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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Nov 2017

How to remove “Windows Detected ZEUS Virus” Tech support scam

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

Zeus virus returns in “Windows Detected ZEUS virus” scam

The image displaying Windows Detected ZEUS scam messages

“Windows Detected ZEUS virus” is a fake alert which is almost identical to “You have a Zeus virus” and “Windows Defender Alert: Zeus Virus” scams. This message seeks to convince unaware users that they are infected with the notorious Zeus virus. If you have ever heard about it, you can be scared after hearing its name because this trojan horse had been used to steal people's sensitive information.

Fortunately, Zeus virus[1] is no longer existent. After being discovered in 2012, this botnet was finally detected and taken down in 2016.[2] However, security experts have already reported about discovering two different viruses that are based on the same code – Zeus Panda virus and Terdot.

The idea of using Zeus name in “Windows Detected ZEUS virus” scam is quite obvious. This scary name is expected to help hackers trick users into calling the special number to connect to “Microsoft security experts.” The aim of such calls is to wheedle out their money by signing them up for various services[3].

Note that crooks have been changing the body and the telephone number of “Windows Detected ZEUS virus” message quite often, so you may find similar alerts on your browser. However, at the moment of writing ,”Zeus virus detected” scam asks you to call +1-866-625-5558 number to solve the problem. The supposed Microsoft technicians will help you remove the malware.

The fake alert reads: 

[page name] says:
****Don't Restart Your Computer****

Windows Detected ZEUS Virus. The Infections detected, indicate some recent downloads on the computer which in turn has created problems on the computer.

Call Microsoft support +1-866-625-5558 and share this code B2957E to the Agent to Fix This.

******************************************
A Suspicious Connection Was Trying to Access Your Logins, Banking Details & Tracking Your Internet Activity.

Security Centre & Firewall Services are Disabled, Error code 0x8007042c

Your TCP Connection Was Blocked by Your Firewall. Your Accounts May be Suspended Until You Take an Action.

The most interesting fact is that this fake alert message has also been noticed on Mac operating systems. If we would take into account that the real Zeus trojan was originally created for Windows operating system only, you should be quite calm about your logins and similar credentials after seeing “Zeus virus detected on Mac” scam on your Mac's desktop.[4]

If you want to get rid of this scam, you need to find an adware-type virus on your computer. Mostly, it spreads bundled with freeware and can infiltrate the system unnoticed. That's why we highly recommend using automatic removal option to remove Windows Detected ZEUS virus scam completely. In this case, try using FortectIntego.

The screenshot of “Windows Detected ZEUS virus”

Analyzing this scam further, it becomes obvious that it is quite average. The message contains statements that are completely ridiculous. Also, it is displayed while you are browsing the Internet, what is a total nonsense because Windows  notifications do not occupy the browsers. 

Moreover, “Windows Detected ZEUS virus” seems to be generated by a botnet sending out these scam alerts to multiple infected web browsers. The message contains a special code. e.g. “G3468D”, serving as the indicator of the victim.

Needless to say that you should simply exit this scam message[5]. For that, click on the below button “Prevent this page from creating additional dialogues.” After that, you should fix your browser by following manual instructions or let malware elimination tool to take care of Windows Detected ZEUS virus removal. It will clean any remaining scripts and hidden files which trigger these alerts.

Do not get tempted to call the indicated number as you can only lose money and grant remote access to fraudsters to your computer. In that case, they might drop a real virus which then causes significantly more problems.

New shades of Zeus virus scam (2017 version)

Unprotected system, outdated browser, and tendency to visit illegal movie streaming or gambling websites can increase the probability of running into Windows Detected ZEUS virus scam. On the other hand, even if you are quite cautious, you might still run into this scam.

Luckily, this adware-type scam does not pose a huge threat to the device. However, regular alerts of such type should concern you. In that case, check whether the system is not infected with more exquisite malware. The fraudsters of this scam often inject a specific code in respective domains.

Likewise, it would be wiser to review your daily visited domains. If they get crowded with multiple flashy ads, it suggests that the domain relies on the support of third parties. More sophisticated tech support scams work via exploit kits so in order to lower the risk of the encounter, run regular scans with your security app. Now let proceed to Zeus scam removal methods.

Windows Detected ZEUS virus scam removal guide

Windows Detected ZEUS virus scam operates more like the adware-type program, so it is not necessary to start panicking about the data loss and similar problems related to Zeus virus. Besides, this fact simplifies the whole removal process of this virus.

You have two options to remove “Windows Detected ZEUS virus” from your computer: manual and automatic. If you want this to be quick, make sure you install one of programs that are given below and update it before a scan. Next, it will locate all related objects of adware virus responsible for displaying this fake Zeus alert.

You can also use manual Windows Detected ZEUS virus removal guidelines. They are described right below this article. However, when using them, you are required to be very attentive and follow every step in exact order. These guidelines will help you fix your operating system and web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge, as well.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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