'855-511-8200' Pop-Ups

The '855-511-8200' pop-ups are hoaxes that provide fake Microsoft technical services. Third parties may use this tactic for the purpose of getting remote control over your machine, taking your information, or encouraging you to transfer money to them. Anti-malware tools always should be employed for analyzing PCs loading the '855-511-8200' pop-ups, and malware researchers recommend minimizing any interaction with these fraudulent messages until they stop loading.

How the 'Government' Gets a Part in the Business of Helping Your PC

The sheer popularity of different versions of technical support hoaxes makes it difficult for any single pop-up attack to stand out from its competition. However, malware experts do occasionally see innovative techniques from con artists regarding this tactic, one of which has made its way into the '855-511-8200' pop-ups campaign. These fraudulent error messages may use a typically misleading information to gain access to new computer users, but also may deliver themselves through the efforts exceptionally invasive browser hijackers.

Browser hijackers related to the '855-511-8200' pop-ups may install themselves without any visible User Interface but may include one unmistakeable symptom: loading the '855-511-8200' pop-ups automatically whenever your browser launches specific websites. The current list includes one US government domain, socialsecurity.gov. Rather than claiming to be related to the government, however, the '855-511-8200' pop-ups pretend to be a part of Microsoft's system security features.

Fake technicians contacted through the '855-511-8200' pop-ups' hotlines show the standard behavior previously known to such con artists. While malware experts find that fraudulent money transfers for 'buying' scamware services remain the primary risk behind the '855-511-8200' pop-ups, con artists also may ask you to install software with backdoor features. These features may let defrauders control your PC remotely, change settings, or collect your information.

Gaining Real Security After a Social Security Hijacking

Con artists may use both threats, like backdoor Trojans, as well as non-threatening applications like remote desktop products, for compromising your PC. However, these threats always require previous exposure through your poor security or consent, no matter how misinformed, from the PC's user. No matter what site they trigger from, the '855-511-8200' pop-ups and similar, hotline-based security alerts always should be taken for granted as fraudulent. Use your keyboard shortcuts for closing corrupted browser windows without any direct interaction, and scan your computer with an anti-malware application.

Con artists are dependent on a computer user's cooperation for achieving all of the goals associated with the '855-511-8200' pop-ups and their tactic. However, these attacks may be signs that your PC has been compromised already, either by changes to your Web-browsing settings or by the presence of threats. PCs at risk of being controlled remotely should be disconnected from the Internet while receiving threat scans. However, malware experts find it preferable to take proactive steps against misleading pop-ups, rather than responding to the '855-511-8200' pop-ups as they happen. Blocking scripts and having Web-browsing security applications both are useful forms of protection against these and other phishing attacks.