Go to the tab Connections.At the bottom, click on LAN settings.
- Uncheck the option Use a proxy server for your LAN. This should remove the malicious proxy server and allow you to use the internet again.
If you are a Firefox users, go to Firefox(upper left corner) → Options → Advanced tab → Network → Settings → Select No Proxy
STEP 3: Run RKill to terminate known malware processes associated with Windows Private Shield.
RKill is a program that will attempt to terminate all malicious processes associated with Windows Private Shield,so that we will be able to perform the next step without being interrupted by this malicious software.
Because this utility will only stop Windows Private Shield running process, and does not delete any files, after running it you should not reboot your computer as any malware processes that are configured to start automatically will just be started again.
- While your computer is in Safe Mode with Networking ,please download the latest official version of RKill.Please note that we will use a renamed version of RKILL so that Windows Private Shield won’t block this utility from running.
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download RKILL renamed as iExplore.exe) - Double-click on the iExplore.exe icon in order to automatically attempt to stop any processes associated with Windows Private Shield.
- RKill will now start working in the background, please be patient while the program looks for various malware programs and tries to terminate them.
IF you are having problems starting or running RKill, you can download any other renamed versions of RKill from here. - When Rkill has completed its task, it will generate a log. You can then proceed with the rest of the guide.
WARNING: Do not reboot your computer after running RKill as the malware process will start again , preventing you from properly performing the next step.
STEP 4: Remove Windows Private Shield malicious files with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE
- 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) - Install Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware by double clicking on mbam-setup.
- When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation 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 Finishbutton. If Malwarebytes’ prompts you to reboot, please do not do so.
- 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.
- On the Scanner tab,please select Perform full scan and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for any possible infections.
- Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for Windows Private Shield malicious files as shown below.
- When the scan is finished a message box will appear, click OK to continue.
- 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 Selectedbutton.
- Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start removing the malicious files.If during the removal process Malwarebytes will display a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow this request.
STEP 5: Double check your system for any left over infections with HitmanPro
- This step can be performed in Normal Mode ,so please download the latest official version of HitmanPro.
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download HitmanPro) - Double click on the previously downloaded fileto start the HitmanPro installation.
IF you are experiencing problems while trying to starting HitmanPro, you can use the “Force Breach” mode.To start this program 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) - Click on Next to install HitmanPro on your system.
- 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 a option then click on Next to start a system scan.
- HitmanPro will start scanning your system for malicious files. Depending on the size of your hard drive, and the performance of your computer, this step will take several minutes.
- Once the scan is complete,a screen displaying all the malicious files that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below.After reviewing each malicious object click Next.
- Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove the malicious files.
- HitmanPro will now start removing the infected objects, and in some instances, may suggest a reboot in order to completely remove the malware from your system. In this scenario, always confirm the reboot action to be on the safe side.
Hello,
Lets try do this another way.Please follow the below steps…
STEP 1. While in NORMAL MODE,download HitmanPro and then start this program in ForceBreach Mode
1.Here are the direct download links for HitmanPro,
– http://dl.surfright.nl/HitmanPro36.exe (For 32bit)
– http://dl.surfright.nl/HitmanPro36_x64.exe (For 64bit)
2.Hold down the left CTRL-key when you start HitmanPro and all non-essential processes are terminated, including this rogue malicious process
Here is a video that explains with graphic details how to do this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6eRWTv2STk
3. Let HitmanPro scan and remove the detected infections.
STEP 2: While in NORMAL MODE,download/Run Rkill and then run a scan with Malwarebytes
1.Download any re-named version of Rkill (direct download links bellow):
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK #1
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK #2
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK #3
2.Next,please perform a scan with Malwarebytes as seen on the guide.
STEP 3. Run a scan with ESET Online Scanner
ESET Online Scanner Download Link (This link will automatically download ESET Online Scanner on your computer.)
Waiting for your reply to tell me how everything is working.. :) Good luck!
UPDATE
I figured out the issue with the boot. I had my flash drive in when I was rebooting, and it’s a netbook. Maybe it was trying to boot from that?
Anyway, I ran rkill again and it did display one item in the log this time. I installed Malwarebytes, but first I uninstalled a version that was already on the computer (this is my friends computer. Maybe it was suggested to her before). 20 seconds into the scan, the window disappeared. I tried to open the program again and I was presented with a message in a small window reading:
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
Windows cannot acces the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
I uninstalled the progam and re-installed again 2 more times with the same results. The final time, I thought that maybe the program was still running in the background or something, so I waited over half an hour. I checked the task manager and nothing was showing in there.
Is there some reason that I can’t just try Hitman Pro without running Malwarebytes first?
Genius! Worked flawlessly and in under 40 minutes. Irony is that I fixed my brother’s computer following your instructions on my iPad… That’s why I love all things Apple! Thank yousomuch for the best repair instructions on this problem!
Hello mary,
With some computers, if you press and hold a key as the computer is booting you will get a stuck key message.So instead of pressing and holding the “F8 key”, tap the “F8 key” continuously until you get the startup menu.
Good luck!
Hi! My laptop got infected with this private shield virus i m trying to use your instructions but when i restart it and press and hold F8 nothing happens the advanced boot screen does not pop up. I also tried F10 what else can i do?
Thanks in advance
just want to say 10x.you saved my pc
Thanks!!!!Got infected with this virus after trying to run a video online,your guide worked perfectly!
+1 Recommended!
k.Good luck…. and keep me up to date with what’s going on….
It’s not really that hard to remove this rogue but if you need help ,I’m always here!;D
Thanks you very much. I’m going to attempt to talk my boyfriend through the removal steps above over the phone! Wish me luck and I’ll update later!
Thanks again
Hello,
The fact that rKiLL is renamed to iExplore.exe won’t cause any kind of problem for your PC or for the actual Internet Explorer browser…..
This tool will just terminate the known malicious process and that’s about it, nothing more … nothing less… If you are still feeling unconformable doing this , just download another renamed version of Rkill…or rename it yourself.
Good luck!
I’m concerned about iKill renaming as iExplore.exe – Isn’t that MS Internet Explorer’s executable file name? How does that affect Internet explorer later?
My boyfriend’s machine has Windows Private Sheild on it after he followed a link in an email. He’s new to PCs after being a Mac user so didn’t realise how careful he has to be now.
Please advise quickly as I’m really worried about his brand new PC being buggered! Thank you