Get an ad-blocker if you want to dodge tech-support scammers'
latest rapid-download ruse.
Tech-support
scammers have developed a new trick to freeze browsers on a bogus security
alert with a number to a fake support line.The ultimate goal of the browser
freeze is to cause
stress to lots of potential victims in the hope some will call the bogus
hotline offered in the alert.
Previously,
tech-support scams have used pop-under windows, pop-up loops, and other shady
techniques that aim to prevent users from closing the bogus security alert
page. Scammers frequently use malicious ads to nudge browser users to
booby-trapped webpages that freeze the browser.A new technique found by
researchers at Malwarebytes targets the current version of Chrome,
64.0.3282.140, on Windows.
This scam
works by instructing the browser to rapidly download thousands of files from
the web, which quickly results in Chrome becoming unresponsive and makes it
impossible to close tabs or the window by clicking the X button.Malwarebytes'
Jerome Segura said that the booby-trapped pages in this case include code that
abuses a web application programming interface for saving files from the
web on the browser.
The code is
set to download 'blob' objects at half-second intervals, leading to a huge
number of concurrent downloads that causes the browser to freeze and a large
spike in CPU and memory usage.Segura contends that given most of these browser lockers
reach users via malvertizing, one effective method of countering the threat is
to use an ad-blocker.
He also notes
that people who have landed on one of these pages can escape them by going to
the Windows Task Manager and force quitting the offending browser processes.Chrome
is often targeted because of its huge number of users, making it ideal for
indiscriminate and widespread attacks that are usually delivered by malicious ads.
Remove the Microsoft support phone numberWindows Notification
Tech Support Scam
What is Microsoft
support phone numberWindows Notification Tech Support Scam?
The Microsoft support phone numberWindows Notification
tech support scam that displays a popup that
pretends to be a Microsoft support phone numbernotification. This notification
will state that your computer is infected and was locked. The scammers then
tell the user to call a listed phone number to receive help. As this is just a
scam and the site has no idea what is running on your computer, you should not
call any listed number.
When the "Microsoft
support phone numberWindows Notification" Scam is displayed in your
browser it will contain text similar to the following.
Unfortunately,
browser based tech support screens make it difficult to close the screen or
sometimes even the browser itself. Thankfully, almost all browser based tech
support scams can be closed by opening Windows Task Manager and ending the
browser process. It is important, though, that if you end the browser process
that you do not reopen previously closed sites if prompted by the browser when
you start it again.
Finally,
while standard site advertisements may display browser tech support scams, they
are also commonly used by adware programs. Therefore, if you are constantly
seeing browser based tech support scams, you should perform a scan of your
computer for adware.
Why am I
Seeing the Microsoft support phone numberWindows Notification Tech Support Scam?
The Microsoft
support phone numberWindows Notification Scam is shown through advertisements
that redirect you to sites that display this scam. These advertisements can be
displayed by installed adware programs or through less than reputable sites
that are displaying them to generate advertising
revenue.
For the most
part, if you see a browser based tech support scam, then you can simply close
the browser and start it again. On the other hand, if you are continuously
seeing scams like the "Microsoft support phone number Windows
Notification" scam, then you should scan your computer for adware and
remove anything that is found.
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