Privacy Center
Privacy Center is a form of ransomware that hijacks a Microsoft Windows operating system and insists that the upgrades their protection for a price. It is a green system tray icon that often takes over the screen and blocks the desktop, including the start icon. Unlike other rogue anti-viruses, Privacy Center has the capability of running in safe mode. Attempts to close the system tray are futile. Also, the system will often not acknowledge the insertion of a USB flash drive.
Method of Infection
The virus is installed by clicking on a fake video codec that is "required" to play an online "movie". Once the user clicks on the codec, Privacy Center will be installed as opposed to the video playing. [1] It can also be installed by clicking on script in rogue security software sites. In August 2009, it was reported that Privacy Center can embed itself in another rogue anti-virus called PC AntiSpyware 2010. [2]