MSN virus is a new type of virus which is spreading through the MSN Messenger. The infected computer will send copies of itself to every online contact which is included in the infected user’s contact list. The symptoms of this virus attack includes a message display which is similar to the message given below

“is that u on that photo http://lollypics.xx.funpic.org/pictures.php?photo756.jpg”

(the web link here is edited to prevent people from getting further infected)

Once a user clicks that particular link, it will open Internet Explorer tab and prompt you to download a file called photo656.pif or some other file with a similar name. The extension of the file can be either .jpg or .pif. If you run this particular file, computer will be infected. This virus also adds a toolbar into Internet Explorer called “Toolbar888” .

There are several free tools available to remove this infection

MSNCleaner

MSNCleaner lets you remove msn virus completely from your computer. The following MSN viruses will be removed by MSNcleaner; MSN Virus Project 1, Remove MSN virus W32.Aplore@mm , Generic2.EXO, Choke.exe , PIC1234(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1).exe MSN Virus , Remove cute.pif , Remove MSN virus W32.Aplore@mm , W32.Kelvir.A MSN Messenger Virus , Backdoor.Generic3.SAT , Remove MSN Virus Project 1 , MSN photo virus removal DOWNLOAD fix , Remove MSN Virus IM-Names virus , Backdoor.Generic3.SAT , Generic2.EXO , Remove MSN virus W32.Aplore@mm .

The steps to remove the virus are

1. Start the computer in safe mode. This can be done by pressing F8 during the booting process and choose the safe mode option.

2. Choose the folder where you have already downloaded MSNCleaner.zip. Double click on msncleaner.exe 3 to run the application.

3. By clicking the analyze button in the program, all the programs associated with your MSN messenger which are affected by the virus will be removed.

4. After the program execution is over restart your computer and the computer will be absolutely free from any types of viruses.

The other free virus cleaners include MSN Virus Cleaner and MSN Virus Remover.