Do not trust fake "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" sites

What kind of scam is "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected"?

Our researchers discovered the "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" scam during a routine investigative session of suspicious sites. Upon inspection, we determined that it is a technical support scam.

This deceptive webpage is disguised as Microsoft's official website and alerts visitors of various threats on their devices. Tech support scams are elaborate; their initial goal is to get victims to call their fake helplines and allow cyber criminals to connect to their systems remotely.

"(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" scam overview

This scam is disguised as the official website of Microsoft. It is overlaid with multiple pop-up windows. The pop-up warns visitors of various threats present on their computers. To expand upon this, one of the pop-ups states that viruses and malware were detected on the device. These infections are threatening the security of the users' log-in credentials, personal information, and banking-related data.

Another claims that Windows was locked due to suspicious activity. This one also requests users to sign in using their Microsoft account credentials (which might be recorded and sent to scammers). Throughout the scam, visitors are urged to contact "Microsoft Support" to address these nonexistent issues.

It must be stressed that the information provided by "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" is false, and this scheme is not associated with Windows or its developer – the Microsoft Corporation.

The scam aims to trick victims into calling the fake helpline and then allowing scammers to access their devices remotely, thereby enabling the criminals to carry out a variety of malicious activities under the guise of "Microsoft support technicians".

Threats posed by tech support scammers

Scammers typically connect to victims' computers using legitimate remote access programs like UltraViewer, TeamViewer, or others. Under the pretense of performing malware removal and other tech services, cyber criminals can disable/remove genuine security tools, install fake anti-viruses, obtain sensitive information, and infiltrate malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, etc.).

The "services" of technical support scammers tend to be exorbitantly priced. Additionally, they can rely on difficult-to-trace methods to acquire funds (e.g., gift cards, cash hidden in packages and shipped, pre-paid vouchers, cryptocurrencies, etc.), thus diminishing the chances of successful prosecution and victims recovering their money.

To summarize, victims of scams like "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" can experience system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

For more information on how to recognize technical support scams and how they operate in detail, read our article on these schemes.

If you have happened upon a scam site and cannot close it – end the browser's process using Task Manager. Remember to begin a new browsing session when reaccessing the browser, as the previous one includes the deceptive webpage.

If you have allowed cyber criminals to access your device remotely – you must first disconnect it from the Internet. Afterwards, uninstall the remote access program that the criminals used since they might not need your consent to reconnect. Lastly, perform a full system scan with an anti-virus and eliminate all detected threats.

If you have disclosed your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all potentially compromised accounts and inform their official support without delay. And if the provided information was of a different personal nature (e.g., passport photos/scans, ID card details, credit/debit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the corresponding authorities.

Threat Summary:

Name	"(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" tech support scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Device is infected with viruses and malware and has been blocked due to suspicious activity.
Disguise	Windows / Microsoft
Tech Support Scammer Phone Number	+1-844-412-3301, +1-866-581-3413
Related Domains	tronlam3wj.z13.web.core.windows[.]net
Detection Names	ESET (Malware), Google Safebrowsing (Phishing), Yandex Safebrowsing (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	57.150.87.132
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.

Technical support scam examples

We have written about countless online schemes; "Virus Alert (05261)", "Error Updating Software: #009292w099738H98", "Microsoft Detected A Unusual Application In Your System", and "Error: Ox800VDS" are just some of our newest articles on technical support scams.

The Internet is full of deceptive and malicious content. Various lures are used to gain and subsequently abuse victims' trust, such as claims concerning system infections, suspicious activity detections, outdated software, blocked devices, account issues, security upgrades, and so on.

While online schemes can differ greatly in appearance and used mechanisms, their end goal is the same – to generate revenue for scammers.

Due to how widespread scams are on the Web and how well-made they can be – we highly recommend exercising caution when browsing.

How did I open a scam website?

In general, online scams promoted via websites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive advertisements (malvertising), spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, PMs/DMs, browser notifications, social media/ forum posts, etc.), misspelled URLs (typosquatting), and adware.

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is essential to online safety. Therefore, be wary of websites and ads making promises that sound too good to be true. Pay attention to URLs and type them carefully. Do not permit suspect pages to display browser notifications; instead, ignore or deny these requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

Do not use sites offering pirated programs/media or other dubious services (e.g., illegal streaming or downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages usually employ rogue advertising networks. Be vigilant with incoming emails and other messages; do not open attachments or links found in suspicious mail.

Download only from official/verified sources and approach installations with care (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, tools, etc.) – to prevent bundled/harmful software (like adware) 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 "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" topmost pop-up:

System Security

Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center

(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected on your device.
Microsoft Windows Defender Firewall Alert!
Use your preferred ID for Login to Microsoft Windows
Your personal data is at risk!
(Error Code: #Er0d2 JPO7E)

Your personal data, banking information and web login credentials saved
on this PC are at risk due to a major security breach.
Contact Microsoft Support: +1-866-581-3413 (Security Helpline)

Microsoft Windows
Leave Page
Report an Issue

The appearance of "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" 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 "(5) Virus/Malware infections have been detected" tech 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 pop-up scam?

Essentially, pop-up scams are deceptive messages intended to trick users into performing certain actions. To expand upon this, victims can be deceived into calling fake helplines, allowing cyber criminals to access computers remotely, downloading/installing software, making monetary transactions, disclosing sensitive information, purchasing products, subscribing to services, and so forth.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

The purpose of pop-up scams is to generate revenue at victims' expense. Cyber criminals predominantly profit by obtaining funds through deception, promoting content (e.g., sites, programs, products, services, etc.), selling/abusing private data, and spreading malware.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Pop-up scams are primarily endorsed by websites that use rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, SMSes, DMs/PMs, social media posts, browser notifications, etc.), malvertising, typosquatting, and adware.

I cannot exit a scam page, how do I close it?

If you cannot exit a deceptive page – you must end the browser's process using Task Manager. Start a new browsing session when relaunching the browser, as the previous one includes the scam site.

I have allowed cyber criminals to remotely access my computer, what should I do?

If you have allowed cyber criminals to access your device remotely – firstly, disconnect it from the Internet. Secondly, remove the remote access software that the criminals used (e.g., AnyDesk, TeamViewer, UltraViewer, etc.), as they might not need your consent to reconnect. Lastly, run a complete system scan with an anti-virus and remove all detected threats.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by a pop-up scam, what should I do?

If you have provided your log-in credentials – change the passwords of all possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support. And if you've disclosed other private information (e.g., ID card details, passport scans/photos, credit card numbers, etc.) – contact the appropriate authorities without delay.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams and the malware they proliferate?

Combo Cleaner is designed to eliminate all manner of threats. It can scan visited websites for deceptive and malicious content. Additionally, it can restrict all further access to sites hosting said content. Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most of the known malware infections. Keep in mind that performing a full system scan is paramount since sophisticated malicious software usually hides deep within systems.

▼ Show Discussion