Windows 10 Technical Support Scam

What is Windows 10 Technical Support?

"Windows 10 Technical Support" is a fake service promoted via a deceptive website that users often visit inadvertently - they are redirected by various potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that infiltrate systems during installation of regular programs (the "bundling" method).

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

As mentioned above, "Windows 10 Technical Support" is a service offered for regular users who encounter problems with computer performance. The website states that users whose systems are slow or infected with malware should contact technical support via the telephone number ("1-800-519-6899") provided.

They then supposedly receive help in resolving these issues. Bear in mind, however, that "Windows 10 Technical Support" service is fake. Cyber criminals attempt to trick users into calling and paying for help that will not be provided. This "service" is a scam. Therefore, never call the telephone number.

Be aware that PUPs often deliver pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar ads that conceal underlying website content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience. In addition, some lead to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, PUPs record various user-system information that might be personally identifiable. The list of collected data types includes (but is not limited to) IP addresses, URLs visited, queries entered into search engines, pages viewed, mouse/keyboard activity, and geo-locations.

This data is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private information to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of data-tracking apps can result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Uninstall all PUPs immediately.

Although Windows 10 Technical Support is not a fake error message, it shares similarities with other scams such as You Have A ZEUS Virus, YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN BLOCKED, WARNING! Your Windows Has Been Blocked, and many others.

 As with Windows 10 Technical Support, these other scams also offer help resolving various computer-relating issues, however, they should never be trusted. PUPs are virtually identical. By offering various 'useful features', they often trick users into believing that these programs are legitimate and useful.

In fact, their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than providing any of the functionality promised, PUPs cause unwanted redirects, deliver intrusive advertisements, and continually gather various information.

How did adware install on my computer?

PUPs are distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Therefore, rushing and skipping this section exposes systems to risk of various infections and compromises users' privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be very cautious when downloading and installing software, choose the "Custom/Advanced" options, observe each step, and decline offers to download/install third party software.

Text presented within "Windows 10 Technical Support" website:

Windows 10 Technical Support
Slow computer? Viruses?
Our technicians can fix your computer in one day
1. ORDER
2. DIAGNOSE
3. REPAIR
Call Toll Free 1-800-519-6899
Having problem with your Microsoft product? Don’t worry! Our Windows 10 support team experts provides quick solution, smart advice and online support. Call toll free 1-800-519-6899 (USA), Call +44-800-802-1217 (UK), Call +611-300-264-825 (Australia), Call +64 9-886 0569 New Zealand to get instant assistance and support by experts.

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Quick menu:

• What is Windows 10 Technical Support?
• 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 "windows 10 technical support" 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 "More 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 "windows 10 technical support" 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 "windows 10 technical support" 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 and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

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 top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "windows 10 technical support" 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:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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