Avoid getting scammed by fake "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" sites

What kind of scam is "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired"?

While inspecting suspicious websites, our researchers discovered the "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" scam. It attempts to lure users into downloading/purchasing the promoted software by falsely claiming that their anti-virus has expired. This scam will appear the same regardless of the state of the anti-virus or whether the visitor has purchased one. Typically, deceptive claims of this kind are used to endorse untrustworthy or potentially malicious software.

"Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" scam overview

This scam states that the visitor's anti-virus subscription has expired. It warns that their device is now vulnerable to various infections. The user is offered a 70% discount to renew the subscription.

It must be emphasized that this statement will be shown regardless of whether there are anti-viruses installed on visitors' devices or not. Furthermore, it must be stressed that this content is not associated with any legitimate products, services, or companies.

While it is true that unprotected systems are far more susceptible to infections and other threats, using scare tactics for promotion is considered deceptive behavior. In most cases, scams like "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" push unreliable or dangerous software, such as fake anti-viruses, browser hijackers, adware, and various PUAs.

We have even found instances of such scams proliferating malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, etc.). In some instances, these schemes redirect users to the official websites of genuine products/services. In this way, scammers aim to acquire illegitimate commissions by abusing the affiliate programs of the endorsed content.

Even if a scam promotes a legitimate product or service, the promised discounts or other benefits can be mere bait. Likewise, there are no guarantees that a deceptive page will continue redirecting to an official site. Instead, it could lead users to imitator webpages that appear identical but spread harmful content.

To summarize, victims of scams like "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" may experience system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" scam website
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Anti-virus subscription has expired.
Related Domains	pronovosti[.]site
Detection Names (pronovosti[.]site)	Combo Cleaner (Phishing), CRDF (Malicious), Criminal IP (Phishing), CyRadar (Malicious), Fortinet (Phishing), G-Data (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (pronovosti[.]site)	80.89.234.128
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

"McAfee - Your Computer Is Severely Damaged", "McAfee - Your Computer Is Infected With Viruses", "Your Windows Subscription Has Expired", "Malicious Site Has Downloaded Infected Files To Your PC", and "CCLEANER AntiVirus License Has Expired" are just some examples of scams similar to "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired".

False claims regarding potential infections, detected threats, and system errors are incredibly prevalent on the Web. However, these are not the only lures used by scams. Other common ones include those relating to outdated software, account issues, shipping mishaps, product promotions, lotteries, giveaways, etc.

Due to how widespread deceptive/malicious content is on the Internet and how well-made it can be – we highly recommend exercising caution while browsing.

How did I open a scam website?

Scam sites are primarily accessed via redirects generated by webpages utilizing rogue advertising networks, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, and adware. Various types of spam (e.g., browser notifications, emails, PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, SMSes, etc.) are also used in scam promotion.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

It is essential to be careful while browsing, as fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears genuine and innocuous. For example, while intrusive ads and spam browser notifications may look harmless – they redirect to unreliable/questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, adult dating, gambling, etc.).

Another recommendation is to take note of URLs and enter them with care. Be selective about which webpages you enable to display browser notifications; do not permit suspicious ones to do so, and instead ignore or deny these requests (i.e., click "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

We advise against using sites that offer pirated software/media or other dubious services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these websites typically use rogue advertising networks. Additionally, be vigilant with incoming emails and other messages. Do not open attachments or links found in suspect mail, as they can be harmful/infectious.

To prevent bundled/hazardous content from infiltrating advice – download from official/verified channels and treat installations with caution (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, etc.).

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 "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" pop-up:

TotalAV | SiteAdvisor
Your TotalAV subscription has expired

Your subscription to TotalAV maybe has expired on 20.03.2024.

After the expiration date your device becomes vulnerable to viruses, malicious software and identity theft.

Your device can be unprotected, it is exposed to viruses and other malware ...

Discount (25.03.2024):
You are eligible for

70% OFF

TotalAV Total Security
20.9.139 (10 DEVICES)

Serial Number:
4RJW-TC5M-W7RK-PED1

RENEWER SUBSCRIPTION

The appearance of "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" 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 "Your TotalAV Subscription Has Expired" scam website?
• 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?

Pop-up scams are deceptive messages, the goal of which is to trick users into performing specific actions. For example, victims may be enticed into downloading/installing software, purchasing products, subscribing to services, calling fake helplines, making monetary transactions, disclosing sensitive information, and so forth.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

Pop-up scams are designed to generate revenue. Scammers may profit by obtaining funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., websites, products, services, etc.), selling or abusing private data, proliferating malware, and so on.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Pop-up scams are posted on websites that are seldom accessed intentionally. Most visitors enter them through redirects generated by sites using rogue advertising networks, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, and adware. Spam (e.g., browser notifications, emails, PMs/DMs, etc.) is also utilized to endorse deceptive content.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites and detect rogue, deceptive/scam, and malicious webpages. Therefore, should you enter such a site – you will be warned immediately, and further access to it will be blocked.

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