Computervirusalertsystem.today is a website that is hosting a tech support scam. The site uses 1-844-730-8222 as the primary phone number. The scam is more famous as Error #268D3 as this error code is embedded in a pop-up message of many such websites. People behind this scheme might call you from that number. You might experience endless redirects when browsing and be unable to interact with your browser. The site displays a page which tries to mirror Microsoft’s website. You should carefully read the article to find out how you can counter the fake messages.
Threat Summary
| Name | 1-844-730-8222 |
| Type | Tech Support Scam |
| Short Description | The tech support scam is made in a way that tries to scare you into calling the phone number provided on the site and want to trick you into believing that your PC has issues. |
| Symptoms | A background that looks like Microsoft’s official website, which is locked behind some type of message. Pop-up boxes will appear and claim that you have to call the given phone number to fix the problem. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installers, Suspicious Sites, Browser Redirects |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss 1-844-730-8222. |
1-844-730-8222 – Methods of Distribution
This tech support scam has multiple distribution methods. Mainly, if you are browsing via dubious websites with low popularity, or if you click on advertisements and various redirects connected to suspicious links or a PUP (potentially unwanted program) you might find yourself in the hornet’s nest of this fake tech support scheme. You will see the 1-844-730-8222 number in messages pushed by the Computervirusalertsystem.today website.
Undesired software that is causing the 1-844-730-8222 phone number to show in your browsers or display a Microsoft look-alike website like Computervirusalertsystem.today might come packed in third-party installations. Freeware and bundled applications usually come in such packages. These packs might have additive features selected for installation by default. If you want to avoid their installation you could do it by finding an Advanced or Custom options menu in the setup.
1-844-730-8222 – In-Depth Analysis
Computervirusalertsystem.today is a website that looks like a tech support scam and aims to trick people that it is a Microsoft’s official website. In actuality, the site has nothing to do with Microsoft and is a fake tech support site. It shows the error #268D3 known for another fake tech support website and the 1-844-730-8222 phone number as a contact to the cyber criminals.
Many users still fall victim to this scam and report of seeing many other websites with the same error displayed on webpages. One of them is Browseralertsystems.online. All these websites are made of only a single webpage which tries to mirror the Microsoft’s official site.
In the above image, you can see how that page looks, with the error message and phone number.
If the website related to the tech support scam is opened in a browser, a message in a pop-up box will appear. The primary website that is spreading the false information is Computervirusalertsystem.today. The message blocks you from using the page and claims that your computer machine has a big issue with a virus.
The full pop-up message reads:
computervirusalertsystem.today says…
** YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN BLOCKED **
Error # 268D3
Please call us immediately at +1-844-730-8222
Do not ignore this critical alert.
If you close this page, your computer access will be
disabled to prevent further damage to our network.Your computer has alerted us that it has been infected
with a virus and spyware. The following information is
being stolen…>Facebook Login
>Credit Card Details
>Email Account Login
>Photos stored on this computer
You must contact us immediately so that our engineers
can walk you through the removal process over the
phone. Please call us within the next 5 minutes to
prevent your computer from being disabled.Toll Free: +1-844-730-8222
Cyber-criminals want you to believe that the only possible method of fixing your personal computer is if you call the 1-844-730-8222 number. Trying to rush you even more into making the call, the Computervirusalertsystem.today site will also play an audio file with a pre-recorded message of a man speaking how your computer is infected. They also want to mislead you that they are Microsoft support technicians. Know that Microsoft do not have any tech support lines.
In case you find yourself on a page related to this scam, such as Computervirusalertsystem.today or you have received a phone call from these con artists, you might be asked not to interact with your computer, to prevent data loss. Tampering with your PC, however, will not do such a thing – they just want you to keep thinking there is something wrong with it. Rest assured that you are also not talking with any Microsoft employees. Those are all scare tactics, trying to trick you to call.
More phone numbers associated with this scam:
- 1-844-730-8222
- 1-855-466-6491
- 1-855-712-8551
- 1-855-976-9325
- 1-844-912-1933
Do NOT call any of the above given phone numbers. They are not toll free as the Computervirusalertsystem.today site claims and even a short call may cost you a small fortune. As the cyber crooks act like they are certified Microsoft employees or some other well-renowned partners of Microsoft, they will try to extract personal details and financial data from you. All that information can be sold on the black market, and if that happens, you will have big problems afterward.
Other websites connected to the fraudulent telephone number are highly likely to imitate Microsoft’s official website, as well.
Remove 1-844-730-8222 Completely
To remove Error #268D3 or otherwise known as 1-844-730-8222 Tech Support Scam manually from your PC, follow the step-by-step removal instructions given below. If the manual removal does not get rid of the scam and redirects effectively, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software will keep your system safe in the future.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove 1-844-730-8222 from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for 1-844-730-8222 with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall 1-844-730-8222 and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by 1-844-730-8222 on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by 1-844-730-8222 there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for 1-844-730-8222 (Windows).
Get rid of 1-844-730-8222 from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall 1-844-730-8222 and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to 1-844-730-8222. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove 1-844-730-8222 via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove 1-844-730-8222 files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as 1-844-730-8222, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for 1-844-730-8222 (Mac)
Remove 1-844-730-8222 from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase 1-844-730-8222 from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall 1-844-730-8222 from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove 1-844-730-8222 from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the 1-844-730-8222 will be removed.
Eliminate 1-844-730-8222 from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
1-844-730-8222-FAQ
What Is 1-844-730-8222?
The 1-844-730-8222 threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of 1-844-730-8222?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like 1-844-730-8222?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does 1-844-730-8222 Work?
Once installed, 1-844-730-8222 can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
1-844-730-8222 can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is 1-844-730-8222 Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the 1-844-730-8222 Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this 1-844-730-8222 how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on 1-844-730-8222?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the 1-844-730-8222 threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.