Virtual schemers are back with a new scam, and it is known by the name Your Windows (Microsoft) Computer has been blocked. The name derives from the first line within a pop-up alert that can appear on any web browser. The pop-up is hosted by a corrupted website to which schemers need to redirect you to, and we have found that different methods can be used to achieve this. Once it shows up, modal alert dialog is looped to ensure that you cannot close the tab or even the browser representing the pop-up. The good news is that there is a way to delete “Your Windows (Microsoft) Computer has been blocked” alert, and the process is very simple. The hard part is figuring out that you are being scammed. If you do not realize this right away, you might be tricked, and it is difficult to predict what exactly could happen in that case. Continue reading to learn more about this threat and its removal.
The schemers behind the “Your Windows (Microsoft) Computer has been blocked” pop-up need to redirect you to a page showcasing this pop-up, and they can do this in several ways. According to our research, misleading pop-ups injected on unreliable websites could hide links leading to the infected page. You could also be redirected to this page if malicious infections active on your PC manage to modify the hosts file. In this case, attempts to visit any website could activate redirecting to the alert. Once you are exposed to the misleading alert, all kinds of intimidating information could be used to trick you into believing that you are at risk. The interface of the pop-up might change, and the message might be different; however, in general, it is meant to trick you into thinking that your virtual security is at risk and that only experienced technicians can help you. You are urged to contact these technicians using the provided phone number (e.g., 1-855-692-9288, 1-888-243-3533, 1-855-653-4481). Needless to say, you will get into more trouble if you call this number.
Whether you are informed that your passwords are at risk or that your webcam is vulnerable and “stalkers” could use it to spy on you, you should NOT call any of the given numbers. If you do, “Your Windows (Microsoft) Computer has been blocked” schemers could use various devious tactics to extract information. For example, you might be asked to disclose your full name, home address, and even credit card information for alleged identification purposes. Furthermore, you might be pushed into paying for the services that are provided to you. It is also possible that these fake technicians will trick you into installing software. No matter how trustworthy or harmless the software offered to you might look, you should not install it because you do not want fake security tools running on your operating system. Do you expect schemers to offer you reliable security software? Well, it is highly unlikely that they will, to say the least. If that was not enough, your phone operator could charge a fortune for your call. If you have interacted with schemers already, think what personal information you have disclosed, and beware of scams that could be initiated using this information. For example, if you have disclosed credit card information, contact your bank to see what needs to be done to protect your financial security.
If you cannot remove “Your Windows (Microsoft) Computer has been blocked” pop-up by closing the page representing it, you can stop the browser. We recommend doing this via the Task Manager, and you can follow the instructions below to see how to do that. As mentioned previously, other malicious threats could be active on your operating system, and you can use anti-malware software to have it eliminated automatically. We strongly recommend using this software if you want to ensure full-time protection of your operating system as well. Do not hesitate to ask your questions via the comments box below.