TECH TIPS

If you are seeing random pop-up ads  or audio with pop-ups from “Windows PC or MAC Repair WARNING YOUR COMPUTER MAY BE INFECTED OR YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED WITH VIRUSES AND YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION IS BEING STOLEN” within Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome, then your computer is infected with an adware or a potentially unwanted program THAT CAN HARM YOUR COMPUTER.  These malware tricks are also used to trick users into calling a phone number where a “tech” requests your credit card number charging you for unnecessary repairs.  If you don’t agree, and you have given them access to your computer, you risk losing your data or be locked out of your computer.  Bios passwords have been introduced in malware over the last few years.

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The Windows PC and MAC Repair pop-up ads are caused by an ad-supported extension for Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome, which is distributed through various monetization platforms during installation or on websites where paid placement links have been purchased on search engine or most all of the popular websites. This malicious browser extensions is typically added when you install another free software (video recording, download-managers or PDF creators) that had bundled into their installation this adware program or through links hidden in sponsored ad links.

When this malicious extension is installed, when you will browse the Internet, an ad from Windows PC Repair or Safari Computer alert will randomly pop-up. Windows PC Repair will display a pop-up box stating that your PC needs optimization. If you click on the “Download”, “Run Update” or “Click to install now” button, instead of installing an update, you’ll agree to download and install one of the many variants.

When infected with this malicious program, other common symptoms include:

• Advertising banners are injected with the web pages that you are visiting.
• Random web page text is turned into hyperlinks.
• Browser popups appear which recommend fake updates or other software.
• Other unwanted adware programs might get installed without the user’s knowledge.