What is SECURITY ALERT? Can SECURITY ALERT messages be caused by malware? Is your computer infected?
SECURITY ALERT is a technical support scam that will try to shock you into calling a phone number. The screen shows the logo and name of AVG Anti-virus but it is not associated with it. The phone number may vary, but it is there to let you believe that is for contacting support technicians who work for Microsoft. The scam is connected to multiple websites that push the number for a supposed team of Microsoft technicians, reachable on the phone line if you have any issues with various services, especially if you believe that your computer has been infected by viruses.
Threat Summary
| Name | SECURITY ALERT |
| Type | Tech Support Scam |
| Short Description | A tech support scam saying that you should call a phone number to fix a problem related to visiting unsafe pornographic websites (the problem presented on the page). |
| Symptoms | Messages, pop-up boxes, and redirects could appear in your browser. Cybercriminals will try to trick you into calling a phone number, while locking your browser to a custom page. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installers, Suspicious Sites, Redirects, Spam Messages |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss SECURITY ALERT. |
SECURITY ALERT – What Is It About?
SECURITY ALERT message can appear in your browsers as a result of third-party installations and freeware packages. Surfing the Web and reaching new and unverified websites, clicking on advertisements or redirects related to suspicious links are other ways because of which the scam page can appear. Freeware applications, regarded as PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) could also be helping to spread the scam.
SECURITY ALERT message is hosted on a website that pushes this technical support scam. The screen shows the logo and name of AVG Anti-virus but it is not associated with it. The scam has a few related pages with different texts supporting the idea of your PC being infected. Different phone numbers are used for each page of this scam. Cybercriminals who are behind the telephone will try to trick you into thinking that they are part of some technical support team, working for Microsoft. The thought of your computer being infected with viruses and that the support hotline is your only salvation might scare you into calling the phone number provided on your screen.
Here is how the screen looks:
Here is what one of the text related to the scam says:
Windows
SECURITY ALERT!
License Key Revoked
Windows Blocked due to unauthorised access from an illegal IP Address
Critical Update Required, Antivirus Not responding
Error Code 1. 0x0803f7001
Provide your Installation ID CLICK HERE to get your Installation ID
Enter your 25 Digits products key below
Connect To Support
Help
AVG 1-844-313-6006
The unlock key is 00000-Z0006-000B1-00000-000N0.
As you can see above, the message labeled as SECURITY ALERT is a fake one, although it can be made to look like it is from Microsoft by changing the font, design and other such tweaks. Do not believe the message and know that it is a blatant lie.
The phone number is not free as promoted on the website, and even the shortest call may be very costly. The con artists can present themselves as Microsoft employees, but they are NOT and will only try to extract personal information and financial data from you leading only to complications.
In conclusion, you should be wary of what information you give out and should do a scan with a security software to make sure that your system is clean and nothing else but the browser is causing the messages to appear.
Remove “SECURITY ALERT” Scam
To remove the SECURITY ALERT tech support scam and its related files manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. If the manual removal guide does not get rid of the scam and its redirects completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Software like that will keep your system secure in the future.
Tsetso Mihailov
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove SECURITY ALERT from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of SECURITY ALERT from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove SECURITY ALERT from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase SECURITY ALERT from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall SECURITY ALERT from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove SECURITY ALERT from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate SECURITY ALERT from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove SECURITY ALERT from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove SECURITY ALERT
Step 2: Uninstall SECURITY ALERT 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 3: Clean any registries, created by SECURITY ALERT 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 SECURITY ALERT 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.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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of SECURITY ALERT from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall SECURITY ALERT and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- 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 SECURITY ALERT 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 malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove SECURITY ALERT 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 SECURITY ALERT 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 SECURITY ALERT 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 SECURITY ALERT 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 SECURITY ALERT will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate SECURITY ALERT 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.
