Your Windows Is Infected Scam

What is Your Windows Is Infected?

"Your Windows Is Infected" is a fake pop-up error message displayed by a malicious website. Users are redirected to this website by various potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that stealthily infiltrate systems without permission (the "bundling" method).

As well as causing redirects, PUPs deliver intrusive online advertisements and continually gather various information relating to Internet browsing activity.

The message states that the system is infected with various malware and that infections must be eliminated immediately by downloading a system optimization tool (the download begins after clicking "OK" within the pop-up) or contacting 'technical support' via a telephone number ["(800) 497-5972"] provided. Victims are then supposedly guided through the removal process.

Bear in mind, however, that the "Your Windows Is Infected" error is fake and should not be trusted. Cyber criminals attempt to trick victims into downloading a fake optimization tool (potentially, malware) or calling the aforementioned telephone number and paying for technical support that is not required.

You can remove this pop-up simply by closing the web browser. PUPs deliver intrusive online advertisements using a "virtual layer" - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, pop-ups, coupons, banners, and other displayed ads often conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

In addition, these ads might redirect to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Another downside is information tracking. PUPs record users' geo-locations, IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, mouse/keyboard activity, and other information that might contain personal details.

This information is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal details to generate revenue. The presence of information-tracking apps can result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, these apps should be uninstalled immediately.

"Your Windows Is Infected" is virtually identical to COMPUTER BLOCKED, Suspicious Ransomware Activity, Unknown Security Breach, and many other fake errors. All claims that the system is damaged in some way, however, as with Your Windows Is Infected, these errors should not be trusted - they are designed only to generate revenue for cyber criminals.

PUPs also have an identical purpose. By offering various 'useful features', they attempt to give the impression of legitimacy. In fact, they are useless for regular users, cause unwanted redirects, deliver intrusive online advertisements, and record user-system information.

How did adware install on my computer?

To distribute PUPs, developers employ a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Aware of this, developers hide bundled apps within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Thus, skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two simple steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, carefully 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.

Another variant of "Your Windows 10 in infected" (GIF) - this one tries to trick PC users into downloading potentially unwanted applications:

Text presented within "Your Windows Is Infected" pop-up:

WARNING! Your Windows is infected with Viruses and other malicious applications. Viruses must be removed and system damage repaired.
It is necessary to run the Virus removal procedure immediately, please proceed.
** If you leave this site your computer will remain damaged and vulnerable**

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Quick menu:

• What is Your Windows Is Infected?
• 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 windows is infected" virus, 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 windows is infected" virus, 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 windows is infected" virus 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 windows is infected" virus, 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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