'Windows 10 Pro Update Failed' Pop-Up
A new misleading pop-up message informing PC users of a failed OS update has started flooding Windows 10-based computer systems recently. Dubbed 'Windows 10 Pro Update Failed,' the pop-up shows up out of nowhere in a browser tab, loading from a domain called 'useractivatenotification.date' presumably. The resulting Web page bears an unusually great resemblance to the system information page accessible by right-clicking on the 'This PC' icon in Windows explorer:
However, this page comes with a smaller pop-up window containing a message, which comes from Microsoft’s Windows support team supposedly, misleading users into thinking they have fallen victim to a virus, which has deleted the license key of their Windows 10 operating system, thus making it impossible to install an essential Windows 10 Pro update. Here is the text of the pop-up warning:
'This build of Windows 10.0 is Corrupted
We are unable to locate windows license key data file. It has been deleted from your computer. You may have visited harmful website recently which has downloaded virus or malware in your Windows computer due to which the license key data file is deleted. We have locked your computer to prevent your important data loss.
For immediate support call Windows 10.0 Help Desk at Toll Free:'
Any message similar to the one above, which signals a failed Windows 10 Pro Update, is not legit and has nothing to do with reality as sending unsolicited messages to users has never been Microsoft's standard practice. Rather, a similar message could only originate from a potentially harmful software, which has sneaked into a PC one way or another. Such software may include various adware and scareware tools whose creators aim to urge computer users to get in touch with them, as well as grant them remote access and pay for an utterly unnecessary system fix. In the worst-case scenario, victims could end up having their credit card details collected and taken advantage of. That is why, calling the toll-free number provided in the 'Windows 10 Pro Update Failed' pop-up should not be an option – Microsoft's support team answers, beyond doubt, a different phone line.
