Beware the FALSE? virus warning

[imoldernu]

It pops up on top of a page you are reading, and looks like an actual warning from Microsoft. If you click out of it, a second warning comes up which adds a time factor after which your computer will be compromised.
I can't vouch for this, as to whether there is any validity, but i doubt it. The page suggests you download an anti virus program, so I'm pretty sure there's nothing to it.
Would like to hear from anyone who knows about this.
I ran malwarebytes the first time, and came up with nothing but "pup" nuisance, so I ignore it now, and just click out.
Has been about a week since I received the first warning, and nothing has happened to my computer.

[UnrealizedPotential]

I don't know about it, but I think you did the right thing in not clicking on it. It certainly pays to have internet protection when surfing. Viruses can pop up and seize your computer before you can react to it. I went to the local computer store in town and they hooked my computer up with malware protection . You got to have it. The bottom line is this: If you are not sure who the sender is, do NOT click on it.

[Nightcap]

It ain't a virus warning, it's a rogue weblink that's taken over your browser. Don't click, just disable WiFi, close the browser, restart the browser, and re-enable WiFi.

Probably not a bad idea to clear your browser history/cookies.

[audreyh1]

For users in Safari on the Mac, close the browser. Then hold the shift key to relaunch it and it won't re-open any previously opened windows. We've had a few friends run into this issue lately.

Very annoying, but just a matter of closing the rogue window and not clicking on anything in it!!! But sometimes you have to exit Safari to get rid of it.

[easysurfer]

Sounds a bit like ransomware. I had a similar situation in the past were my computer got locked up and couldn't sign back in as myself in Windows, even after rebooting. Luckily I did have a backup so had to do a complete restore. A bit jarring, but at least recovered via backup.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by easysurfer Sounds a bit like ransomware. I had a similar situation in the past were my computer got locked up and couldn't sign back in as myself in Windows, even after rebooting. Luckily I did have a backup so had to do a complete restore. A bit jarring, but at least recovered via backup.

It's not even ransomware, just scare tactics. It's just a pop up window blocking the rest of your browser windows and trying to convince you there is a problem and to call a number. If you do call that number (or click on some link) and give them what they need to access your computer remotely, then you do have a serious problem!!!

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 It's not even ransomware, just scare tactics. It's just a pop up window blocking the rest of your browser windows and trying to convince you there is a problem and to call a number. If you do call that number (or click on some link) and give them what they need to access your computer remotely, then you do have a serious problem!!!

When I'm using my regular browser, after encountering one of those scare tactics sites, I do a malware scan to make sure didn't catch anything. Along with doing a scan every few days regardless.

[imoldernu]

Just an update...
Not fixed yet...
FWIW, the 'warning is about 1/8th of the page, in the middle to... It purports to be from Microsoft and list virus from porn sites, and others. it gives a telephone number to call.
If it click out of that link, another one pops up that unless I click on the "fix" link, my computer willbe infect.
Then, the webpage freezes and nothing works except control-alt-delete, and the shutting down Chrome.
Have disconnected (closed down modem)
Run Malwarebytes
Run Avira antivirus and windows antivirus
Cleaned registry w/slimcleaner
Cleared all cookies and history in Chrome..(my browser)

If I restart the browser, I can get to websites, like ER, but eventually the blocker pops up again.

Will continue trying and give update of anything else that help fix this.
BTW... when the block came on the first time, I immediately did a control alt delete shutdown... so it wasn't a matter of signing in to the virus that allowed it to infect.


edit to add a link to "bleeping computer" which seems to offer a way to get rid of the "trojan".
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/vir...sentials-alert

[IBWino]

This happens to me a couple of times each week for the past month or so. It happens most on the SB Nation sports websites that I frequent. I simply launch task manager and use "End Task" to close Chrome and then relaunch. I also run Malwarebytes and it never finds anything.

-Wino

[scrabbler1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 It's not even ransomware, just scare tactics. It's just a pop up window blocking the rest of your browser windows and trying to convince you there is a problem and to call a number. If you do call that number (or click on some link) and give them what they need to access your computer remotely, then you do have a serious problem!!!

This happened to my 86-year old dad last week. He got this pop-up saying "your PC has been blocked, please call xxx-xxx-xxxx....." and got scared. The message also told him not to shut off his PC. He called me for advice and I told him to simply shut down and reboot his PC and all was fine.

I have gotten this same message a few times over the years, I told him. But sometimes I have some unsaved work in other tasks which I would lose if I do a reboot. I told him there is a way to close the browsers (Task Manager) but to talk him through it would be tough. He had nothing else open so reboot was fine. At least he had to good sense to call me first although he had left this popup on his PC for nearly 24 hours!

The next time I am at his place, I will run the anti-spyware programs I have installed on his PC.

[AutumnElf]

I've been in computers for a long time. Never click these things. Don't click the X to close the box because instead of closing it will do its thing and take you to the website/bring up more pop ups...etc. Instead, take a minute to breathe and think. Close your browser and reopen it ... usually these stupid ads cause a crash that will allow your browser choose the tabs you want to reopen.

I believe if you are confident in your system, you won't fall prey to these nefarious ads. I just had one last week - I was looking for information on a strange site. One of these ads popped up. I couldn't back out. But even me, after years of doing this, the ads are done in such a way that even I question for a second! That's why I said don't be fast...take your time to think it out for a moment. And if you have the lastest system updates and firewall up and AntiVirus updated and on, you should be confident that you can move on after you close your browser and don't reopen that tab.

If you use Windows, you can make it easy and free for yourself and use the entire Microsoft suite of protection...the firewall, the AntiVirus. Let it all run. You may run Adblock Plus in your browser as well, but that doesn't stop some of these malware pop ups. If you cover all the bases, you can be confident in yourself and your system and not let the fear these ads create run your actions.

[Lsbcal]

Another thought, have 2 logins on your computer:

1) You
2) You as administrator

Use #1 for web browsing. If you are installing something while in #1 (on Windows 10) then the system will ask for your password (the one in #2).

[GalaxyBoy]

Microsoft has an article on this issue that might be helpful:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/safety/pc-security/antivirus-rogue.aspx


I'm not sure how old this article is, but it references Windows 8.

Quote:

To help protect yourself from rogue security software: Install a firewall and keep it turned on. Use automatic updating to keep your operating system and software up to date. Install antivirus and antispyware software and keep it updated. Windows 8 includes antivirus protection that’s turned on by default. If your computer isn’t running Windows 8, download Microsoft Security Essentials for free. Use caution when you click links in email or on social networking websites. Use a standard user account instead of an administrator account. Familiarize yourself with common phishing scams.