Do not trust the 'Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!' alert

What is "Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!"?

"Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" is a sentence from a fake virus alert message suggesting that the user's operating system is infected with viruses. Typically, these notifications appear on deceptive websites designed by scammers who seek to trick visitors into downloading and installing dubious software, which supposedly removes the viruses.

Note that scammers often encourage visitors to contact them by telephone. When contacted, however, they urge people to purchase dubious software or pay for their remote services. In any case, websites of this type can never be trusted and should be avoided.

This deceptive website displays a pop-up window, which is disguised as Microsoft Defender Security Center and encourages visitors to remove detected viruses immediately. They are supposedly removed by downloading and installing an update for the antivirus suite.

This update is supposedly downloaded by clicking the "Proceed..." and then "Download" (or other) button. We strongly recommend against installing software downloaded from websites of this type. Typically, the software is dubious and malicious. Ignore statements on these sites and close them immediately.

The websites are usually opened through clicked deceptive advertisements, other untrustworthy websites or by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) already installed on the browser and/or computer.

Generally, PUAs open deceptive, untrustworthy websites. They also serve advertisements and gather information relating to users' browsing habits. They record IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries and other data of this kind.

They sometimes record sensitive information. PUAs that serve ads usually display coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, and so on. Typically, these ads redirect people to untrustworthy websites or execute scripts that download and/or install unwanted, potentially malicious software.

Note that this happens only when people willingly or accidentally click the ads. People responsible for PUAs sell collected data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

To stop your browser from opening deceptive web pages, avoid becoming a victim of identity theft or experiencing problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and so on, we recommend that you uninstall all PUAs immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" virus
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud.
Fake Claim	According to this website, the visitor's operating system is infected with several viruses.
Related Domain	rechargecomputerservice[.]fun
Detection Names (rechargecomputerservice[.]fun)	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (rechargecomputerservice[.]fun)	51.89.42.227
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.

Some examples of other deceptive pages claiming that the visitor's computer is infected with viruses include "E.tre456_worm_Windows", "VIRAL ALARM OF MICROSOFT" and "Windows is not activated".

These sites attempt to trick people into installing dubious software, or they extort money from them by encouraging them to purchase the software or pay for remote 'technical support'. Never trust these websites. The same applies to PUAs responsible for opening these sites - never trust them, even if developers advertise them as useful, legitimate, and so on.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

People often download and install PUAs inadvertently when they click deceptive advertisements or when software developers distribute them using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". This method is used to trick people into downloading and/or installing unwanted apps through the set-ups of other software.

To achieve this, developers hide offers to download and/or install unwanted apps in "Custom", "Advanced" settings and hope that people leave them unchanged. By failing to check and change settings, many people allow PUAs to be downloaded and installed with regular software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Avoid downloading/installing software through third party downloaders, installers or from untrustworthy, unofficial websites. Also avoid Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, or other similar channels, sources. We strongly recommend that you download files and programs only via direct links and from official websites.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings included in the download or installation setup. Decline offers to download or install additional, potentially unwanted applications. Furthermore, do not click ads displayed on untrustworthy websites. These can cause unwanted downloads/installations and redirect people to dubious web pages.

Check for unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins or add-ons installed on the browser and software of this kind installed on the operating system - remove unwanted entries immediately. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of "Your Windows 10 Is Infected With 5 Viruses!" pop-up scam:

Text presented in "Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" pop-up:

System Defender Security Center
PC status: At risk

Home Update History Settings

Scan completed
Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!

The removal of viruses is required immediately to prevent further system damage, loss of programs, photos, videos or other files. Personal and banking information are at risk.

 

Name | Infected file | Type | Threat level

 

OSX/Hoax.Renos.HX | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\... | Virus | Medium

Trojan IRC/Backdoor.SdBot4.FRV | C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\... | Virus | Medium

Adware. OSX.Look2me.ab | C:\Program Files\Common Files\Syst... | Virus | Critical

Trojan.Qoologic - Key Logger | C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Access... | Virus | High

Trojan.Fakealert.356 | C:\Windows\System32\Microsoft\Prot... | Virus | Medium

 

Action required! Your antivirus software requires an update. To remove all detected viruses, you must update the antivirus software. Click "Proceed" then on the next page click "Download" to download and install the latest version of antivirus software.

 

Proceed...

Pop-up ads that promote "Your Windows 10 Is Infected With 5 Viruses!" scam:

Screenshot of a website that "Your Windows 10 Is Infected With 5 Viruses!" scam redirects to:

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▼ 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 "Your Windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!"?
• STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Removal of potentially unwanted applications:

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 suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove rogue extensions 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 "your windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" 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 and remove them.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "your windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with "your windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" 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 "your windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" 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.

Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove "your windows 10 is infected with 5 viruses!" virus from your computer, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

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