A Windows 10 'virus' crippled my Internet connection (and I want it back!)

[steven36]

Ah! The joys of living on a tropical island. The sun. The sand. The surf... ing the web with high latency on a clogged Internet connection while paying through the nose for capped bandwidth. Yes, it truly is "paradise" -- unless, of course, you’re a seasoned Industry Analyst trying to get some work done over said connection. Which is why the latest bit of Windows malware to grace the PCs of my bandwidth-hungry teenagers has me absolutely livid.

Dubbed the "Massive Payload Virus" (MPV) by experts, this malicious code is designed specifically to cripple metered Internet connections by plastering any fully-activated Windows 7 or 8 system with gigabytes (over 3GB per PC, in my case) of data. The enormous download (which also appears to be code of some kind) is then spooled into a single, cleverly named folder in the PC’s root directory, where it lies dormant until triggered by an as yet undetermined external event.

The most insidious part of MPV is how it resists cleaning. Any attempt to remove or delete the mysterious folder results in the virus downloading even more code, thus protecting itself from being exorcised by ensuring the integrity of its payload. Basically, you’re stuck hosting this code until it activates.

Note: Unconfirmed reports talk of massive damage when it does activate. "You won’t recognize your PC" is an oft-quoted complaint. Others have speculated it’s all part of a devious plan to force customers into a schedule of monthly or yearly "ransom payments" -- all for the continued "privilege" of using their personal computers.

And this is where the truly malicious aspect kicks in. Because I live on a small, developing world island (Mauritius), my options for Internet access are limited. I can go with the local telecom monopoly (recently taken over by France’s Orange network) and pay outrageously for a metered (20Mbps Fiber with a 100GB traffic cap) connection, or I can switch to one of the upstart wireless providers (Emtel now offers a fixed line-of-sight solution for a similar price point) and hope they don’t decide I’ve violated some "fair use" policy down the road.

Either way, I’m left counting the GB and playing QoS "bad guy" as I proactively throttle my kids’ Internet usage (a few good Steam-powered gaming sessions by my daughter would easily blow the bandwidth cap in a matter of days). So when something comes along and throws this precarious arrangement out of balance -- like MPV’s repeated 3GB+ downloads -- I’m particularly annoyed.

As it stands, I lost the bulk of my Internet throughput (Orange throttles me down to 2Mbps if I use over 100GB) before the month was halfway gone, and I’ll have to wait until the next billing cycle before I’m restored to full speed. In the meantime, my children’s PCs are effectively held hostage -- even a clean install of Windows 7 or 8 won’t do the trick as the underlying infection vector remains unpatched by Microsoft (Windows 10 seems mysteriously immune to MPV).

Bottom Line: The Massive Payload Virus has ruined my Internet connection. If I leave it alone, it may eventually activate and do irreversible damage (while leaving me hostage to the author’s demands). If I remove the payload, MPV will just re-download it, clogging my already congested Internet connection and eating away at my precious bandwidth cap.

I’m truly at my wit’s end with this one. Perhaps it’s time to start thinking outside of the Microsoft box: "Hey kids, have you heard about this Linux thing? They say it’s all the rage with the super cool hacker types".

Source

[Holmes]

It says in the subject line a windows ten virus then it says windows ten seems mysteriously immune to MPV (says its dubbed Massive Payload Virus by experts and if you search for it on google no information). In the comments on betanews randell the author doesnt sound genuine one comment says hes just talking about windows ten and how it automatically downloads windows ten without your consent which is posted on this forum If you look up information about a virus called massive payload virus one link exists which is betanews. Its not a virus.

[Pequi]

Shields up !!!! I'm not letting it get into my Windows XP. My Debian is apparently natively immune.

;)

[Holmes]

Its not a virus the author is complaining about microsoft automatically downloading windows ten to his computer which is understandable he shouldnt have said its a virus. This is posted here:

http://www.nsaneforums.com/topic/251709-microsoft-is-downloading-windows-10-to-your-machine-just-in-case

Did you find the article and read what its says thoroughly or just find it and post it without reading it first.

[Ballistic Gelatin]

...Its not a virus.

Of course it's not a virus. :rolleyes:

The author of the article, Randall C. Kennedy, is simply making a facetious reference to the ongoing problem of Windows 10 automatically downloading to users with metered connections. Anyone who rushed to the conclusion that he was talking about a bonafide virus...well, you got pranked.

Spend a little more time reading between the lines when you see stories like this. Windows 10 and dark humor seem to go together rather well these days.

[dMog]

well stupid people you can bypass this auto download if you are on metered confections....look in your freaking settings ms was onto this early and meantime it several times but people just like to whine and cry or bing search how to do this

[D1v1n3D]

it only auto downloads if you reserve your copy

[Holmes]

It doesnt matter this is posted in the forum the original article is linked in this one and technically divided is right I didnt reserve my copy you dont have to reserve windows ten to get it. The reservation is in case of shortage in retail stores this is a digital download theres no point in reserving you a copy when you get it anyway. I think those that reserved there copy got pranked by microsoft. You made the decision to reserve your copy so you cant bitch if it automatically downloads to your computer.

[straycat19]

Come on guys, he just got the name wrong, it is the Windows 10 Massive Payload Virus. My nephew lives out in the sticks and can only get wireless with a 10GB cap per month. In one day it downloaded to his computer, his wife's and his daughters and his internet has been off the whole month.

[steven36]

Come on guys, he just got the name wrong, it is the Windows 10 Massive Payload Virus. My nephew lives out in the sticks and can only get wireless with a 10GB cap per month. In one day it downloaded to his computer, his wife's and his daughters and his internet has been off the whole month.

I use to be on satellite internet before they ran DSL in my area I was only able download 200 mb a day and if i went over i got caped for 24 hours . People dont realize how bad them auto downloading stuff like this is for some they take what they have for granted . Even a normal windows 10 update is massive and has caused many problems .

[steven36]

It doesnt matter this is posted in the forum the original article is linked in this one and technically divided is right I didnt reserve my copy you dont have to reserve windows ten to get it. The reservation is in case of shortage in retail stores this is a digital download theres no point in reserving you a copy when you get it anyway. I think those that reserved there copy got pranked by microsoft. You made the decision to reserve your copy so you cant bitch if it automatically downloads to your computer.

All this was them using telemetry to test to see if you' was ready to run windows 10 or not based on people who ran preview , There still using it by the way they install the updates 1st on those machines that were others were able to install windows 10 without problems . Windows 10 will work without reserving a copy but its no way for them to check to see if you're pc is compatible, So you could install and have problems or it not work at all . :P

After a concerned Windows user wrote in to the Inquirer, reports blew up this week that Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 installation files onto users’ machines without them reserving a copy of the new operating system. We reached out to the company to set the record straight; we confirmed that this occurs when Automatic Updates is enabled, and that this is nothing new — it’s been happening since Windows 10 launched on July 29.

http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/11/microsoft-will-download-windows-10-even-if-you-dont-want-to-upgrade-heres-how-to-stop-it/

Most of you guys who debate whats going on with windows 7 and windows 8.1 are running windows 10 and have no real idea of what's really going on . You just want to justifie Microsoft's messed up marketing antics is all ..I see right threw it like the Romper Room Magic Mirror could :lol:

I'ts also the same way with people who want to debate whats going with Windows 10 are using another O/S .Everyone wants to debate about something they dont use.

I have windows 7 and Windows 10 pcs lol. :yes:

[Holmes]

It must be a bug I didnt reserve and I dont have that folder and whats with the narcissism. I agree steven your special (special ed) lawls Im kidding. If its doing it with automatic updates enabled completely like automatically download and autoomatically install there going to downlooad and install updates to your computer without user interaction I have my windows update settings set in group policy again those who are foolish and allow microsoft to update there computer without there consent get this you give consent when you apply auto download and auto install. I have tried using automatic download automatic install and it does it without askking you anything. Thats why you have to make sure to alert you to downloading and alert you to install. NEVER choose the option in windows update setting's install updates automatically. Select the option to check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. Microsoft needs to make it so you can choose set to metered connection on ethernet networks to on windows seven and windows eight (Im sure there going to in the future).