How to Remove “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” Scam

by Ventsislav Krastev | April 26, 2018 | 0 Comments browser redirect, fake tech support, pop-up, PUP, tech support scam

Threat Summary “Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” Scam – Distribution “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted” – Purpose and Activity Remove “Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted If you Close This Page” Scam

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	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
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.

How to Remove "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam on your computer.

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:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.

Step 4: Scan for "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

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

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. 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.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for "Warning! Your Hard Drive Will Be Deleted" Scam:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

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.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

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.