This article has been created in order to explain what is the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” and how to remove it completely from your computer.
The “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” tech support scam is the type of unwanted web page which you do not wish to see. The scamming message aims to trick inexperienced users into calling a fake tech support number, whose primary purpose may be to ask you to pay a hefty sum of money in order to fix a problem that does not exist. In addition to this, if you want to remove the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” scam, it is strongly recommended to read this article and learn more about it and how to make sure this doesn’t happen to you in the future as well.
Threat Summary
| Name | "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam |
| Type | Tech Support Scam |
| Short Description | Aims to get you to call a fake tech support number and ask you to pay to fix a problem. |
| Symptoms | A browser redirect results in your browser getting locked by a web page with several pop-ups which cannot be closed. |
| Distribution Method | Via potentially unwanted programs or web pages, both of which may cause browser redirects to it. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam. |
“Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” Scam – Distribution
The main way via which the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” scam is by slithering it’s web page to you via a browser redirection. Such redirects are often caused by unwanted programs, like adware or browser hijackers which may reside in the user’s computer. Such programs are often believed to be multiple different types PUPs that come into your PC as a result of software bundling. This means that you may have downloaded a free program from a software providing website and during the course of installation you may have added adware. Such apps often hide themselves behind the pretext they are “free extras”, however all they do is show advertisements that lead to third-party websites, like the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” web page.
“Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” – Purpose and Activity
Once you see the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” web page, it immediately becomes clear that to close it, you have to close your web browser. This is because the web page introduces a pop-up on your computer via a script. This script’s primary purpose is to also display what appears to be an audio message and it’s end goal is to make you believe that you have a virus in your computer.
And to further complicate the situation and make you call the tech support number, the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” scam has the following message in a pop-up which appears above the first pop-up introduced by the web page:
Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted If you Close This Page
You have a virus. Please call technical support now. Call the toll free number on your screen then press 1 to speak to an agent and stop this process.
Hard drive safety delete will start in 5 minutes.
And the scamming screen cannot close the tab, which is not exactly an issue, but if the user is inexperienced and has not seen such a tech support scam before, they might resort to calling the number displayed.
Once called, the people on the other side will pretend that they are official Microsoft Tech Support team, that can help you solve your issue. If you get in touch with these people, be advised that they are a scammers and you should not pay them anything as they will want from you to transfer a huge sum of money that is often negotiable. And not only this, but the call with these scammers can pose a threat to you, because the number you may be calling may have roaming enabled or may generate you impulses that are paid, resulting in a phone bill which will make your head ache.
This is why, if you encounter such web pages, do not panic, close your web browser and open another one after which remove this scamming web page and the intrusive software that may be causing such browser redirections on your computer if there is one.
Remove “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted If you Close This Page” Scam
In order to fully get rid of this tech support scam, we recommend that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They have been created in order to best help you secure your PC either manually or automatically. Be advised that you can remove the scam manually if you have the experience, but in order to make sure that it does not come back in the future automatic removal is often advisable. This is because such ad-supported programs that cause browser redirects and other ads to appear are often hidden behind seemingly legitimate names or often remain silently residing In one of the Program Files folders on your PC. This is why, for maximum effectiveness, security researchers strongly recommend to download and scan your computer, using an advanced anti-malware software. Such program will effectively make sure that the unwanted programs causing such pop-ups are detected and removed and your PC remains secure.
After this, you can clear the cache of your web browser and also clear the cookies and browsing history after remembering your passwords. This will result in the complete eradication of the “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted If you Close This Page” scam from your computer system.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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How to Remove "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam (Windows).
Get rid of "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam. 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam (Mac)
Remove "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam will be removed.
Eliminate "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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".
"Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam-FAQ
What Is "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam?
The "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam Work?
Once installed, "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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.
"Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" 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 "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.