How to uninstall apps that promote Pornographic Alert and similar scams

What is the Pornographic Alert scam?

This is a typical technical support scam website that displays a fake notification stating that the computer is infected and instructs visitors to dial the provided number for help/remote technical support. In most cases, these web pages seem to be official, legitimate Microsoft pages, however, none have anything do to with the Microsoft company.

Note that technical support sites are often visited by users unintentionally - typically, they are opened via deceptive ads, other dubious pages, or by installed potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).

This web page runs a fake virus scan and then displays a pop-up window stating that access to the computer has been blocked due to security reasons. It also displays another pop-up stating that the computer has been infected with spyware and adware, and that data such as email and Facebook credentials, banking passwords, pictures and documents, other personal files, have been compromised.

The main purpose of this page is to trick visitors into calling the +1-800-756-1068 number. In most cases, when scammers behind these pages are contacted, they try to trick users into paying for “support"/online services of certain software or ask to give them remote access to the computer to run a diagnostic test or other function. By gaining access to the computer, scammers can use it to install malware (such as Trojan-type malware, ransomware) on the operating, access personal documents, steal identities, make fraudulent purchases, and for other malicious purposes.

Therefore, these bogus web pages should never be trusted. Sometimes, they cannot be closed in the normal way and, in such cases, use Task Manager by ending the browser process.

Threat Summary:

Name	Pornographic Alert technical support scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	A computer has been infected with malware and adware
Disguise	Microsoft website
Tech Support Scammer Phone Number	+1-800-756-1068, +1-844-390-3951, +1-866-512-6106, +1-888-927-0789
Related Domain	bgfght[.]tk
Detection Names	ESET (Phishing), Google Safebrowsing (Phishing), Sophos (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
IP Address	155.138.198.225
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.
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More examples of tech-support scam websites are "Pirated software has been detected", "Error code # MS-6F0EXFE", and "Error # WINDOWS-PORN-91".

Most are similar and are designed to trick visitors into paying for services that they do not actually need (fix problems that do not exist or giving scammers remote access to computers). As mentioned, these pages are promoted by unwanted apps, and users often download and install them inadvertently.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

PUAs are distributed via download/installation set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing tactic of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and settings, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.

Some PUAs have "official" download sites. Intrusive advertisements proliferate these applications as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Do not trust irrelevant emails that have files attached (or contain website links) and are received from unknown, suspicious addresses. Software should not be downloaded or installed through third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages or other similar sources/tools.

Use only official websites and direct links. Installed software should never be updated or activated with third party, unofficial tools, since they can install malware. Furthermore, it is illegal to use third party tools to activate licensed software.

The only legitimate way to update and activate software is to use tools and functions that are provided by the official developers. Regularly scan your computer with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep this software up to date.

If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

The appearance of the Pornographic Alert pop-up scam (GIF):

Text in the red pop-up window:

Windows_Firewall_protection

Pornographic Alert - Error Code: #0x268d3(x7)
Access to this PC has been blocked for security reasons.
Contact Windows Support: + 1-800-756-1068
Threat_Detected - Pornographic Spyware
App: Ads.financetrack(1).exe
[Quick Support] [Go Back Safety]

Another example of "Pornographic Alert" pop-up scam:

Text presented within:

Windows-Firewall-Protection

Pornographic- Alert - Error Code: #0x2d6i8df3 (x07)
Access to this PC has been blocked for security reasons.
Contact Windows Support: +1-(844) 325-0278

Threat_Detected - Pornographic Spyware
App: Ads.Ads.financetrack(1).exe
[Quick Support] [Go Back Safety]

Another example of "Pornographic Alert" pop-up scam:

Text in the pop-up:

Windows-Firewall-Protection

 

Microsoft

Pornographic Alert - Error Code: #0x268d3(x7)
Access to this PC has been blocked for security reasons.
Contact Windows Support: +1-888-612-3097

 

Threat_Detected - Pornographic Spyware

App: Ads.financetrack(1).exe

[Quick Support] [Go Back Safety]

Yet another variant of "Pornographic Alert" pop-up scam:

Another variant of Pornographic Alert pop-up scam:

Yet another example of pornographic alert-themed pop-up scam:

Text presented within:

Windows_Firewall_Protection_Alert !

Pornographic_Spyware Alert - Error Code: #0x268d3(00x7)
Access to this PC has been blocked for security reasons.
Contact Microsoft Support: +1-888-927-0789
Threat_Detected - Pornographic_Spyware
App: Ads.financetrack(1).exe
[Quick Support] [Go Back Safety]

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Quick menu:

• What is Pornographic Alert scam?
• 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 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 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 pornographic 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 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 pornographic 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 pornographic 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 pornographic 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 pornographic alert technical support scam from your computer, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

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