How to avoid scams like "Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone"

What kind of scam is "Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone"?

We have examined this scam and concluded that it involves fake warnings to trick unsuspecting users into downloading a specific application. Falling for such scams can expose users to privacy and security risks. Thus, it is important to recognize and avoid these scams.

"Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone" scam in detail

Initially, a fake pop-up disguised as a system warning appears on the site. This fake warning claims the user's phone is infected with viruses and urges immediate action to "fix" the issue. It urges the user to follow the instructions and warns that exiting the page is at the user's risk.

In the background, another deceptive message is displayed. It falsely claims the user's phone is infected with two viruses that will damage their SIM card, data, photos, and contacts if they do not act quickly. It instructs the user to download a "virus removal app" from the Google Play Store via the provided button (labeled "Remove Virus Now").

Apps promoted using fake warnings and other deceptive techniques can function as browser hijackers, adware, or even more malicious software. Installing shady apps can result in privacy and security issues, monetary loss, identity theft, malware infiltration, or other problems. Thus, it is important to avoid downloading apps promoted using deceptive methods.

It is important to note that the scam described in this article involves using the Google logo to lure users. Analogous scams often use legitimate logos, names, and other elements to appear trustworthy.

Threat Summary:

Name	Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone fake warning
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	A device is infected with two viruses
Disguise	Legitimate system warning
Promoted App	My Mobile Secure VPN
Related Domains	protectquicksaferiskfree[.]top, speed-guardiance-detect-appinstall[.]top
Detection Names (protectquicksaferiskfree[.]top)	Yandex Safebrowsing (Phishing), Trustwave (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Detection Names (speed-guardiance-detect-appinstall[.]top)	Trustwave (Suspicious), 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, 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 scams in general

As a rule, such scams rely on fear and urgency to manipulate users into taking hasty actions, such as downloading malicious apps or providing personal information. Users often encounter fake warnings and similar messages unexpectedly. It is important to be careful with messages from suspicious sources to avoid potential consequences.

Examples of similar scams are "McAfee - Computer Is At Risk Of Virus Infection", "Microsoft Windows Locked Due To Unusual Activity", and "WARNING: Antivirus Protection EXPIRED!".

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites are often promoted using deceptive advertisements and pop-ups, adware-type apps, fraudulent emails containing misleading links, and fake (or stolen) social media accounts. Web pages that use rogue advertising networks (e.g., torrent sites and illegal movie streaming pages) can also direct users to scam pages.

Additionally, users can be exposed to scams by allowing questionable websites to send notifications. Overall, users tend to be tricked into opening scam pages rather than visiting them on purpose.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Avoid clicking pop-up ads, buttons, and links encountered on shady web pages. Do not allow suspicious sites to send you notifications. Download applications (and files) from official pages or app stores. Avoid using other sources, such as P2P networks, dubious websites, third-party app stores, etc.

Do not open files or click links in suspicious emails (e.g., irrelevant or unexpected emails) from unknown addresses. Regularly update all apps and the operating system, and scan your computer for threats using a reliable security tool. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Background of the "Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone" pop-up scam:

Text in the fake warning (pop-up message):

System Warning!

Your phone is infected with viruses, and immediate action is required.
Continue and follow the instructions to fix your phone.
**Exit at your own risk*

[OK]

Text in the background:

(2) viruses have been detected on your phone. It has been infected and damaged.

We have detected that your phone has been infected with viruses. It will soon corrupt your sim card, data, photos, and contacts if no action is taken.

-

How to remove virus:

Step 1: Tap the button below & go to Google Playstore to install the virus removal app for free

Step 2: Run the app to remove all the viruses.

[Remove Virus Now]

Full appearance of "Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone" 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 Viruses Have Been Detected On Your Phone fake warning?
• 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?

A pop-up scam usually involves a deceptive message that appears while browsing the internet. It typically claims there is a problem, like a virus infection or a system error, to create urgency and trick users into taking harmful actions.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

In most cases, these scams are used to trick users into disclosing personal information, downloading potentially malicious applications, or paying money to scammers.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Scam websites are promoted through deceptive ads and pop-ups on shady pages, adware, fake emails, and stolen social media accounts. Rogue advertising networks, often used by torrent or illegal streaming sites, also direct users to scams, as well as notifications from unreliable web pages.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan all websites you visit and can identify malicious ones. This includes sites that deliver pop-up scams, ensuring you receive an immediate warning and that access is blocked.

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