Uploaded October 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Since this rogue has infected so many computers, I figure I'd make another removal video, this time with alternate instructions.

1. Reboot your computer
2. After your manufacturer's logo, tap the F8 key
3. Select "Safe Mode with Networking"
4. Select your operating system
5. Log in as the account named "Administrator"
6. Run Task Manager
7. Kill hotfix.exe
8. Run explorer.exe
9. Download and install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe and run a Quick Scan.
==IF THIS DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU==
10. Download Combofix from bleepingcomputer.com/download/anti-virus/combofix
11. Click Yes on the disclaimer
12. Click No on the Windows Recovery Console option
13. After the scan, dismiss the log and reboot your machine

==MANUAL REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS==
Delete the following files:

%UserProfile%\Application Data\hotfix.exe (in Windows XP)
%UserProfile%\AppData\roaming\hotfix.exe (in Windows Vista/7)

(Hint: Type %userprofile% into the path field of an Explorer window to find where it is)

Navagate to the following registry key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/WINDOWS NT/CURRENT_VERSION/Winlogon]

Edit the key
"Shell"
so that the data becomes
C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Note: For manual removal, you may need to log on to all accounts on the machine to fix the registry key

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