This article has been created in order to explain what is the fake warning message, called “Google Security Warning” asking to call the number +1-844-843-5125 and show how to remove the unwanted program introducing such messages on your computer.
A new tech support scam site has been detected by security experts. The scamming website aims to introduce a red screen which says that your computer has been locked and give a tech support number to call to fix the Zeus virus infection. If you see such a screen, be advised that your computer has not been infected with the Zeus Banking Trojan and this is simple Tech Support scam, most likely causing a redirect to your computer as a result of a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) which is displaying different advertisements on your PC. If you see the Your computer has been Locked screen on your PC, we recommend that you read the following article and learn how to remove this unwanted software from your computer safely and completely.
Threat Summary
| Name | "Your computer has been Locked" Scam |
| Type | Tech Support Scam |
| Short Description | Introduces a fake warning screen, claiming that the victim’s computer is at risk. Asks to call a tech support number that is fake. |
| Symptoms | Victims might see a warning screen asking them to call the number +1-844-843-5125. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may cause redirects to it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss "Your computer has been Locked" Scam. |
+1-844-843-5125 Scam – How Did I Get It
There are two likely scenarios via which you may have begun seeing redirects to web pages, like the Google Security Alert scam. One of them is similar to what the “Your computer has been BLOCKED” messages are doing and that is to be redirected to the website automatically by simply visiting low-reputation websites that are of unknown origin. Such sites are usually websites you haven’t visited before and you know nothing about. Security experts strongly advise to refrain from those websites and visit sites that you can trust or use another browser for risky sites.
Another method which may have ended up in you seeing the “Your Computer has been Locked” tech support scam is if you have received a web browser redirection as a result of having a Potentially Unwanted Program that is installed on your computer. Such programs are often residing on your computer via bundling – an activity which includes them in the setup wizards of other free programs you may have downloaded from the web. Such programs are free media players, torrent software and some websites go as far as to bundle the installers of drivers as well – all with the goal to make money by slithering third-party adware programs that pretend to improve your online browsing experience, but in reality only show different types of ads. Since such programs are often installed as browsing extensions as well, you may also see other forms of ads, like:
- Pop-ups.
- Banners.
- Ad-supported search results via a changed search engine that is not google.
- Browser redirects like the Your computer has been Locked scam.
Since those programs are often hidden in the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation modes of your computer, it is strongly recommended to check each installation steps during a software install in the future.
”Your Computer has been Locked” Scam – Activity & Purpose
Once it has been introduced to your web browser, the scam redirects your to a URL, that locks your web browser, showing a red screen that is nothing like the original Google Security Warning. Here is a comparison underneath to see how the scam differs from the original notification, which is used when you are about to enter an unsafe site that is flagged as such:
In addition to this, the scam may also introduce other messages of similarity as we have detected before to be associated with other tech support numbers:
The end goal of such types of messages is to convince you to call the tech support number, where the scammers pretend to be official employees of Google or Microsoft and confirm the scamming notifications on the message itself. However, do not be fooled because the number 1-844-843-5125 has been reported by security researchers to be associated alongside other numbers like it with a lot of different types of tech support scam, so as you may have figured it out by now, the situation is rather obvious and the Your computer has been Locked scam should immediately be dealt with.
Remove “Your Computer has been Locked” Scam you’re your Browser and PC
In order to make sure that “Your Computer has been Locked” scam is removed from your computer system, we recommend that you follow the instructions underneath this article. They are divided in manual and automatic removal instructions and if you cannot remove this scamming message or continue to see such redirects in the future, experts always outline that anti-malware software is the best option to go for to remove the “Your Computer has been Locked” scamming pop-ups from your PC. It will automatically scan and detect all of the files and objects in your computer and effectively make sure that they are removed from your computer plus ensure that your PC stays protected against future intrusive software as well.
Manually delete "Your computer has been Locked" Scam from Windows and your browser
Note! Substantial notification about the "Your computer has been Locked" Scam threat: Manual removal of "Your computer has been Locked" Scam requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.
Remove or Uninstall "Your computer has been Locked" Scam in Windows.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall "Your computer has been Locked" Scam in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 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 get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes 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:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall "Your computer has been Locked" Scam.
Remove "Your computer has been Locked" Scam from Your Browser.
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select "Your computer has been Locked" Scam and click “Remove“
After "Your computer has been Locked" Scam is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select "Your computer has been Locked" Scam to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After "Your computer has been Locked" Scam has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on "Your computer has been Locked" Scam
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall "Your computer has been Locked" Scam. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the "Your computer has been Locked" Scam will be removed.
Automatically remove "Your computer has been Locked" Scam by downloading an advanced anti-malware program
Remove "Your computer has been Locked" Scam with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove "Your computer has been Locked" Scam.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove "Your computer has been Locked" Scam.Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.
Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button.
Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any "Your computer has been Locked" Scam files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently.
Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup .
1. For Windows 7 and earlier 1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)1-Click on Windows Start Menu
2-Type Backup And Restore
3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup
4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next.
5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next.
6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by "Your computer has been Locked" Scam.
2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter
3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’
4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup.
5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from "Your computer has been Locked" Scam.
1- Press Windows button + R keys.
2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run.
3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection.
5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection.
6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from "Your computer has been Locked" Scam is on.
Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature:
1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties.
2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file.
3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by "Your computer has been Locked" Scam should be restored.
Remove "Your computer has been Locked" Scam Using Other Alternative Tools
STOPZilla Anti MalwareStep 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards.
Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it.
Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again.
Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button.
Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.
2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all "Your computer has been Locked" Scam associated files completely.
Step 1: Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install.
Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button.
Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.
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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for "Your computer has been Locked" Scam with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam (Windows).
Get rid of "Your computer has been Locked" Scam from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam (Mac)
Remove "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam will be removed.
Eliminate "Your computer has been Locked" 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".
"Your computer has been Locked" Scam-FAQ
What Is "Your computer has been Locked" Scam?
The "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam Work?
Once installed, "Your computer has been Locked" 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.
"Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" 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 "Your computer has been Locked" Scam threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.