'Microsoft Official Support System' Pop-Ups

Computer users have reported pop-up windows and new tabs on their Web browsers that claim to be associated with a 'Microsoft Official Support System pop-ups.' The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may be caused by unwanted online scripts, browser hijackers, or Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs). It is common for the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups to appear when visiting insecure websites with a potentially harmful material. The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may prevent computer users from closing the pop-up window and may redirect computer users to other websites or cause additional pop-ups to appear on the affected Web browser. The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups themselves carry out a well-known tactic that involves tricking inexperienced computer users into paying large amounts of money in exchange for a bogus technical support. Victims may be asked to call a phone number to receive 'technical support' and are made to believe that the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups are associated with the Microsoft Windows officially. The following are some of the phone numbers that have been associated with the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups tactic:

• 877-753-6941
• 877-765-8072
• 877-766-2214
• 877-768-9361

There are several versions of the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups message and numerous variants of this tactic. The following is one version of the misleading messages contained in the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups:

'***Your Computer Has Been Blocked***
Error #36589627d866a6b
Please call us immediately at: 1-877-766-2214
Please do not ignore this safety alert. If you close this page before calling us, your computer access will be disabled to prevent further damage to our network.
Your computer has alerted us that it has been infected with a spyware and a virus. Our systems detected that the following information is compromised...
> Facebook Login
> Credit Card Number
> Email Account Login
> Photos stored on this computer
You must call us immediately so that our engineers can walk you through the removal process over the phone. A certified Support agent is standing by for your call right now.
Toll Free: 1-877-766-2214'

Browser hijackers may support a content designed to alter the victim's Web browser to display messages or direct it to specific websites, cause numerous problems and lead to additional infections with other threats. The 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may affect Web browsers used most commonly and are prevalent on computers with the Windows operating system especially. The main thing to remember when dealing with the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups and similar tactics is that legitimate companies like Microsoft will never use these methods to solicit clients for their technical support service.

How Con Artists may Use the 'Microsoft Official Support System' Pop-Ups to Make Money

There are several ways in which the con artists responsible for the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may make money as a result of them. The following are some of the ways in which computer users may become affected negatively as a result of the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups:

• The people associated with the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups may ask for large payments in exchange for bogus security software, continued security protection, or other fake products and services
• In the process of paying for these fake services, computer users will be asked for their credit card information, which could lead to additional tactics or identity theft.
• A key component of many hoaxes associated with fake error messages like the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups is to convince the caller to install a Remote Desktop Client, giving the 'technicians' remote access to the victim's computer. This can result in the installation of threats or additional unwanted components, as well as the loss of data. This also gives the con artists access to the victim's online contacts and email lists, which can help them spread hoaxes similar to the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups to the victim's friends, family and colleagues.

Learning to spot these tactics and always refraining from calling these fake technical support numbers is essential in avoiding becoming a victim of the hoax linked to the 'Microsoft Official Support System' pop-ups and similar fake error messages.