Home Malware Programs Browser Hijackers '888-262-9519' Pop-Ups

'888-262-9519' Pop-Ups

Posted: July 20, 2016

The '888-262-9519' pop-ups are fraudulent security alerts that may use formats in imitation of real security products or Windows services. Although their appearances are variable, the '888-262-9519' pop-ups typically are symptoms of threats installed by fake software updates and other infection vectors. Malware experts recommend removing the '888-262-9519' pop-ups by deleting the responsible threat with suitable security tools while using any extra steps needed to regain control of the system.

When Good Scanners Give Bad Results

Different technical support hoaxes imitate most common permutations of security features and software, including firewall alerts, browser security warnings, update notifications and other 'trustworthy' prompts. While most such campaigns use a single, common theme and format, others, like the '888-262-9519' pop-ups, invoke multiple brands of software in their efforts at luring new computer users. In spite of their changing disguises, the '888-262-9519' pop-ups continue displaying the same overall goal as previous threats of their type by encouraging contact with con artists through phone communications.

Early distribution methods in this campaign are using mislabeled software downloads, such as fake driver updates. After launching the driver update, additional software is installed that loads the '888-262-9519' pop-ups automatically. Secondary symptoms accompanying different distributions of the '888-262-9519' pop-ups may include:

  • An automatic system scan that may imitate security products such as the Norton Security Scan while giving the user inaccurate threat results.
  • Being unable to access the User Account Control or other aspects of your Windows account settings. These restrictions can include creating new accounts, changing privileges, and logging in to a different account.
  • Blocked usage of Windows 10 apps and other software.

Without further analysis, malware experts estimate that the motive for causing these symptoms is for restricting the computer user's access to security solutions other than the fake technical support offered in the '888-262-9519' pop-ups. Contact with technical support con artists most may escalate into efforts to further compromise the system's security via remote attacks, or to make money by selling fictitious repair services.

Putting a Stop to Unhelpful Computer Service

The '888-262-9519' pop-ups masquerade as security features either built directly into Windows or loaded as part of a well-known security product. In either case, malware experts found their formats not conforming to the official warning messages provided by such software. While real security products may offer trials that prompt the user to purchase a full version, they never will give you a phone number as the sole or preferred means of contacting their company. Similarly, Windows never will ask you to make phone calls to a repair service to fix your PC regardless of the nature of its installation or update issues.

Being mindful of the sources used for installing updates is a useful prevention tactic that any PC owner can use for limiting the '888-262-9519' pop-ups. A majority of the adware, screen locker Trojans, and related threats that are most often guilty of distributing such hoaxes require permission before installing themselves. By using official download links for all updates and scanning files that you don't trust implicitly, you can avoid the top distribution methods of both the '888-262-9519' pop-ups and a majority of similar threats.

PC owners who take security recommendations from the '888-262-9519' pop-ups may put their machines, finances and information at risk. Although most anti-malware tools should be able to remove the '888-262-9519' pop-ups and the software responsible for them, the continuing relevance of hoaxes like these signifies the importance of staying discerning towards security warnings that may not be all that they claim to be.

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