Home Malware Programs Browser Hijackers ’800-098-830′ Pop-Ups

’800-098-830′ Pop-Ups

Posted: December 14, 2015

Threat Metric

Ranking: 13,486
Threat Level: 8/10
Infected PCs: 12,029
First Seen: December 14, 2015
Last Seen: August 22, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

The '800-098-830' pop-ups are fraudulent technical support messages that may provide fake system information and initiate various tactics, including efforts at collecting your information or compromising your PC. Since the '800-098-830' pop-ups depict themselves as being legitimate security alerts, PC owners are strongly advised to do their best to identify these attacks and distinguish their fake warnings from those of any legitimate security service. For removing the '800-098-830' pop-ups that load repeatedly, malware researchers only can suggest using standard anti-malware and anti-adware products.

The Hoax that may Keep Popping Back Up

Fraudulent technical support tactics are a mainstay of con artists who favor phishing attacks and other, browser-based methods of attacking a PC or its owner. While malware experts found most of these campaigns focusing on graphical pop-up attacks, some, such as the recent the '800-098-830' pop-ups, also may use audio elements. Instead of loading a standard pop-up alert, the '800-098-830' pop-ups typically only load scripts for audio content. However, the content may remain the same between types of attacks: a fake technical support alert that may claim that your PC is suffering from a threat infection.

Although the '800-098-830' pop-ups have documented links to some specific domains, such as the Av-alertprotector.com, this campaign has been confirmed for rotating through different websites for the same alerts. Computer users affected by these attacks have their browsers configured for loading the '800-098-830' pop-ups notifications automatically, without any respect for which websites they might visit by manual means.

Following the instructions provided by the '800-098-830' pop-ups places you in direct contact with a con artist posing as a PC repair technician. Typically, these con artists may claim to be affiliated with Microsoft, and they may request direct access to your computer or that you purchase fake security services. However, unlike the initial '800-098-830' pop-ups, these additional attacks require your consent, although any browser hijacker launching the '800-098-830' pop-ups may have an additional payload independent of this tactic.

Dialing the Cheapest Option for Getting out of the '800-098-830' Pop-Ups

The '800-098-830' pop-ups are little different from past campaigns using the same tactic attached to different, fake hotlines, like the '855-666-8851' Pop-Ups, the '866-978-1337' Scam Message and the '844-618-6702' Pop-Ups. However, despite the universal nature of these tactics, malware researchers only have seen reports of the '800-098-830' pop-ups within Windows OSes. Web surfers with the self-awareness to avoid offering their PCs or information to unconfirmed, third-party 'companies' with no legitimate business history should experience no long-term harm from passing contact with these hoaxes.

Despite the simplicity of avoiding the aftereffects of the '800-098-830' pop-ups, they may be caused by unsafe adware, browser hijackers or threatening software that could include other effects not described in this article. Unless your '800-098-830' pop-ups are linkable to a specific, guilty Web page, malware experts would suggest scanning any PC that shows these alerts more than once. Keeping your browser process closed during any anti-malware scans also may improve your PC security software's chances of removing all components of the responsible threat.

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