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Microsoft edge locked up by pcsafetynotices.com/alert

  • January 21, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 34 views

Microsoft Edge is locked up by pcsafetynotices.com/alert, appears to be mallware.  Webroot does not fix, Help.

2 replies

acooldozen
Bronze VIP
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  • Bronze VIP
  • January 21, 2016
Welcome to the Community gdavid, The site you are showing appears to be a FAKE Windows Technical support group advising you to call the Critical Help line. As long as you DID NOT make that phone call you should be in the clear. I searched the link and listen to the audio advising you to call. Closed the website, restarted my machine and scanned with two heavy duty antivirus/antimalware programs, chief being Webroot, and have detected no problems........................I hope you didn't call the number????
 
Force your machine to shutdown!

Baldrick
Gold VIP
  • Gold VIP
  • January 21, 2016
Hi gdavid
 
Welcome to the Community 
  


 
THIS IS A SCAM!!  Neither Microsoft nor any other company sends emails, pop ups, or phone calls of any kind advising that you may have a problem.
 
If you clicked on any links, allowed them to remote into your computer, or went to any websites please submit a Trouble Ticket ASAP.  (Now would be a good idea....)
 
If you would like more information, read on (After submitting that Trouble Ticket.....)
 
NEWS ARTICLE: Tech Support Scams are on the rise.
 
 
Microsoft never issues this type of warning or email or anything of a sort!  Please see the following link for Microsofts official word on this:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/avoid-phone-scams.aspx
 
"Neither Microsoft nor our partners make unsolicited phone calls (also known as cold calls) to charge you for computer security or software fixes.
 
Cybercriminals often use publicly available phone directories so they might know your name and other personal information when they call you. They might even guess what operating system you're using.
 
Once they've gained your trust, they might ask for your user name and password or ask you to go to a website to install software that will let them access your computer to fix it. Once you do this, your computer and your personal information is vulnerable."
 
Also see Avoid scams that use the Microsoft name fraudulently
http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/msname.aspx 
 
 
For more information here iwhat the United States Federal Trade Commission has to say on the subject::
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0346-tech-support-scams
 
"In a recent twist, scam artists are using the phone to try to break into your computer. They call, claiming to be computer techs associated with well-known companies like Microsoft. They say that they’ve detected viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into giving them remote access or paying for software you don’t need.
 
These scammers take advantage of your reasonable concerns about viruses and other threats. They know that computer users have heard time and again that it’s important to install security software. But the purpose behind their elaborate scheme isn’t to protect your computer; it’s to make money."
 
This sort of scam is common and has been around for quite a while.  Here is a good Webroot Blog article from April 2013 by Threat Researcher Roy Tobin.
 
http://www.webroot.com/blog/2013/04/30/fake-microsoft-security-scam/
 
What can usually do to avoid this is to use a good free Ad Blocker but unfortunately Edge does not currently support addons/extensions. But you should at least make sure that the popup blocker built into Edge is on. To do this click on the "..." icon in the top right hamnd corner of the webpage. Scroll to the bottom of the mennu diplayed and select "View Advanced Settings". From the next menu that pops out push the slider for 'Block pop-ups' to the 'On' position and then exit the settings.
 
See if that helps to resolve the issue, and do post back to let us know if that is the case. And if not then we will look to assist further.
 
Regards, Baldrick