Author Topic: Brave Century (Read 9282 times)

Clive · « **on:** April 18, 2006, 14:35 »

A friend of mine has been infected with a serious piece of malware which has completely taken over hold of his computer. It's called Brave Century and claims to be an antivirus/malware remover. It keeps asking for money and will not allow itself to be deleted or allow normal computer use. I can boot it up in Safe Mode and managed to delete 21 trojans using AdAware - mostly diallers. But when you boot up normally Brave Century just takes control of the machine. A Google search finds virtually no trace of this program.

Simon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2006, 14:48 »

Are you certain of the spelling, Clive? It's unusual for nothing to be found on Google. Suggest you try the trial version of Ewido, which seems to remove some stuff others miss. Install, then disable System Restore, and Norton Recycle Bin (if installed), before running in safe mode.

Clive · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2006, 15:46 »

Yes the spelling is correct - very strange that it doesn't show up on Google. I'm thinking it may be best to do a clean install since there is very little on his machine anyway. He has just bought a new laptop so it's only going to be a back up machine from now on.

Simon · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2006, 15:53 »

Seems a bit radical just for one trojan. Why don't you try Ewido first, and if that doesn't work, you haven't lost anything.

Sandra · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2006, 16:29 »

Has he told you its name over the phone Clive ?

Theres a Brave Sentry nasty around

http://www.itconsultancy.org/?spyware=brave+sentry&Submit=Go%21

Clive · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2006, 16:55 »

He told me the name over the phone Sandra and I've visited him this afternoon. But I'm sure that you are correct that I've read what I was expecting to read and that it is in fact Brave Sentry. A constant picture of a man wearing a visor is further proof! After reading that website, I'm now more convinced than ever that a clean install is the best solution. It says to allow 10 hours to remove it but then doesn't explain how to go about it anyway. Incidentally this was caused by a babysitter being allowed access to his computer so no prizes for guessing what he must have been browsing!

Simon · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2006, 17:03 »

Clive, you have email. I think 10 minutes might be a closer estimate than 10 hours.

Clive · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2006, 17:08 »

Yes, that's definitely the one Simon! Every symptom is listed including Task Manager being disabled. Thanks very much for the removal tool!

Simon · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2006, 17:14 »

Hope it helps, Clive.

Clive · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2006, 17:40 »

The removal tool worked fine Simon. All traces of Brave Sentry are now removed. 8) The only (presumably related) problem remaining is that Norton's refuses to enable autoprotect nor will it liveupdate. I think I will have to download a different antivirus program for him to use because Brave Sentry has corrupted it. I can't re-install Nortons as it's the 2002 version which is no longer supported and will only update until the current subscription runs out in 6 months time.

Mac · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2006, 17:59 »

I would try AVG Free Home Edition.

Simon · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2006, 18:11 »

I would suggest F-Secure, which a fully functioning 30 day trial version of can be downloaded from here. You can purchase the full version from the website, but it's cheaper if you shop around in places like Dabs and Redstore.

Clive · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2006, 19:00 »

Thanks for the suggestions guys - much appreciated! 8)

Mac · « **Reply #13 on:** April 19, 2006, 19:25 »

Right.

Is that an IRA smiley?

Sandra · « **Reply #14 on:** April 19, 2006, 19:31 »

Better still reinstall Norton as it will still work for the next 6 months.

I cant understand people being so against Norton, its still one of the best AV programs around.
I know people say that it slows their pc down, maybe thats because its working harder to protect them ?

On anything faster than a 1 ghz cpu I have never noticed it to slow a pc down.