Your computer has been locked! Virus

What is Your computer has been locked?

This message locks users' computers, demanding payment of a $300 fine using MoneyPak. This is a scam, a ransomware infection created by cyber criminals and targeting PC users from the United States. This fake message states that the computer user's screen was locked due to downloading and distributing illegal content (child pornography).

Do not believe these statements - they are fake. Cyber criminals who have developed this deceptive message (ransomware), hope that computer users will fall for their trickery and pay the bogus fine. Neither the "Department of Justice" nor the "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" are connected with this message.

Cyber criminals responsible for releasing this scam exploit the names and graphics of these organizations.

In fact, no international authorities or organizations use desktop-locking messages to collect fines for any law violations. Paying the $300 fine demanded by this message is equivalent to sending your money to cyber criminals.

This particular virus (ransomware) originates from a family of screen lockers called Kovter and is just one of many targeting PC users from the United States. Other known ransomware targeting computer users from the USA, exploits the names of the Department of Justice, FBI Cybercrime Division, and many others.

As well as blocking your computer screen, the "Your computer has been locked!" virus  also scans computer users' Internet browsing history in order to make the deceptive message appear authentic.

The browsing history scan detects any recently-visited pornographic websites, and if such entries are found, are displayed in the "Source or intermediary sites" section of this ransomware infection. If no pornographic websites are detected, this ransomware displays porn.com as being found in "Source or intermediary sites".

A common source of ransomware infections such as these are exploit kits, which exploit security vulnerabilities detected on users' computers and then execute malicious code. Protect your computer by using antivirus and anti-spyware software, and if your PC is already infected, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this scam.

A fake message displayed by the "Your computer has been locked!" virus:

Your computer has been locked due to suspicious of illegal content downloading and distribution.
Mentioned illegal content (414 Mb of video files) was automatically classified as child pornography materials. Such actions, in whole or in part, violate following U.S. Federal Laws:
18 U.S.C 2251 - Sexual Exploitation of Children (Production of child pornography)
18 U.S.C 2252 - Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploration of minors (Possession, distribution and receipt of child pornography)
18 U.S.C. 2252A - certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography.

Any individual who violates, or attempts to violate, or conspires to violate mentioned laws shall be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment from 4 to 30 years and shall be fined up to $250,000.
All suspicious files from your computer were transmitted to a special server and shall be used as evidences. Don't try to corrupt any data or unblock your account in an unauthorized way.
Your case can be classified as occasional/unmotivated, according to title 17 (U.S. Code) 512. Thus it may be closed without prosecution. Your computer will be unblocked automatically.

In order to resolve this situation in an above-mentioned way you should pay a fine of $300.

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Quick menu:

• What is Your computer has been locked!?
• STEP 1. "Your computer has been locked!" virus removal using safe mode with networking.
• STEP 2. "Your computer has been locked!" ransomware removal using System Restore.

"Your computer has been locked!" 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":

Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Step 2

Log in to the account infected with "Your computer has been locked!" 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.

If you cannot start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking, try performing a System Restore.

Video showing how to remove a 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 "Your computer has been locked!" virus.

Other tools known to remove the "Your computer has been locked!" virus:

• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

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