Computer lock up virus message

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

Looks like I picked up malware or something. The message wants me to call an 800 number. I know it's a scam, butI don't know how to get rid of it. I'm running Malwarebytes on it now. Any suggestions?

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

Shut down your computer. Force a shutdown if necessary. Do not answer or call anyone. If you can't get it to shut down. TURN IT OFF

MKR14 · ‎03-09-2010

Hold down your power button until the computer shuts down. When you reboot it run your antivirus and things should be fine. It is a scam and the only way I got out of it was to do this.

Gracies Mom · ‎04-25-2011

I got the same message this morning!! Never saw it before, but my husband has--he told me it's a scam---he closed the page and reopened it--the message was gone. Now I'll know what it is if it appears again.

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

I rebooted and it is still on my Microsoft Edge browser. I can use another browser, but I would sure like to know how to get rid of it.

Zhills · ‎11-15-2011

Wait at least 20 seconds before you turn it back on. don't just restart!

The computer should reset in that time.

MKR14 · ‎03-09-2010

Did you restart or do a complete shutdown? A restart doesn't always get rid of ever

ything but a complete shutdown should. A computer shop told me that and it works for me. It is always a good thing to do a complete shutdown on your phones and computer once a week if you leave them on all the time.

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

It was off for a minute. I'll do it again.

gemologygal · ‎03-23-2010

This happened to a friend of ours. We happened to be over at their place and unfortunately, she had already called the number and was talking to a person who demanded payment for some type of virus removal. My husband works in IT Security and luckily, he intervened, taking over the phone call and while he was listening to the guy blab, he saw at the same time the guy remotely trying to look through files on her computer. My husband immediately yanked out the network cable from her PC so it totally cut off all network connection. The guy was like, "Oh, seems I can't get further, something happened" and my husband was like, "Yea, I ended your little scam!" and then hung up. He then examined their entire PC and did some scans, etc., and luckily, it didn't look like the person took anything nor did they install anything worse.

All she was doing was looking for some random clipart to use for a project and she happened to click on the wrong image file.

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

@gemologygal wrote:
This happened to a friend of ours. We happened to be over at their place and unfortunately, she had already called the number and was talking to a person who demanded payment for some type of virus removal. My husband works in IT Security and luckily, he intervened, taking over the phone call and while he was listening to the guy blab, he saw at the same time the guy remotely trying to look through files on her computer. My husband immediately yanked out the network cable from her PC so it totally cut off all network connection. The guy was like, "Oh, seems I can't get further, something happened" and my husband was like, "Yea, I ended your little scam!" and then hung up. He then examined their entire PC and did some scans, etc., and luckily, it didn't look like the person took anything nor did they install anything worse.

All she was doing was looking for some random clipart to use for a project and she happened to click on the wrong image file.

Fortunately I knew it was a scam. I just didn't know how to get rid of it. Still not sure it will be gone after I run Malwarebytes and reboot again.