'Microsoft Official Support System' Pop-Ups

The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups are attacks that promote con artists' hotlines to convince you into giving them remote access to your PC, money, or information. While these attacks are website-based, adware and temporary browser content may cause them to launch automatically and repeatedly. Use appropriate security software to disinfect your PC, if necessary, and remove the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups, ideally without having any contact with any associated phone numbers.

Fake Threat Problems that can Transition into the Real Thing

Although the idea of faking PC technical support has been an ongoing favorite of con artists for decades, threat actors are continuing to refine their techniques, both for success rates and deployment efficiency. While the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups use standard content to trick their victims into self-destructive responses, the developers of such parasites also are bolstering them with additional security issues. Corrupted temporary files and Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) both may be responsible for deploying the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups after a single case of exposure repeatedly, blocking the victim off from an easy escape.

The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may launch on virtually any Web browser, but most, recent attacks that malware experts can confirm are loading on Windows-based systems. In some instances, con artists are using URL-masking technology to prevent the victim from tracing the website in question. After loading, the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups display warning messages (seen in unrelated phishing campaigns) claiming that the users' information, such as their Facebook logins, are at risk of being collected by third parties.

Like almost every similar case, the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups use this inaccurate security information for promoting fake system maintenance hotlines. Upon calling, past incidents involving the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups typically instigated backdoor or remote desktop access to the PC, which could let a con artist collect information, install threatening software or disable important security settings, such as your firewall.

A Support System Against Unsafe Pop-Ups that Works

The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may not use the 'Blue Screen of Death' format, which is popular with other teams of con artists but are arguably far more unsafe to your PC than a system crash. Giving con artists remote desktop access can lead to widespread compromises of your Web accounts or the installation of new threats that can exploit your hardware for illicit activities, among other consequences. Most con artists using attacks like the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups also will try to take your money directly by providing fake repair or recovery assistance.

The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups resemble any of the real Windows alert formats in no way and always should be assumed to be unsafe to your computer. If your browser loads the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups or similar fake warnings, close the window immediately and conduct comprehensive anti-malware scans with appropriate software. Malware experts also recommend cleaning your browser of temporary files habitually, such as cookies, for facilitating the removal of the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups and all of their triggers entirely.

Even with the most technologically sophisticated attacks, con artists may profit by exploiting the weaknesses and shortcomings of their victims. Campaigns like the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups never can be profitable through PC users who take the simplest steps to inform themselves and protect their systems.