‘800-986-4360’ Pop-Ups

The '800-986-4360' pop-ups are browser-based attacks from a phishing campaign that gains access to your PC, typically for the sake of collecting money or information. By displaying inaccurate security information keyed to your operating system and geographical location, the '800-986-4360' pop-ups may trick computer users into believing that Microsoft is delivering them. Such attacks are as threatening to your PC like any other phishing attack, and removing the '800-986-4360' pop-ups that are showing signs of being persistent should be relegated to your anti-malware applications.

Feeling the Blue Screen Blues All Over Again

The sheer popularity of the Windows OS has, likewise, cemented the concept of fatal 'blue screen' crashes into the minds of the public. However, while such problems have become rarer than previously in modern versions of Windows, con artists still make use of them as disguises for their attacks, such as the new the '800-986-4360' pop-ups. These phishing attacks may display themselves in formats all but identical to a standard blue screen error, but with the additional caveat of promoting a 'system technicians' service at a toll-free hotline.

The 800-986-4360' pop-ups may include warnings related to often-misunderstood Windows components like the Registry and Hosts file settings, and also may detect some basic system details (such as your IP address). Current samples of the '800-986-4360' pop-ups don't include any details that aren't transferable via the computer user's Web browser, which enables triggers of the '800-986-4360' pop-ups through methods such as compromised advertisement servers on a website, or corrupted websites.

Besides the actual error messages in this campaign, malware experts also believe that the '800-986-4360' pop-ups may be linked to other symptoms, most frequently including simple desktop lockdowns. These exploits may prevent some computer users from closing the '800-986-4360' pop-ups, switching windows, or opening new applications, which bolsters the false impression of these attacks being an integrated part of the Windows interface.

Saving Windows from a 'Failure' that Never Existed

Delivering a phishing tactic via pop-up may only be the first step in a series of attacks that tries to gain control over your PC. The '800-986-4360' pop-ups are no exceptions to this pattern, and con artists associated with them may utilize free software for creating the equivalent of a backdoor security hole. Such attacks may help a remote attacker change system settings, retrieve information, delete files or download threats onto your machine. Malware experts also caution that many of the applications used in these attacks may be non-threatening freeware, such as Supremo, which may make it less likely for them to be identifiable by various security solutions during the installation process.

Refusing to give con artists any information or access to your computer is an essential step in the defense of your system against the '800-986-4360' pop-ups, and other phishing campaigns. Beyond that significant, but common-sense protection, you always should conduct anti-malware scans on any computer that shows the '800-986-4360' pop-ups, or other unsafe browser content. Fully clearing your browser's saved settings also may be required for preventing the '800-986-4360' pop-ups from reoccurring, in which case you should follow the instructions that your Web browser's company provides.

Passing control of your PC over to the 'employees' of the '800-986-4360' pop-ups is no less of a danger to your PC than installing an actual, backdoor Trojan. Use your anti-malware tools to remove any unwanted software, and change any account passwords, as needed.