How to react to a Fake Virus - Ramsomware

I have had a few folks tell me about a ransomware scam that occurs when you misspell a web site entry in your browser.  They are designed to look scary and make you call the number but it is really just junk.  I know people who have called one of these and paid $500 to have them "Fix the Problem."  This post will help you fix your problem if this happens to you.

Here is a video example of one of these kinds of scams.

First of all, NEVER call this 1-800 number and give them money.

Fixing the problem:

We used Google Chrome in this example but if you use Microsoft Edge please see my previous post.  When the site appears on your screen you cannot shut it down you simply clicking on the "X" in the top right corner.  So, here is how to fix this.

1.  While holding down the CTRL and Shift Key hit the Esc key

               This will bring up the Task Manage

2.  Click on Google Chrome to highlight it

3.  Click on "End Task"

That will take down the Chrome Browser and the site will be gone.




  When you bring up Chrome again   You will see this in the top right corner.  Simply Click on the "X"

And you're done.  There really was no virus on your computer and you don't have to pay any money responding to the scam. 

Save your files to This PC by default in Windows 10

Have you ever created a new file, edit photo or video then save it to Documents or Pictures and then when you looked for it you can't find the thing you just did.  It is frustrating.  After spending a lot of time looking for it, you find that is was saved to OneDrvie.  Windows 10 saved it there by default.  OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage.  OneDrive is great for sharing files between your phone and computer or computers but I really don't want files I create saved there but default.

Luckily, you can change that but Microsoft didn't make it easy or obvious.  Here is how you change it  so you and save files to your PC instead of the cloud.

1.  In the notification area at the bottom right of your desktop you can find the OneDrive Icon you may have to click on the "^", as I did here.

Now Right Click on the OneDrive Icon.

2.  When the following window appears click on "Settings"

3. Select the "Auto Save" Folder

4.  Click on the drop down boxes and select "This PC only." for both Documents and Pictures

Now when you create your document or edit a picture or video it will save to your computer.

Ransom Ware on Microsoft Edge

The other day I was helping Penny install a clean version of Windows 10 on her laptop.  After the installation was complete we needed to set up her Email in Microsoft Edge.  I made a search for the Outlook Email web site.  The query resulted in a number of different web sites and I didn’t examine them as closely as I should have and clicked on one.

Up came a web page window along with a window with a voice saying “Your system has reported a virus and you need to call this number immediately”  It would not allow me to “X” down Microsoft Edge and the computer was locked with the voice repeating that we needed to call that number.  I then used task manager to exit Microsoft Edge and got control of the computer back but when I launched Edge again it came up to the exact same web site with the annoying voice requesting I call the telephone number.

I have heard of a few people who have actually called the number provided them with a credit card to pay $500 to get the problem fixed.  One person managed to negotiate them down to $300 and another who paid the amount, got the computer fixed and then called Visa to have the transaction cancelled.

There is a wide variety of Ransom ware but here is how I fixed this one:

1.       To exit Microsoft Edge:

a.       While holding down the Ctrl and Shift key hit Esc

b.      When the task manager comes up select Microsoft Edge

c.       Then click “End Task”

2.       Where you see “Ask me anything” (Cortana)

a.       Type any web site e.g. google.com

b.      This will bring up Microsoft Edge in another tab.  The Ransom ware site is still in the first tab but your site will appear and you still have control of Edge

c.       Click on “…” ( Three Dots) in the top right corner

d.      Click on “Settings”

e.      Look for “Clear browsing data” and click on “Choose what to clear”

f.        Select every box and then hit “Clear”

3.       Close Microsoft Edge

Now when you bring Microsoft Edge up the Ransom ware web page will be gone.