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How To Easily Remove the MonaRonaDona 'Virus'

By , About.com Guide

The MonaRonaDona Trojan is designed to scam infected users into shelling out $40 for a bogus scanner dubbed Unigray Antivirus. The scammers completed the hoax by positioning several forum posts from alleged victims touting the bogus Unigray Antivirus as a miracle cure for the MonaRonaDona 'virus'. In reality, removal is very simple and requires absolutely no tools, nor parting with any of your hard-earned cash. Just boot into safe mode and follow the directions below.

Note: These steps require modifying the Windows system Registry. For instructions on using the Registry, see the Windows System Registry Tutorial.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
  1. If you haven't already done so, boot into safe mode.

  2. Search for and delete the following folder, if found:

    C:\Program Files\UniGray Antivirus

    You may also wish to delete the following:

    C:\Program Files\RegistryCleanFix2008

  3. Search the global startup folder for the following file and delete the file if found:

    SRVSPOOL.EXE

    By default, the global startup folder location is
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

  4. Click Start, click Run, type REGEDIT, and click OK. The Registry Editor will now open.

    Note: To avoid unwanted page wrapping, the following abbreviations are used in the steps below:

    HKCU = HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    HKLM = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

  5. To fix the title bar changes to Internet Explorer and Outlook Express caused by MonaRonaDona, browse to the following keys and delete the values indicated:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    Delete value: Window Title

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
    Delete value: Window Title

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
    Delete value: WindowTitle

  6. To regain access to Task Manager, which was disabled by MonaRonaDona, browse to the following keys and delete the values indicated:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    Delete value: DisableTaskMgr

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    Delete value: DisableTaskMgr

  7. You may also wish to delete the following:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    Delete value: RegistryCleanFixMFC

  8. Close the Registry editor by choosing File | Exit

  9. Reboot the computer normally. The system should now be free of the MonaRonaDona 'virus' and the system changes made by the Trojan should now be reversed.

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