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Fake Microsoft Alert?

7 years ago

Hi, all

Need some guidance here. My aunt's windows 7 laptop got a full screen Microsoft (or *supposedly* Microsoft) warning: Virus Alert from Microsoft. This computer blocked. Don't close window or restart. Computer's registery key blocked. Why: reg. key illegal, sending virus, hacked or used from undefined location. Contact MS helpline to reactivate. #1-888-673-2809

It does have two options: ignore alert or chat.

I figure it's probably a scam (I know there are many such around), but it is presently in full screen and even unplugging the computer doesn't remove the warning (she says).

She says this happened when she just went to ebay.com.

Can this be legit? If not, what if clicking "ignore alert" won't get me out of the window. How to get to a point where I can do scans for her?

Thanks. :-)

Featured Answer

User

7 years ago

So glad it all worked out. It must have been a scary experience for your aunt. No telling where she picked it up but I'm a firm believer in Malwarebytes. If they found nothing..I'd accept that.

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Comments (7)

User
7 years ago
Personal opinion...it's fake. If it were my system...I wouldn't click on anything. I'd immediately shut the system down, wait a few minutes and then reboot. Also, if it's legit...there should be a notation in her event viewer about any illegal registry key if there actually is one.
not2bright
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks. :-) I did hit the "ignore alert" option and was able to then close the window down via the task manger. A Malwarebytes scan showed nothing, but at least things are back to normal for her.
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chas045
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Well, hold on there Winter. I admit that I know little on this subject, but it seems to me that this was a common scam. Going to Task Manager and closing the browser sounds like the right move to me but I would be curious about other thoughts on the subject.

However, the OP said that they clicked the 'ignore' option. That sounds like the worst option possible if this was a dangerous scam.
not2bright
Original Author
7 years ago
Actually, the worse option was to call the phone number -- which my aunt did, despite being told umpteen times not to fall for that. (Although I wasn't entirely sure about the warning I knew enough not to call the number until I found out what's what.) She said she couldn't understand a word the person was saying on the other end, so just hung up.

To be more specific about my own actions, I did, in fact, try to open the task manager first without activating anything on the full-screened window, but her extremely slow computer wasn't responding. That's when I hit the ignore button. And just afterward the task manager (which I summoned again right away) finally responded and I used it to close the browser. Then I scanned (all negative) and rebooted and things were normal.
luis_pr
7 years ago
Be careful. The ignore button may be labeled "ignore" but it may install stuff instead so I would not press any buttons on such a web page. Maybe the "X" on the upper right hand corner of the internet browser or Task Manager Window's buttons.
not2bright thanked luis_pr
jemdandy
7 years ago
Do a reverse phone search on that phone number. Area code 888 looks suspicious to me. If you find its an off shore number in the Caribbean, do NOT dial it!
not2bright thanked jemdandy

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