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How to Remove Windows Product Key Scam Virus (Trojan)

by   |  September 14, 2017  |  0 Comments   , ,

This article aims to help you by displaying more information about how to remove the Microsoft Windows Product Key tech support scam virus.

A new Trojan Horse type of malware has been detected by researchers to display a lockscreen message, pretending to be a legitimate Microsoft Windows screen. The end goal of the virus is to convince victims that they must enter their product key and click OK. The virus also has a customer support number embedded in it, which is 1-888-970-4294. If you have been infected by the Windows Product Key virus, it is strongly advisable not to enter any type of information where it asks you for your product key, because the virus may steal the key from you. Instead, we advise you to read this article thoroughly and learn how to remove this virus completely from your computer system.

Threat Summary

Name Windows Product Key Virus
Type Trojan Horse of Tech Support Scam Type
Short Description Infects your computer, after which modifies the computer settings to lock you out of your computer and ask you to call a suspicious tech support number.
Symptoms A Windows-like lockscreen appears on the computers of the victims, claiming it is the original one.
Distribution Method Via bundled installers, fake setups or via other unwanted software that has already been installed on your PC.
Detection Tool See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware

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User Experience Join Our Forum to Discuss Windows Product Key Virus.

How Did I Get the Windows Product Key Trojan

The Windows Product Key virus is of a scamming nature, but this does not change the fact that it is malware. Like any malware, it can be spread either via files or other objects, such as JavaScripts or web links. Researchers are convinced that the main method by which you can become a victim of this virus is if you download a setup of a free program online and the virus is embedded as one of the files installed on your computer along with the program you downloaded. This strategy has been used by cyber-criminals for many years and it simply works. Since the virus can be detected if uploaded on legitimate and well known sites, scammers usually upload the setup as a torrent program, fake game installer or program installation wizard on various suspicious websites that are not confirmed.

Other methods, even though less likely could be if the virus arrives on your computer via a shared web link somewhere online that executes a drive-by download and infects your PC after clicking on it.

Windows Product Key Virus – More Information

As soon as this Trojan infects your computer it may drop and execute it’s payload which begins modifying your Windows Registry Editor heavily. One of the registry entries which may be modified is the Screensaver entry. The virus may add the lockscreen as a modified screensaver which is interactive in order to display the Windows Product Key virus message. Once there, it may lock you out of your Windows Desktop and even a system restart may not help you with it. The lockscreen looks like the following:

Message from the screen:

“Microsoft Windows
Product Key

Windows defender prevented an unrecognized and malicious software on your computer. Please enter your Windows Product Key. The Product Key should be label on the card inside the box that Windows Disk came in or in the confirmation email you received after buying it. If you have upgraded Windows 10, you have digital license instead of a Key. A Product Key is a 25 character code used to active Windows. it looks like this:
PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

CUSTOMER SUPPORT: 1-888-970-4294”

In addition to this, since this is a Trojan Horse, it may also be configured to perform multiple other activities, such as:

  • Install other malware on your computer.
  • Delete different system files from your PC.
  • Extract different information from your computer.

Luckily for victims, this virus is solvable and it can be easily unlocked as researchers have established.

How to Unlock Your Computer and Remove Windows Product Key Virus

Before actually being able to remove this virus, you will have to unlock it. Here are the instructions, provided by security experts that can help you unlock the Microsoft Windows Product Key Lockscreen:

Step 1: On “Product Key”, enter the following key: B2563-51757-EDC62-429B8-F56AD and press “OK”.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear, named “Support Override”. Click “OK” once more.
Step 3: A pop-up with a field to type in will also appear. In it, enter the 13764675 code and click “OK” once more and the lockscreen should disappear, allowing you to proceed with the removal.

Since the Windows Product Key lockscreen is a Trojan horse type of malware, it is recommended that you follow the removal instructions down below. They are specifically created to help you remove this virus either manually or automatically. Be advised that experts often advise for automatic removal, since this malware may create multiple different objects on your computer that may make manual removal tricky. The best method to automatically remove the Windows Product Key virus is to download an advanced anti-malware software which will detect all the files and objects that cause harm to your computer and remove them.

Ventsislav Krastev

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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Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer

How to Remove Windows Product Key Virus from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Windows Product Key Virus

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 Windows Product Key Virus 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 Windows Product Key Virus 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 Windows Product Key Virus 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 Windows Product Key Virus with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

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

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.

SpyHunter5-update-2018

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

SpyHunter5-Free-Scan-2018

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.

SpyHunter-5-Free-Scan-Next-2018

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

Get rid of Windows Product Key Virus from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall Windows Product Key Virus 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 Windows Product Key Virus:

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 Windows Product Key Virus. 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 Windows Product Key Virus. 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 Windows Product Key Virus 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 Windows Product Key Virus. 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 Windows Product Key Virus files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Windows Product Key Virus, 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 Windows Product Key Virus:


Download

SpyHunter for Mac


Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer

Remove Windows Product Key Virus 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

Erase Windows Product Key Virus 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

Uninstall Windows Product Key Virus 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

Remove Windows Product Key Virus 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".

stf-safari preferences

Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.

stf-safari-extensions

Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.

Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.

stf-safari uninstall

A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Windows Product Key Virus 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

Eliminate Windows Product Key Virus 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.

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