My computer has been blocked!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205735)
Walnut Creek, California
November 15, 2016 11:32am CST
I just got a pop-up, ostensibly from Microsoft, saying that my computer has been blocked. A virus has infected my computer, and is sending my bank information, Facebook password, etc. to...I forget who the male voice said.
I think I saw the same thing a few weeks ago. My question to computer whizzes like @DaddyEvil is: How does garbage like that get on my computer in the first place?. Is it disguised as a pop-up ad? And what would happen to the unfortunate person who clicks though and gives them whatever it is they ask for?
Have you gotten that particular pop-up?
31 people like this
23 responses
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Nov 16
Thankfully I haven't had that one...... yet. Hope Evil can help.
6 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
15 Nov 16
If you do: hit Ctrl/Alt simultaneously and hit Delete. Your system will shut down and automatically reboot @fishtiger58 ,
6 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Nov 16
@nanette64 I will do that if it happens, thanks Nanette.
4 people like this
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Nov 16
@DaddyEvil Ohhhhh, ok, I'll have to read about that simple trick (you know computer stuff isn't exactly simple to me). Anything to get rid of the annoying malware c rap!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
17 Nov 16
@much2say 
Yes, I remember. Unfortunately, I can't fix this for you long distance. I wish I could.
Yes, I remember. Unfortunately, I can't fix this for you long distance. I wish I could.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
16 Nov 16
Rebooting is the perfect thing to do, SmilePie!
IF, after rebooting your pc, you find that it is still there, shut down your pc and contact a repair specialist. You will need to have your pc cleaned.
If you understand what I am saying, you could flash a new copy of your system, but that means setting everything up on your pc again and losing things you might want to keep.
What you are describing is close enough to the fake Antivirus malware that you could also use the solutions that fix them, too. See those here:
You might be wondering why we have a screenshot of what appears to be AVG Anti-Virus, but is in fact a fake anti-virus malware that holds your computer hostage until you pay them. Here’s a really simple tip to defeating these types of malware, and a quick
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Nov 16
I got this particular pop-up months ago. It's a scam. I called Dell and they said I had an infection that won't let me download or update anything. I have tried. This particular infection hides and when anti-virus does a scan it doesn't pick it up because it cloaks itself as a file or something that the anti-virus wouldn't pick up as bad for the computer. I still have it on my computer because I can't afford to pay the $$ to get it cleared off. I get another one now and I can delete it and move on. Used to have to reboot.Good luck!
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Nov 16
@DaddyEvil .....No. I sure did not. Have never heard of that before. If and when I get a new PC I will check into doing that. Thanks for the info though.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
16 Nov 16
Did you make a copy of your system before you started using it or after you got it set up the way you wanted it, celticeagle? If you did, just flash the copy into your computer. Your whole system will return to brand new (or where ever you copied it) and the virus will be eliminated.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
16 Nov 16
@celticeagle Your new pc will ASK you to load an empty disk or maybe a thumb drive. It will tell you it is making a copy of the system for use should your pc become damaged or corrupted.
Then you just need to keep the copy in a safe place (Don't forget where that safe place is!) for use when something bad happens to it.
You are very welcome, hon! I do hope the information will help you!
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
15 Nov 16
It's happened to me 3 times @TheHorse . Ctrl, Alt, Del. The first time it happened, I was stupid enough to call the number in the popup. After realizing that it was a scam, I immediately called my phone/computer provider and they cleaned my computer; then I called the bank. Talk about stupid!!!!! And about a month ago, I SUPPOSEDLY got a call from Microsoft saying my computer had been hacked. I can't even print here what my response was. Let's just say that it was several hyphenated words in a row.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
16 Nov 16
LMAO! I bet you singed a few hairs on their heads, Nanette! VERY nice! 
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Nov 16
I've gotten something similar on my phone.
3 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
15 Nov 16
@TheHorse yes usually when we are on one of the movie sites
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
15 Nov 16
I had not this problem, but I suppose there is a kind of virus running in your computer, possibly the “Windows Detected ZEUS Virus” pop-up. Check this link to see how to remove it.
If you are seeing random Windows Detected ZEUS Virus pop-ups, asking you to call a support number, then your computer is infected with an adware program (Rogue.Tech-Support-Scam). The Windows Detected ZEUS Virus alert is shown in such a way as to trick the
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
16 Nov 16
I had that one a few years ago.....I almost feel for it but shut the computer down and then it went away.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
16 Nov 16
@TheHorse When it happened to me I got caught in a cycle I couldn't get out of unless I agreed to pay them. I panicked, called my computer guy and he said just shut it down.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
15 Nov 16
I've gotten a similar one. Irritating
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
16 Nov 16
@TheHorse -- Oh so true, I never thought of that. The people who maybe don't know any better and get really scared about it...
1 person likes this
@edogawa_ferdian (22)
• Semarang, Indonesia
16 Nov 16
To protect our computer from virus, we must always remember checking with trusted antivirus
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98826)
• India
16 Nov 16
Which sites have you been visiting Pony? 
Seriously, this is for @DaddyEvil...I can only wait for his response.
By the way thanks for that word ostensibly...I have come across it before ...and do understand its meaning also but exactly how it is to be used ...I am not very familiar with. It is not used as often as apparently, right? :) So I kinda lose touch with it...lol. Some revision of meanings is also good. :)
Seriously, this is for @DaddyEvil...I can only wait for his response.
By the way thanks for that word ostensibly...I have come across it before ...and do understand its meaning also but exactly how it is to be used ...I am not very familiar with. It is not used as often as apparently, right? :) So I kinda lose touch with it...lol. Some revision of meanings is also good. :)1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
16 Nov 16
I have not thankfully, but I am reading through the responses on here, as the one who took care of my pc is no longer in my life so....
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
17 Nov 16
Contact me if you ever need help, Jess. I will help you as much as is humanly possible.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Nov 16
@DaddyEvil I will, I also have J thankfully she is better at some of this stuff than I am. Just not used to having to take care of it myself.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
16 Nov 16
i'm purty diligent 'bout keepin' my gremlin stoppers 'p to date 'n runnin' 'em daily, but i got one'f these jest last week. dunno where they come from?? but couldn't e'en ctrl+alt+del - 'd the need to jest shut'er down'n hope fer the best. thankfully all t'was fine 'n none'f the gremlin getters could find a thingy'n err.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
16 Nov 16
You received one that was a little more advanced, Crazy. (I didn't know just shutting your pc down would eradicate it, but that is nice to know! Good job!) 
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
16 Nov 16
@DaddyEvil ya reckon so?? i'm still tryin' to figure how i got such to begin with. aint heard a peep from those folks 't support who run those gremlin getters. i figured what i'd to lose if'n i jest shut'er down. thankfully the danged thingy started 'gain, lol. adwcleaner found the culprit when the others failed i might add. big hugs 'n love to ya, too!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205735)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Nov 16
@DaddyEvil Could this thing still be floating round my computer somewhere?
1 person likes this
