If you encounter a pop-up on your computer that states “Your Windows PC Has Been Infected… Contact Microsoft for Support”, it’s likely a tech support scam. Microsoft will never contact you through a pop up, or try to make contact by providing a phone number. Scammers rely on fear and urgency to trick users into releasing sensitive information, so it is important to stay calm and avoid making quick decisions. Here’s how to handle this scam if you ever come across it.
Do NOT Call the Phone Number
Most of the time this scam provides a phone number for you to call. Do not call it. This scam is designed to steal personal information, so if you’ve already called, hang up immediately and do not share any details.
Close the Pop-Up Safely
To close the pop-up without triggering malicious actions, follow these steps:
- Press CTRL + ALT + DEL and open Task Manager. End the browser process.
- Alternatively, you can use the browser’s force quit feature.
- Open the browser again, and press CTRL + SHIFT + DEL.
- A window will pop up and clear all cookies and cache in your browser.
Run a Malware Scan
Once you’ve followed the steps above, run a malware scan on your preferred antivirus to make sure no malicious software was installed. If you don’t have a malware scanner that you use regularly, we recommend Windows Defender or Malwarebytes for free solutions.
To Use Windows Defender:
- Press the Windows button and search/select Windows Security.
- Once opened, go to Virus & Threat Protection.
- Choose a scan type and run it.
- Options include quick, full, custom, or offline.
- If you are worried about malware, choose a full scan. It will take a lot longer than a quick scan, but then you can be 100% sure your device is safe.
To Use Malwarebytes
- Follow the link here.
- Select Download Now under “FREE DOWNLOAD & DEVICE SCAN: Get a free virus scan and clean up your device.”
- Run the installer called Malwarebytes Setup.
- Select Install.
- Under “Choose your Protection Type” choose Personal, then click Next.
- Choose to either enable Malwarebytes Browser Guard or skip.
- For the sake of this blog, we will skip this step as it is not needed for a malware scan.
- Malwarebytes will start to install. Once finished select Open Malwarebytes.
- Select Scan Now.
Future Prevention
There are a few steps you can take to prevent pop-ups in the future. The best solution is to enable your browser’s pop-up blocker. Here’s the steps for Chrome:
- Open Chrome and select the three dots on the top right corner.
- Select Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-Ups and Redirects.
- Select Don’t Allow Sites to Send Pop-Ups or Use Redirects.
Other preventions steps include adding browser protection through either your preferred antivirus or through popular software like Malwarebytes, adjusting browser security settings to a higher level, and installing a reputable ad blocker.