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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Malware
  • Windows
  • Verified · Aug 2016

How to remove “Activate this edition of Windows” virus

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

Olivia Morelli · Ransomware analyst

Activate this edition of Windows ransomware. How does it act?

“Activate this edition of Windows” virus is a malicious program that attempts to block access to the computer and convince the computer user to call technical support scammers. Although it does not act like a typical ransomware, this piece of malware also attempts to swindle money from naive computer users. Once the malware is executed, it does not show any signs of its existence at first; it modifies system settings and sets a lock screen, which is going to be displayed on the next computer startup. The lock screen asks the victim for a product key in order to “Activate this edition of Windows.” In reality, it is nothing more than a scam, because even if the user has a proper Windows Product key, it is not going to activate the Windows and remove the lock screen. It is made to cause confusion for the computer user and convince him into calling “Microsoft Technician Helpline 1-888-414-4284.” Remember – such malware has NOTHING to do with the real Microsoft company! Frauds are only trying to take advantage of this company’s reputable status to convince victims to call them so that they could deceive them. If you have noticed this screen on your computer, take actions and carry out Activate this edition of Windows removal immediately. For that, it is best to use a malware removal program like FortectIntego, but if you know a thing or two about computers, you can delete this virus manually, too.

Activate this edition of Windows ransomware locks screenVictims who had called tech support scammers often tell that the “technician” spoke with a strong Indian accent. Such scammers try to convince users to perform a list of useless tasks that can seem confusing for the victim. This circus is only meant to portray scammers as advanced IT experts that can actually help the victim. That is not true! Sooner or later crooks ask the victim to provide credit card information, verification number, personal information such as full name, birth date and so on. It seems that these particular scammers seek to get 99.99$ from the victim, as they promise to provide “a new version of Windows.” Do not pay them and remove Activate this edition of Windows virus from the computer instead. Another thing that we must mention is that scammers can ask to provide them access to the computer via remote administration program, for example, TeamViewer or LogMeIn (these tools are completely legitimate, but can be used for bad purposes, too!). A real Microsoft technician would never ask you to give him access to the computer via these tools, so if a person that claims to be one asks you to do that, simply hang up.

How does this infection spread across the Internet?

There are many ways how this malware can be installed. Most of the time, it happens without computer user’s knowledge. This virus spreads like a Trojan horse and can arrive in a form of an infected email attachment, or fake software update. For this reason, we strongly recommend you to check who is the sender of an email before opening it and its attachments or clicking on links included in the message. Besides, we also suggest installing a reliable anti-malware solution to keep your computer protected from malware attacks. It would also be wise to keep all computer software up-to-date since criminals often manage to exploit vulnerabilities in them and silently plant viruses on the victim’s computer.

How to remove Activate this edition of Windows virus?

Activate this edition of Windows ransomware virus, belongs to malware category and its removal is a complicated process. You need to perform series of tasks to deactivate this virus, and only then you need to implement Activate this edition of Windows removal. We believe that instructions provided below will help you to do that:

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