FBI Cybercrime Division Virus - Your computer has been blocked

What is FBI Cybercrime Division?

The FBI Cybercrime Division message blocks computer users' screens, stating that the block was applied for alleged illegal download of music and video files. This is a scam - a ransomware infection developed by cyber criminals. In fact, neither the FBI nor the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance has any connection with this message.

No international authorities use screen-blocking messages such as this to collect fines for any law violations. The FBI Cybercrime Division ransomware demands payment of a $300 fine in order to unlock the user's PC, but note that paying this fine is equivalent to sending your money to Cyber criminals - with no guarantee that the computer will be unlocked.

This particular screen locker originates from a family called Urausy and predominantly targets PC users from the USA. There are, however, many other variants of this ransomware targeting other countries. For example, computer users from Australia (with PCs infected with this ransomware), observe this message as if delivered from the Australian Federal Police.

To add authenticity, cyber criminals exploit the names and graphics of local authorities. Ransomware localization such as this is possible through the rogue software determining the IP address of the computer targeted for infiltration. If you observe a message from the FBI Cybercrime Division blocking your computer screen, your PC is infected with ransomware.

Update April 29, 2013: A new ransomware virus was discovered, exploiting the name of the FBI Cybercrime Division and ICSPA ("Your computer has been locked and all your data were encrypted"):

Update July 17, 2013: Cyber criminals have released a new variant of the FBI Cybercrime Division ransomware virus - Mandiant U.S.A Cyber Security "Your computer has been blocked up for safety reasons" Virus

FBI Cybercrime Division virus is distributed using drive-by downloads and Trojans. Note that there is a delay between the actual infection and the time at which the computer screen is blocked (approximately 5 minutes), thus making it difficult to determine the cause of the infection.

To protect PCs from ransomware infections such as this, users should keep their operating system and installed software up-to-date. Furthermore, always use legitimate antivirus and anti-spyware software. If your computer is already infiltrated with FBI Cybercrime Division ransomware, use the removal guide below to eliminate this scam from your PC.

A fake message displayed by the FBI Cybercrime Division virus "Your computer has been blocked" ransomware:

ATTENTION! Your computer has been blocked due at least one of the reasons specified below. You have been violating Copyright and Related Rights Law. (Video, Music, Software) and illegally using or distributing copyrighted content, thus infringing Article 1, Section 2, Clause 8, also known as the Copyright of the Criminal Code of United States of America.
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 8 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of 200 to 500 minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty for 2 to 8 years.
You have been viewing or distributing prohibited Pornographic content (Child Porn/Zoophilia and etc). Thus violating Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code of United States of America. Article 2, Section I, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code provides for a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 12 years.
Illegal access to computer data has been initiated from your PC, or you have been...
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 8 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to 5200,000 and/or a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 9 years.
Illegal access has been initiated from your PC without your knowledge or consent, your PC may be infected by malware, thus you are violating the law On Neglectful Use of Personal Computer.
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to 5200,000 and/or deprivation of liberty for 4 to 9 years.
Spam distribution or other unlawful advertising has been effected from your PC as a profit-seeking activity or without your knowledge, your PC may be infected by malware.
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to 5500,000 and a deprivation of liberty of up to 6 years. In case this activity has been effected without your knowledge, you fall under the above mentioned Article 2, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code of United States of America.
Your personality and address are currently being identified, a criminal case is going to be initiated against you under one or more articles specified above within the next 72 hours.
Pursuant to the amendment to the Criminal Code of United States of America of February 05, 2013, this law infringement (if it is not repeated - first time) may be considered as conditional in case you pay the fine to the State.
Fines may only be paid within 72 hours after the infringement. As soon as 72 hours elapse, the possibility to pay the fine expires, and a criminal case is initiated against you automatically within the next 72 hours! To unblock the computer you must pay the fine through MoneyPak of $300. When you pay the fine, your PC will get unlocked in 1 to 72 hours after the money is put into the State's account.
Since your PC is unlocked, you will be given 7 days to correct all violations.
In case all violations are not corrected after 7 working days, your PC will be blocked again, and a criminal case will be initiated against you automatically under one or more articles specified above.

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Quick menu:

• What is FBI Cybercrime Division?
• STEP 1. "FBI Cybercrime Division" virus removal using safe mode with networking.
• STEP 2. "FBI Cybercrime Division" virus removal using safe mode with networking.
• STEP 3. "FBI Cybercrime Division" ransomware removal using System Restore.

FBI Cybercrime Division virus removal:

Step 1

Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer starting process press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Step 2

Log in to the account infected with FBI Cybercrime Division virus. Start your Internet browser and download a legitimate anti-spyware program. Update the anti-spyware software and start a full system scan. Remove all entries detected.

Cannot boot in Safe Mode with Networking? (FBI Cybercrime Division virus blocks Safe Mode with Networking)

If you have more than one user account on your operating system, please log-in to a clean account and download recommended malware removal software, install it, and run a full system scan.

Remove all security infections detected. If, however, you have only one user account, please follow this guide (the guide describes how to create a new user account using Safe Mode with Command Prompt - using this newly-created user account, you will be able to remove the FBI "Your computer has been locked" ransomware).

If FBI Cybercrime Division (PC blocked) MoneyPak scam also blocks your operating system's Safe Mode with Networking, follow these removal instructions:

1. During your computer starting process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then select Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list and press ENTER.

2. When Command Prompt Mode loads, enter the following line: net user removevirus /add and press ENTER.

3. Next, enter this line: net localgroup administrators removevirus /add and press ENTER.

4. Finally, enter this line: shutdown -r and press ENTER.

5. Wait for your computer to restart, then boot your PC in Normal Mode and login to the newly-created user account ('removevirus'). This account will not be affected by the ransomware infection and you will be able to download and install recommended malware removal software to eliminate this virus from your computer.

6. Download and install recommended malware removal software to eliminate this ransomware infection from your computer:

If the newly-created user account is also affected by the ransomware infection, try performing a System Restore:

Video showing how to remove ransomware virus using "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" and "System Restore":

1. During your computer starting process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then select Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list and press ENTER.

2. When Command Prompt Mode loads, enter the following line: cd restore and press ENTER.

3. Next, type this line: rstrui.exe and press ENTER.

4. In the opened window click "Next".

5. Select one of the available restore points and click "Next" (this will restore your computer system to an earlier time and date, prior to the ransomware infiltrating your PC).

6. In the opened window click "Yes".

7. After restoring your computer to a previous date, download and scan your PC with recommended malware removal software to eliminate any remnants of FBI Cybercrime Division virus.

Other methods used to eliminate this ransomware virus from your PC:

Remove FBI Cybercrime Division ransomware virus using a Rescue Disk.

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