Critical-virus.info Pop-Ups

The 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups are attacks meant to force any readers to contact a fake technical support service. Such services are common ways for third parties to gain access to your PC, collect your information or promote scamware such as fake system cleaners. When used with caution, your browser's built-in security features may reduce random encounters with the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups significantly, but if these attacks continue occurring regardless, anti-malware products may be required for removing the associated threats that are hijacking your browser.

A Critical Computer Problem that's not What It Claims to Be

December's oft-noted shopping uptick also gives threat authors seasonal reasons for taking advantage of the influx of Web traffic. Attacks benefiting from the increase in Web surfers are not necessarily holiday-themed, as malware experts saw with the newly-registered Critical-virus.info domain. The 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups already have begun attacking Web surfers from non-threatening websites, which could be indications of poor security on the part of various website administrators or a hint that the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups have compromised an advertising network.

Whatever their circulation method of choice is, the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups launch with content including fraudulent threat alerts and warnings that the user's data is at risk. The majority of the content of the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups is identical to the same from previous technical support tactics that could allow anyone familiar with these trends to identify the tactic easily. The 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups continue formatting themselves for resembling Microsoft affiliate messages and also may mention your IP address or ISP.

As always, the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups promote the use of a fake technical support hotline. Phoning this hotline may place you at risk for other attacks, with con artists frequently requesting remote access to the machine. If granted, remote access could let them install threatening software, collect information or lock you out of your computer.

Vaccinating Your Browser from a Fake Virus

Recent occurrences of the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups have coincided with exploited browser scripts that may prevent you from closing your browser window. Although malware researchers endorse minimizing all interaction with any threatening advertisement, for script abusers like the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups, using Task Manager to close the associated window becomes not just useful, but mandatory. Assuming that you use optimized Web-browsing security standards, you may need no further steps for removing the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups. However, scanning your PC to account for the potential of other threats is recommended after any contact with a browser-based threat.

The 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups campaign has no links with one brand of Web browser or any single website. Blocking scripts by default, using advertisement and pop-up blockers and keeping anti-malware tools with live protection features can help remove many of the vulnerabilities the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups could use to launch themselves. Unfortunately, these protections may be too late for users who have chosen to give con artists affiliated with the 'Critical-virus.info' pop-ups their personal information or even access to their computers.