How to avoid falling for scams like "Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is "Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System"?
We have examined the site and found that it is a scam page designed to trick visitors into believing that an unusual application has been detected in their operating system. The purpose of this scam is to lure unsuspecting users into calling the provided number. Such fraudulent schemes are known as technical support scams.
"Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System" scam overview
On this scam page, users are presented with multiple fake warnings. These messages impersonate Windows Defender Security Center and claim that Microsoft has detected an unusual application on the user's system. They urge the user to resolve the issue immediately.
Also, these messages state that all Microsoft services have been suspended on the user's IP address and provide a fake "Windows Support" number (+1-866-556-5066). Overall, this technical support scam is designed to deceive users into believing they have a serious issue with their system and to trick them into contacting scammers.
Quite often, such scams involve luring users into providing scammers with remote access to their computers (a couple of examples of such scams are UltraViewer and TeamViewer scams). With this access, scammers can infect computers with malware, steal sensitive information, and perform other malicious actions.
Also, technical support scams can be used to trick users into paying for fake (or unnecessary) services or products. Thus, users should close such pages to avoid potential damage.
Threats posed by technical support scams
Victims of such scams may have their computers infected with ransomware, Trojans, cryptocurrency miners, or other forms of malware. Also, threat actors may extract credit card details, login credentials, ID card information, and other sensitive details.
Thus, users may become victims of identity theft, suffer monetary loss, lose access to their files, experience system crashes, and encounter other problems. Additionally, cybercriminals may hijack personal accounts (e.g., email or social media accounts) and use them to send scam emails, deliver malware, extract information from contacts, and more.
| Name | Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System technical support scam |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Fake Claim | The site claims that a computer is compromised |
| Disguise | Legitimate security warning from Windows Defender |
| Tech Support Scammer Phone Number | +1-866-556-5066 |
| Related Domain | cgfffc[.]xyz |
| Detection Names (cgfffc[.]xyz) | alphaMountain.ai (Malicious), Combo Cleaner (Phishing), ESET (Phishing), Kaspersky (Phishing), Netcraft (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan. |
| Distribution methods | Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, unwanted applications, fake social media profiles. |
| 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. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, scams like the one described in our article use deceptive tactics to trick users into believing their systems are compromised. These tactics often involve impersonating legitimate companies or their software products and displaying fake messages to coerce victims into taking immediate action, such as contacting fake support services (calling scammers).
Examples of similar scams are "Temporary Files Deletion Have Started", "Error: Ox800VDS", and "Threat Detected: xxbc Detected".
How did I open a scam website?
Typically, websites hosting technical support and other scams get opened via notifications from untrustworthy websites, ads generated by adware, misleading ads (or pop-ups) on unreliable sites, etc. Websites that use rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent pages or illegal movie streaming sites) can also lead users to scam websites.
Sometimes, scam websites are promoted using fake social media accounts or links sent via email. Overall, scammers use various methods to trick users into opening fraudulent websites.
How to avoid visiting scam pages?
Avoid opening links (and files) in unexpected messages or emails, and do not trust ads and pop-ups on suspicious websites. Reject notification requests from questionable sites. Check the URLs of websites to make sure they are official before entering personal information or taking other action.
Always use official websites and app stores for software downloads, and be skeptical about online offers that are too good to be true. Additionally, keep the operating system and all installed apps up to date and regularly scan your computer for threats. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
The appearance of "Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System" pop-up scam (GIF):
Text in one of the messages:
Windows Defender Security Center
Microsoft Detected a unusual application in your system !
We suggest contact us immediately to reslove this issue
(Close this page at your own risk)We suspended all microsoft services on your ip.
Call Windows Support: +1-866-556-5066
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 Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System technical support scam?
- 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 technical support scam?
A technical support scam is a type of scam where fraudsters impersonate legitimate technical support representatives, typically from well-known companies like Microsoft or Apple, to trick users into believing their computer is infected or has another problem.
What is the purpose of a technical support scam?
Scammers use these scams to distribute malware, steal sensitive information, extract money, hijack personal accounts, or for other malicious purposes.
Why do I encounter scam websites?
Scam websites are promoted through notifications from shady sites, adware, misleading pop-ups on unreliable sites, and sites that use rogue advertising networks, like torrent pages or illegal streaming sites. Additionally, scammers promote scam websites through fake social media accounts or email links.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?
Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting malicious pages (including sites hosting scams). Thus, users are informed, and access is restricted when an unreliable page is detected.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion