Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus Scam

What is Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus?

"Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus" is a deceptive pop-up claiming that the computer has been infected. This pop-up is displayed by a malicious website, which users often visit inadvertently - they are redirected by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).

Be aware that PUPs infiltrate systems without users' consent. As well as causing unwanted redirects, these applications deliver intrusive online advertisements and continually record various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

The "Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus" error states that the system has been infected and that malware must be uninstalled immediately by contacting certified technicians via the telephone number ("08000868518") provided. Users are then supposedly guided through the removal process.

Be aware, however, that the "Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus" error message is fake - merely an attempt to trick victims into calling and paying for services that are not required. Therefore, you should never attempt to contact these people. You can remove this error by simply closing the web browser.

Be aware that PUPs employ a "virtual layer" to deliver pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar ads. The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying web content, thereby significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.

In addition, some lead to malicious websites and even accidental clicks might result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Another downside is information tracking. Potentially unwanted programs continually gather website URLs visited, pages viewed, queries entered into search engines, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geo-locations, and other similar information.

The collected data might contain personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private data. Thus, the presence of information-tracking apps on your system can result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. All PUPs must be uninstalled immediately.

There are dozens of fake error messages similar to "Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus". A list of examples includes (but is not limited to) CRITICAL ALERT FROM WINDOWS, Don't Restart Your Computer, Your System Might Be Infected, and Microsoft Alert. 

All claim that the system has been damaged in certain ways, however, as with "Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus", these errors are designed only to trick victims into calling. Potentially unwanted programs have an identical purpose - to generate revenue for the developers.

By offering various so-called 'useful features', PUPs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, these applications provide no value for regular users. They cause unwanted browser redirects, deliver intrusive online advertisements, and continually track personal information.

How did adware install on my computer?

PUPs are distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of third party applications with regular software.

Users often install PUPs inadvertently, without their consent, since they often rush the download/installation processes and skip most steps. Bundled programs are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of these procedures and, therefore, skipping this section can lead to inadvertent installation of rogue applications.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two simple steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, closely analyze each download/installation step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Secondly, decline offers to download/install additional applications and opt-out of those already included. The key to computer safety is caution.

Screenshot of "Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus" pop-up (GIF):

Text presented within "Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus" pop-up:

IMPORTANT SECURITY ALERT FROM WINDOWS: YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN INFECTED WITH VIRUS
Windows has detected some suspicious activity from your IP address. Some virus and spyware have caused a security breach at your network location. Please call us immediately at the toll-free number listed so that our engineers can walk you through the removal process over the phone. Call Microsoft immediately on our Toll Free 08000868518 for Technical Assistance.
Microsoft Toll Free 08000868518
Please do not use any Internet based service to avoid any identity thefts.
PLEASE DO NOT SHUT DOWN OR RESTART YOUR COMPUTER. DOING THAT LEAD TO DATA LOSS AND FAILURE OF OPERATING SYSTEM HENCE NON BOOTABLE SITUATION RESULTING COMPLETE DATA LOSS.

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Quick menu:

• What is Your Computer Has Been Infected With Virus?
• STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for any suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "your computer has been infected with virus" pop-up, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "your computer has been infected with virus" pop-up, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with "your computer has been infected with virus" pop-up removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "your computer has been infected with virus" pop-up, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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