Do not trust sites stating "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)"

What kind of scam is "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)"?

Our research team found the "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" scam while investigating rogue websites. This scheme falsely claims that the visitor's device is infected with high-risk viruses. While it is disguised as McAfee, this scam is in no way associated with the actual computer security company or its products.

"TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" scam overview

When we accessed a webpage running the "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" scam, it was presented as the official McAfee website. The scheme then ran a fake system scan, which detected a myriad of threats on the visitor's computer.

The supposed infections included a data stealing/deleting trojan, information extracting spyware (e.g., log-in credentials, banking details, etc.), and a search result replacing adware. The scam encourages the visitor to use an anti-virus.

As mentioned in the introduction, all these claims are false. It must be stressed that no website can detect threats/issues on visitors' devices. Additionally, it must be reiterated that "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" is not associated with the real McAfee Corp.

Most scams similar to this one promote untrustworthy and potentially harmful software, such as fake anti-virus tools, adware, browser hijackers, and various PUAs. There have even been instances of said schemes proliferating trojans, ransomware, and other malware.

We have also observed scams that endorsed legitimate products/services. However, even if that is the case, there is no guarantee that the scheme will continue to redirect to an official website. It could promote a page disguised as the legitimate site or redirect elsewhere altogether. The promotion of genuine content is undertaken by scammers who abuse its affiliate programs in order to obtain illegitimate commissions.

In summary, by trusting a scam like "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" – users can experience system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	"TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Visitor's computer is infected with trojans and other viruses.
Disguise	McAfee
Related Domains	diweng[.]xyz, systemsecurity[.]click, gukens[.]xyz
Detection Names (diweng[.]xyz)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (diweng[.]xyz)	147.182.255.121
Symptoms	Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan.
Distribution methods	Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.
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.

Similar scam examples

The Internet is rife with deceptive and malicious content. We have investigated thousands of online scams; "Your McAfee Subscription Is Out Of Date", "McAfee - A Virus Has Been Found On Your PC!", and "McAfee - TROJAN_2022 And Other Viruses Detected" are merely a couple examples of ones akin to "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)".

It must be stressed that regardless of what a scam warns, offers, or promises – its goal is to gain and subsequently abuse victims' trust. Therefore, we strongly recommend exercising caution while browsing.

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites are primarily promoted through pages that use rogue advertising networks, misspelled URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, adware, and spam emails/messages.

To elaborate on some of these, when a user accesses a webpage employing rogue advertising networks, they can be immediately redirected to a deceptive site, or the redirect can occur when hosted content is interacted with (e.g., clicking buttons, text input fields, links, ads, etc.). Adware can display scam-promoting advertisements or force-open websites that host deceptive content.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

It is crucial to be vigilant while browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and harmless.

We advise against using websites that offer pirated software/media or other questionable services (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these sites are typically monetized through rogue advertising networks. We recommend paying attention to website URLs and entering them with care.

To avoid receiving unwanted browser notifications – do not permit suspicious pages to deliver them (i.e., do not click "Allow", "Allow Notifications", etc.). Instead, ignore or deny notification requests from such webpages (i.e., select "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

We advise against opening the attachments or links found in dubious/irrelevant messages, as they can promote scams or cause system infections.

Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified channels. When installing, it is important to read terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all supplements (e.g., apps, extensions, tools, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous content from infiltrating the system.

If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate all threats.

Text presented in "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" pop-up:

TROJAN_2023 and other viruses detected (5).

Scan results: 2023_TROJAN virus, password_SPY, AdSwitcher detected

- TROJAN found on this PC will most likely copy and delete all data from hard drives.

- Spyware will attempt to collect logins, passwords and banking details.

- Adware usually replaces search results with false and scammy websites.

It is highly recommended to use an antivirus immediately!

[Proceed]

The appearance of "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" pop-up scam (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ 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 "TROJAN_2023 And Other Viruses Detected (5)" pop-up?
• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a pop-up scam?

Basically, pop-up scams are deceptive messages designed to trick users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be deceived into making monetary transactions, disclosing private information, downloading/installing software, purchasing products, subscribing to services, calling fake support lines, and so on.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

The purpose of pop-up scams is to generate revenue for their designers. Cyber criminals primarily profit by obtaining funds through deception, selling or abusing sensitive information, promoting content (e.g., websites, software, products, services, etc.), and proliferating malware.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Pop-up scams are promoted on deceptive webpages that are seldom accessed intentionally. Most enter them via redirects caused by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, spam emails/messages, or installed adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner is capable of scanning visited sites and detecting rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious ones. Therefore, should you enter such a page – you will be warned immediately, and further access to it will be blocked.

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