“Product Key – Customer Support” virus

“Product Key – Customer Support” virus Removal Guide

What is “Product Key – Customer Support” virus?

Beware of “Product Key – Customer Support” scammers!

If you suddenly cannot access your computer because of a dummy “Product Key – Customer Support” lock screen, which asks you to get in touch with tech support technicians, then we have no doubts that your system is currently controlled by “Product Key – Customer Support” virus. If this fake screen has appeared on your computer screen, asking to enter a valid Windows Product key, and if none of the keys you enter work, there is no need to worry about copyrights of your software license. This fake Windows activation screen indicates that you have been infected with malware meant to promote fake technical support number, which is provided on that fake lock screen. Please, do not fall for scammers’ trickeries and do not call the number provided. Scammers working on this project seek to intimidate naive computer users, give them remote access to the computer, and, depending on scammer’s mood, either infect the system with malware or swindle money from an innocent computer user. In some cases, crooks attempt to convince the user to buy some useless “security” software.

In general, they ask the user to go to the computer, perform some tasks, open registry and make some modifications, and so on. They aim to convince the user that computer system is compromised and that he or she needs to rely on “professional” computer technicians and do as they say. However, these scammers have no good intentions, so be careful and do not fall for their tricks! You can remove “Product Key – Customer Support” malware quite easily if you use an anti-malware software. Our team recommends using FortectIntego software, however, you will need to start your PC in a Safe Mode first. You can find informative instructions explaining how to close the lock screen and run anti-malware software below this text.

“Product Key – Customer Support" scam

How did you install this malware on the computer?

You are probably confused and seek to find out how did this “Product Key – Customer Support” hijack your computer without your knowledge. Sadly, the fact that it has managed to pass your computer protection system indicates that you should take serious actions to protect your system from such infiltrations, because currently, the computer is vulnerable to such threats. Typically, such Fake Windows Activation viruses hijack the system when installed with free programs, bogus software updates, and so on. Be very careful when you install software on the system because part of free programs available online carries additional components, such as adware, browser hijackers, or malicious applications like “Product Key – Customer Support” virus. Make sure you install programs using Advanced or Custom installation settings and deselect all unwanted items added to your download. Never rely on pre-selected options because they can trick you into installing useless or even harmful software without even knowing it.

How to remove “Product Key – Customer Support” software?

We do not recommend you to remove “Product Key – Customer Support” virus manually because you might make some mistakes and leave particular components of this malware on the system. If you wish to entirely delete this malware and leave your computer free of other critical files, then automatic “Product Key – Customer Support” removal option should be your choice. For that, you can use one of our recommended applications listed below. However, before you run them, remove the lock screen first. Instructions are provided below.

Offer
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Intego Happiness
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Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of “Product Key – Customer Support” virus. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

To close the lock screen, enter closecloseclosecloseclose into the verification box. If this code doesn’t close the screen, follow instructions provided below.

Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.

Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking

Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment. 

Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes

Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

Step 4. Delete virus files

Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):

    %AppData%
    %LocalAppData%
    %ProgramData%
    %WinDir%

After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.

Remove “Product Key – Customer Support” using System Restore

  • Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Click Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
    3. Select Command Prompt from the list Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
    2. Now select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
    3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window. Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
  • Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
    1. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter. Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    2. Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again.. Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    3. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of “Product Key – Customer Support”. After doing that, click Next. When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next' Select your restore point and click 'Next'
    4. Now click Yes to start system restore. Click 'Yes' and start system restore
    Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that “Product Key – Customer Support” removal is performed successfully.

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove “Product Key – Customer Support” from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.

If your files are encrypted by “Product Key – Customer Support”, you can use several methods to restore them:

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from “Product Key – Customer Support” and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes

How to prevent from getting ransomware

Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are

There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.

Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.

Data backups are important – recover your lost files

Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.

While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

About the author
Linas Kiguolis
Linas Kiguolis - Expert in social media

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