You have a parasite, pay $30 to remove it.

[Kumagoro]

OK, a friend of my mum has a computer which apparently doesnt boot and locks up freezes etc. I have been told that it happens when it turns on and the power needs to be cut to turn it off. It apparently displays a message like this

You computer has a parasite pay $30 to have it removed.

I havent seen this so dont know how accurate this is. Has anyone seen or heard of something similar and what needs to be done to get it fixed?

[Moby-Dick]

nice extortion

boot up in safe mode - run spyware tools.

[directhex]

might just be a net send message & unrelated spyware-based crashes

root cause: internet explorer

[Kumagoro]

Im not sure when it happens i was told when it gets turned on. But like you say i suspect more at the start of windows.

I will suggest safe mode and adware etc. god knows if these people (no idea who they are) can do it.

[silent ben]

go round there, fix it, earn some money. The message and the symptoms might be unrelated so watch out for that

[Kumagoro]

I cant be bothered to go round there though, if they bring it here leave it with me I would
but nowadays its just hasstle.

[nvening]

go roung, charge then 30$

[shiato storm]

thats why it cost 30$ to resolve the problem...!

[directhex]

sounds like a MASSIVE infection - at which stage, certain removal of the spyware is many hours' work (and to be honest i wouldn't do it for only $30)

format, fix, firefox, forget

[Norky]

Better call the doctor, nasty things those parasites