Edge Frozen with Virus Warning Popup

Anonymous

After navigating to a web page, a popup hijacked the Edge browser.

The popup is a false virus warning, with audio, that repeats endlessly.

I used Task Manager to close Edge browser, but after re-opening, it returns to the hijacked page. There is no time to open another tab, or reach settings. How can this be cleared.

First I tried searching for /user/appdata for Edge entries, and only found a couple, deleted them, but no effect.

I launched msconfig, and set to boot to Safe Mode, minimal. I tried launching Edge in Safe, but you get a warning saying Edge will not launch using the built in administrator account. IE still ran, but no network (as you might expect). I cleared history in IE. But then was unable to relaunch msconfig! Pressing Start flashed a start menu but it disappeared. Selecting the search box wound not search. I ended up launching Control Panel using win+x, and finding System Configuration that way.

When I returned to normal Windows, Edge was set back to its home page.

Clearly this is not a good work around. I can't imagine explaining it to my little niece or grandmother.

Please suggest something more rational.

[Moved from Windows]

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

When this happened to me, I closed Microsoft Edge using the Task Manager.

Then in the search bar next to the Windows 10 logo on the bottom off the screen (I call it the "Cortana Search"), I typed in google.com and hit enter.

Microsoft Edge opened up with a new tab for Google. You can see the offending site still opens in a tab that doesn't have focus. Click the "X" to close Edge. Do not click on the offending site tab or it will get focus again.

When Edge closes nicely, I won't "Restore" the sessions and the offending site tab will be gone.

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Anonymous

This did not work. It closed the offending page, but when I re-opened Edge it popped back up again.

It's a common scam. Click the OK button at the bottom of the popup. You should then see a box Do not allow this site to create new messages. Check it and then close the window.

If that doesn't work, for Edge, follow the instructions by Scott_Ki here:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_other-protect_scanning/edge-frozen-with-virus-warning-popup/7212a393-90ad-48d0-ab55-4ffe1f21a554?page=2&msgId=7618ae67-bf16-4155-bf90-d8a7405ee199

For all other browsers, use the Task Manager to exit the browser. Reboot and see if the pop-up goes away.

How to Use the New Task Manager.

http://www.wikihow.com/Open-Windows-Task-Manager

If the problem persists, for any browser:

Remove Tech Support Scam pop-up (Call For Support Scam)

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-tech-support-scam-popups/

Please read:

PSA: Tech Support Scams Pop-Ups on the Rise

https://blog.malwarebytes.org/fraud-scam/2014/11/psa-tech-support-scams-pop-ups-on-the-rise/

Breaking down a notably sophisticated tech support scam M.O.

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mmpc/2017/03/02/breaking-down-a-notably-sophisticated-tech-support-scam-m-o/

For more information, see this post by GreginMich

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_other-protect_scanning/1-888-2361-scam/0990122e-61a9-431b-947e-a904c202fa7c?msgId=8d26f1a8-041a-4351-9c24-a222fb305cbd

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195 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-11-03T22:44:48+00:00

I just experienced a similarly confusing "error" message by malware access using a Surface Pro and Windows 10. As everyone else on this issue, I tried the Task Manager to close the Edge app. It worked, but every time I tried to acces Edge again, it would reopen on the malware annoyance. Since there's no way to x out of the annoyance, I used Cortana to open a www.Bing.com page. It opened using Edge, but it automatically sent me to a second browser--similar to hitting the plus sign to get a fresh browser without closing the existing one--which instantly inactivated the malware and allowed me to x out the annoying page. Once it was x-ed out, it would not reappear. Despite this, I ran the Windows Defender scan and upon completion, it informed me the system was clean.

It was scary, especially because the repetitious message is annoying and very alarming when it states they're stealing all the data from the computer. The Microsoft attendant on the phone informed me that by calling the number given and providing them with the error message code given out for reference, the malicious individuals identify the IP address and then actually send the malware that demands ransom and encrypts the entire computer until the ransom is paid.

Try to hold your peace and never call the numbers or click on the links provided. It's a nuisance but nothing that cannot be eliminated without harming the data or the computer, as long as links are not used and phone calls not made.

Good luck!
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Anonymous

2016-11-02T23:49:15+00:00

problem resolved. :)
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Anonymous

2016-11-02T23:44:11+00:00

Well I did a full system scan with my norton.... and it found 4 virus files Trojan.Gen , Trojan.Gen.2 , SecurityRisk.Gen1, and Heur.AdvML.B .... The first, second, and fourth showing as High risk, and the third as low risk .... all as stated by the virus scan to be found an fully resolved. So I am going to restart my computer and see if it is in fact resolved. Before I go , I know this virus drops a file on you desktop, as well as your saved files folder ....it is a pdf file with AT attributes. be back in a bit to see if this worked to fix the annoying problem.
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