What Is Account Shutdown Notification?
Account Shutdown Notification is an example of a popular phishing scam which has been circling the web for many years. These scams are a type of email or text message that attempt to gain access to your personal information by posing as a legitimate organization, such as a bank or online service provider. These email messages usually contain a link or an attachment that leads to a malicious website prompting you to download a rogue software program. The malicious website or software may contain spyware or malware that can steal your personal information, including your passwords and credit card numbers.
Account Shutdown Notification – Details
Name | Account Shutdown Notification |
Type | Scam / Phishing / PUP |
Short Description | An email message that contains malicious links or email attachments. |
Symptoms | May vary depending on the particular malspam or phishing campaign. |
Distribution Method | Via email |
Detection Tool |
See If Your Device Has Been Affected by Account Shutdown Notification Scam
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
Is My Device Infected If I See the Account Shutdown Notification Scam?
Yes, there is a possibility that your device is infected. It is not possible, however, to definitively determine whether or not your device has been infected without a thorough analysis. We recommend that you take the necessary steps to ensure that your device is secure and that you scan it with a reputable antivirus program.
What Does the Account Shutdown Notification Scam Do?
The Account Shutdown Notification Scam is a type of phishing attack that attempts to trick you into providing your personal and financial (e.g. credit card number) information. The scam typically takes the form of an email or text message that appears to be sent from a legitimate company, such as a bank, PayPal, or an online retailer. In most cases, the message will alert the recipient that their account has been frozen or shut down, and offer a link to a website where they can provide personal information to “verify” their account. However, the link actually leads to a malicious website designed to steal the your information.
Note that, in order to to make their scams believable, scammers tend to feature the logos of trustworthy companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple, or anti-virus software companies such as McAfee and Avira. However, seeing the logo of a popular company shouldn’t trick you in any way, since these companies do not deploy such methods to alert their users of shutting down their accounts. This is what phishing scammers do in their desperate attempts to fool you and make you reveal sensitive information.
Is the Account Shutdown Notification Scam Dangerous?
Yes, the Account Shutdown Notification Scam can be dangerous, if you are tricked by it and interact with the provided verification links, email attachments, or download buttons. It is an attempt by scammers to gain access to your personal information and logins, including usernames and passwords, and credit card details. Phishing operators may also use this tactic to spread malware. Be aware of this scam and not to give out any personal information in response to these notifications.
Is the Account Shutdown Notification Scam a Virus?
No, the Account Shutdown Notification Scam is not a virus. It is a type of phishing scam that uses deceptive emails, text messages, and even phone calls to try to trick you into revealing personal information.
What to Do If I Receive the Account Shutdown Notification Scam?
If you receive an email or other notification claiming to be from a company, such as your email service provider, and informing you that your account has been shut down, do not click any links or open any attachments included in the message. Instead, contact the company directly using a phone number or website address you find through an independent source, such as a search engine, to confirm whether or not the notification is legitimate. If it turns out to be a scam, you should report it to the relevant authorities.
How Can I Protect Myself from the Account Shutdown Notification?
There are several prevention tips you can follow to increase your email and overall online security:
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication: Create complex passwords that are difficult to guess and use two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
- Monitor your accounts regularly – Check your accounts regularly for any suspicious activity that could indicate your account has been hacked.
- Be aware of phishing attempts – Be careful of any emails or messages asking for your personal information, such as login credentials or bank account details.
- Use secure networks – Avoid logging into accounts on public networks or open Wi-Fi connections, as these are more vulnerable to hackers.
- Consider using anti-virus protection on all your devices to detect malware attempts.
- Contact customer support – If you ever receive an account shutdown notification, contact customer support as soon as possible. They may be able to help you with the issue.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
- 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
- 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”.
How to Remove Account Shutdown Notification Malware?
To remove this scam and any associated malware, follow the steps below. If you believe that your device has been infected with malware as a result of interacting with this phishing email, then the steps below should help you get rid of it either automatically or manually, depending on your own expertise. For the best detection and removal, an automatic scan should be performed using an anti-malware program, which will thoroughly check your machine and clean it up afterward.
How to Remove Account Shutdown Notification Scam from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Account Shutdown Notification Scam with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Account Shutdown Notification Scam and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
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:
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Account Shutdown Notification Scam on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam (Windows).
Get rid of Account Shutdown Notification Scam from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
In case you cannot remove Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Account Shutdown Notification Scam, 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam (Mac)
Remove Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam will be removed.
Eliminate Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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".
Account Shutdown Notification Scam-FAQ
What Is Account Shutdown Notification Scam?
The Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam?
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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam?
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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam Work?
Once installed, Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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.
Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Account Shutdown Notification Scam 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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam?
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 Account Shutdown Notification Scam threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.