Amazon AWS Virus

What is Amazon AWS?

Amazon AWS (also known as Amazon Web Services) is a legitimate service provided by Amazon Inc. This service provides users with various IT-related resources/functionalities (e.g., database storage, computer power, content delivery, etc.) Cyber criminals employ this service in their malicious businesses.

For example, they use Amazon AWS to proliferate malware, host infectious/dubious websites, and so on. Therefore, if you continually encounter browser "pending" statuses that supposedly load s3.****.amazonaws.com URLs, there is chance that your system is infected.

As mentioned above, cyber criminals employ this legitimate service to host malicious sites. The most popular are fake error scam models (for example, "Firewall Detecting Suspicious Incoming Network Connections"). Sites typically deliver various pop-ups with false error messages stating that the system is corrupted.

Victims are then encouraged to contact "technical support" via telephone numbers or download certain updates/anti-virus suites, however, rather than contacting certified technicians, users will speak with cyber criminals who attempt to trick them into paying for technical support that is not required.

Websites encouraging users to download software typically proliferate malware - rather than updating/protecting the system, users inadvertently infect it with high-risk malware. Redirects to malicious websites hosted on Amazon AWS are often caused by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).

In most cases, PUPs infiltrate systems without users’ permission. Amazon AWS is a legitimate service, however, excessive redirects to s3.****.amazonaws.com URLs indicate a computer infection, or that you are continually visiting dubious websites containing links/advertisements leading to this Amazon AWS site.

In any case, you should immediately eliminate all dubious applications and scan the entire system with a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite.

Threat Summary:

Name	amazonaws.com redirect virus
Threat Type	Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional 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.

Potentially unwanted programs are known for randomly opening new browser tabs/windows and causing unwanted redirects. These programs also deliver intrusive advertisements. Ads are delivered using tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site.

Therefore, by overlaying visited website content, intrusive ads significantly diminish the browsing experience. Furthermore, the ads may redirect to malicious websites (for instance, those hosted using the Amazon AWS service) and even run scripts that download and install malware/PUPs. Therefore, by clicking on these ads, users risk computer infections.

Most PUPS are designed to gather various sensitive data that typically includes personal details. After recording this information, developers sell it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse confidential details to generate revenue. In doing so, criminals cause serious privacy issues. For these reasons, Uninstall all PUPs immediately.

The list of potentially unwanted programs includes hundreds of examples. By offering various "useful features", PUPs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy.

Despite this, they deliver no real value for regular users. These programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than providing any real value for regular users, PUPs pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.

How did adware install on my computer?

In most cases, potentially unwanted programs infiltrate systems without permission. The reasons for this are the poor knowledge and careless behavior of many users. Potentially unwanted programs are proliferated using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", and intrusive advertisements.

"Bundling" is stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs together with regular software/apps. Developers do not disclose these installations properly - "bundled" apps are hidden within various sections (e.g., "Custom/Advanced" settings) of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, users often rush these procedures and skip steps. In addition, they are very likely to click advertisements/links without considering the possible consequences. In doing so, they merely their systems to risk of various infections.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be very cautious when browsing the Internet, and downloading/installing software. Intrusive ads look legitimate, however, they redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites. If you experience these redirects, uninstall all potentially unwanted programs and browser plug-ins.

Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. The key to computer safety is caution.

Example of redirects to a malicious website with a fake error hosted using Amazon AWS (GIF):

Update January 17, 2019 - Cyber criminals have recently started using Amazon AWS service to deliver websites that display pop-ups asking to enable pop-up notifications. Once enabled, these websites start delivering notifications that cause redirects to other questionable sites.

Eventually users may end up visiting websites that contain malicious content and/or steal personal details. Hence, enabling may result in various privacy issues or either computer infections.

Screenshot of one of such websites that deliver pop-ups asking to enable notifications:

Appearance of this website (GIF):

IMPORTANT NOTE! If you've already visited such website and enabled notifications, we highly recommend to disable them by perform these steps:

Google Chrome (PC):

• Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
• Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Google Chrome (Android):

• Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
• Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
• Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and click "Block"

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
• Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"

Internet Explorer:

• Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
• Select "Internet options"
• Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
• Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button

Microsoft Edge:

• Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window
• Scroll down, find and click "Settings"
• Scroll down again and click "View advanced settings"
• Click "Manage" under "Notifications"
• Click the switch under each suspicious website

Safari:

• Click "Safari" button on the bottom of the screen and select "Preferences..."
• Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
• Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each

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Quick menu:

• What is Amazon AWS?
• STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for any potentially unwanted programs, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Amazon AWS redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the amazonaws.com redirect virus, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the amazonaws.com redirect virus, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with amazonaws.com redirect virus removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the amazonaws.com redirect virus, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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