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. 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.