How to remove apps that open scam pages like MS-Windows Support Alert?

Removal guide for apps that open MS-Windows Support Alert scam

What is MS-Windows Support Alert scam?

In most cases technical support scam pages like this one are designed by to look like official Microsoft websites. As a rule, they display fake notifications, virus alerts saying that there is some problem with a computer (e.g., it is infected with some malware) and it needs to be solved as soon as possible. The main purpose of such scams is to trick unsuspecting users into calling the provided number and paying money for unnecessary services, software or get users to allow remote access to their computer. Either way, scam websites like this one should never be taken seriously, they should be ignored.

There are two variants of this technical support scam, both of them display the same virus alert notifications. The only differences are the provided number that users supposed to call and the color design. This website is designed to trick visitors into believing that it has detected spyware on their computers and that it might damage data and used to track financial activities. Visitors are encouraged to remove detected malicious software with the help of technicians by calling the +1-888-630-3830 or +61-1800-875-294 number. Typically, when scammers are contacted, they attempt to trick users into paying money for their services or some software, or they ask for a permission to access the computer. If allowed, scammers could install malware on the operating system, steal sensitive information (like credit card details, login credentials), or use the access for some other malicious purposes. In one way or another, when a browser opens such website, it should be ignored. If a browser opens websites of this kind often, then it is very likely that there is some potentially unwanted application (PUA) installed on it (or the operating system). Note, this page is designed to download various files to stop a browser from responding so that users could not close it. In such case a browser/this scam page can be closed through Task Manager. This page should not be reopened when a browser is launched after being closed via Task Manager.

PUAs are apps that can be designed to open untrustworthy, deceptive pages, gather various data and/or serve advertisements. It is common that PUAs target IP addresses, websites of visited pages, entered search queries, geolocations, etc. Also, they can be designed to collect sensitive details as well. Their developers could sell gathered data to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate revenue in some another way. Also, such apps can be designed to serve coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups and other forms of advertisements. It is common that their ads are designed to open untrustworthy websites, or even cause downloads, installations of unwanted applications by running certain scripts.

Threat Summary:

Name	MS-Windows Support Alert technical support scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Windows system is infected with spyware
Tech Support Scammer Phone Numbers	+1-888-630-3830, +61-1800-875-294
Related Domains	shieldportectionmessage[.]tk, hypersophisticated[.]club
Detection Names (shieldportectionmessage[.]tk)	Google Safebrowsing (Phishing), Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (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 Malwarebytes. ▼ Download Malwarebytes To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

"Important Security Alert!", "TROJAN Error Code 0xdc2dgewc", "Windows Defender - Security Warning" are examples of other scam websites that are quite similar to this one. As mentioned in the introduction, most of these websites are disguised as official Microsoft pages, however, this company has nothing to do with any of these scams. It is worthwhile to mention that users download and/or install PUAs that promote untrustworthy pages (including technical support scams) unknowingly.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

In some cases users download and/or install PUAs by clicking deceptive ads that are capable of executing certain scripts. However, more often they cause it during downloads and/or installations of other programs. To be more precise, when PUAs are included in various download and/or installation setups of other programs as extra offers. This distribution method is known as "bundling". In most cases offers to download and/or install potentially unwanted apps can be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of setups. However, users often leave them unchanged. By leaving those settings unchanged they agree with offers to download and/or install PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advised not use various third party software downloaders (or installers), Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule etc.), questionable, unofficial websites, etc., as tools to download or install any software. It should be achieved using official, trustworthy websites and direct download links. Also, it is recommended to check what are the "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings of setups. Quite often those settings can be used to decline offers to download and/or install unwanted apps. Advertisements on questionable, untrustworthy pages should not be trusted as well. More often than not they are designed to open other sites of this kind or cause unwanted downloads, installations. Any unwanted, unknown extensions, plug-ins or add-ons that are installed on a browser should be eliminated. Programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system should be uninstalled too. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of "MS-Windows Support Alert" pop-up scam (GIF):

Text in the main pop-up window:

Windows Security

Microsoft Edge

The server is asking for your user name and password.
That server also reports: "Suspicious movement distinguished on
you IP address because of a spyware introduced in you PC. Call
us for any help. Your information is at a Serious risk. There is a
Computer framework record missing because of some Harmful
malware infection Debug Malware error (code 0x80093acf). Call
Immediately to correct the issue. Please do not Open web browser
or make any changes for your Security Issue to avoid data loss &
Corrupt system files & drivers, Call immediately to save Hard disk
failure & Data loss. This Harmful malware is affecting your online
information & can Track Financial Activity Contact Certified
Technicians. Call Helpline @ +1-888-630-3830 for any help".

Text in the pop-up in the backrground:

VIRUS ALERT FROM MS-Windows
This computer is BLOCKED
Do not close this window and restart your computer
Your computer's registration key is Blocked.
Why we blocked your computer?
The window's registration key is illegal.
This window is using pirated software.
This window is sending virus over the internet.
This window is hacked or used from undefined location.
We block this computer for your security.
Contact MS-Windows  helpline to reactivate your computer.
MS-Windows  Security Tollfree:
+1-888-630-3830

Text on the website:

MS-Windows Support Alert

Your System Detected Some Unusual Activity.

It might harm your computer data and track your financial activities.

Please report this activity to  +1-888-630-3830

Screenshot of the second variant of MS-Windows Support Alert scam page:

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Quick menu:

• What is MS-Windows Support Alert?
• STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
• STEP 6. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.

Removal of potentially unwanted applications:

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.

Windows XP users:

Click Start, choose Settings and click Control Panel. Locate and click Add or Remove Programs.

Windows 10 and Windows 8 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.

Mac 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 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 ms-windows support alert technical support scam, 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 plugins 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 ms-windows support alert technical support scam 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 ms-windows support alert technical support scam, 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.

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 ms-windows support alert technical support scam, 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.

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 ms-windows support alert technical support scam from your computer, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

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