Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private POP-UP Scam

What is Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private?

"Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" is a fake error message displayed by various malicious websites. Research shows that in most cases users visit these sites inadvertently. They are redirected by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) or intrusive ads delivered by other rogue sites.

Potentially unwanted programs are likely to infiltrate systems without users' consent and in addition to causing redirects, deliver intrusive advertisements, gather sensitive data, and even run unwanted background processes.

"Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" states that the system has detected a type of infection and, for this reason, it has been blocked. The malware poses a direct threat to users' privacy (personal data such as logins/passwords, banking details, might be stolen). Therefore, it is recommended that users remove the virus immediately.

To achieve this, they must contact Microsoft's engineers via a toll-free telephone number ("0800-088-5277") and follow the instructions provided. Despite these statements, the entire "Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" error is fake and has nothing to do with Microsoft.

Cyber criminals generate revenue by scaring and tricking users into calling and paying for tech support that is not required - your computer is probably secure. Cyber criminals abuse users' trust. For these reasons, "Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" should be ignored.

Never call the aforementioned telephone number and removed the message simply by closing the web browser. Note that some sites employ scripts that prevent users from closing browsing tabs/windows.

In these cases, eliminate the browser via Task Manager or simply reboot the system. After re-running the browser, do not restore the previous session, otherwise you will return to the malicious site.

As mentioned above, potentially unwanted programs deliver various intrusive ads (e.g., coupons, banners, pop-ups, etc.) To achieve this, developers employ tools (e.g., "virtual layers") that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, ads often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

Furthermore, these ads often redirect to malicious websites and run scripts that stealthily download and install malware/PUPs. Therefore, even a single accidental click can result in high-risk computer infections. Another important downside is information tracking.

Research shows that PUPs typically gather keystrokes, websites visited, pages viewed, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geo-locations, and other data that might include personal details that PUP developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) to generate revenue. These people purchase data, misusing personal details to generate revenue.

Therefore, the presence of information-tracking app(s) can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. PUPs also mine cryptocurrencies or run other unwanted processes without consent. By misusing system resources, PUPs significantly reduce overall system performance. For these reasons, all potentially unwanted programs must be uninstalled immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" virus
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Symptoms	Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of one's computer.
Distribution methods	Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are many fake errors similar to "Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private". The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) This Build Of Windows 10 Is Corrupted, Windows Defender Security Center, Something Went Wrong With Your Internet Service, and Windows Firewall Warning Alert. 

All claim that the system is damaged (e.g., infected, missing files, etc.), however, these claims are merely attempts to extort money from unsuspecting users. All potentially unwanted programs are very similar. By offering a wide range of "useful features", they attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, but are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than enabling the functions promised, PUPs pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.

How did potentially unwanted programs install on my computer?

Some PUPs are known to have official download websites, however, due to the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users, potentially unwanted programs typically infiltrate systems without permission. Developers proliferate PUPs using intrusive advertising and "bundling" methods.

"Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software/apps. PUP developers do not disclose these installations properly - they hide "bundled" PUPs within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes.

Therefore, rushing download/installation processes, skipping steps, and clicking various advertisements often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when browsing the Internet and, especially when downloading/installing software. Remember that intrusive ads may seem legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious websites.

If you experience these redirects, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, select "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of all additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them.

We strongly recommend that you avoid using third party download/installation set-ups, since developers monetize them by promoting PUPs. Software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links.

Second pop-up of "Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" scam:

Text presented in this pop-up:

www.support.microsoft.com says :
** YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN BLOCKED **
Error # 268D3
Please call us immediately at: ' 0800-088-5277 '
Do not ignore this critical alert.
If you close this page, your computer access will be disabled to prevent further damage to our network.
Your computer has alerted us that it has been infected with a virus and spyware. The following information is being stolen...
>Facebook Login
>Credit Card Details
>Email Account Login
>Photos stored on this computer
You must contact us immediately so that our engineers can walk you through the removal process over the phone. Please call us within the next 5 minutes to prevent your computer from being disabled.
Toll Free: 0800-088-5277
Prevent this page from creating additional dialogs

The appearance of "Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" pop-up (GIF):

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is "Your Connection To This Site Is Not Private" virus?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

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