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

2016-09-22T20:55:56+00:00

I fell for this scam last year. The noise was awful & I thought I had to call the "Microsoft" number listed. Obviously I'm not very tech savvy, so when the person on the phone could make the noise stop & free my web browser I bought their "anti-virus" software. It was very weird how he could control my computer remotely.

My husband later informed me it was a scam, we blocked my credit card payment & took my laptop to Geek squad to be rebooted.

Then today the same thing happened. Luckily I had my phone to find this group online.

So what worked for me to fix this was to launch "Windows store gift card promo", but I think anything that opens another web tab will work. I cleared all the web history. Shut the app down. Relaunched & it's normal.

Hppe this helps. Good luck
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Anonymous

2016-09-24T16:14:50+00:00

My wife hit a link from a Facebook post, something about a soldier teaching somebody a lesson? This "Virus warning popped up from Windows 10 Edge, but Windows Defender and msert scans using the maximum scan settings, found nothing. I'll clear her cache when I finish my cigar and go back in the house. I didn't see where anyone else had posted a picture of this version, but I did NOT read every post so... This one had a mouse moving about the screen and text scrolling in the background.

It reminded me of a page I had on my web site that "appeared" to open a dos box and run a del /s on c:, automatically respond to the "are you sure" question with a "Y" for yes and then it would start scrolling through a ton of file names, "appearing" to wipe your files from c:. Then it would "appear" to start a Mac OS install. It amused some friends, scared the daylights out of others. I added a "NOT REALLY" line to the end of it, but it took a few minutes to run and a few people would not wait that long so I took the page down to avoid causing them problems. o.O

Now to block errorx3940e.ml until they come from the next one...
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Anonymous

2016-09-24T16:21:56+00:00
Use the Task Manager to exit the browser. Reboot and see if the pop-up goes away.
```
  How to Use the New Task Manager in Windows 8 or 10  
```
http://www.howtogeek.com/108742/how-to-use-the-new-task-manager-in-windows-8/
```
  How to Use the Task Manager in Windows 7  
```
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-process#1TC=windows-7
```
  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/](http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-tech-support-scam-popups/)  

  And see:  

  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/
```
  See this post by GreginMich  
```
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_other-protect_scanning/1-888-2361-scam/0990122e-61a9-431b-947e-a904c202fa7c#LastReply
Was this answer helpful?

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