ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam (Microsoft Support Scam) - Removal Instructions
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam Removal Guide
What is ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam?
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam is a fake alert that attempt to convince users to call bogus help line
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 is a fake notification claiming that users' machines are infected with "Storm Worm" and "Riskware"
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam is one of thousands of tech support scams spreading around the internet. Once users visit a malicious website, they are presented what seems to be a warning from Microsoft. It claims that the computer login will be disabled due to an alleged infection of “Storm Worm” and “Riskware,” and that bank account details, email, social media logins, and images stored on the machine are at risk of being stolen/compromised.
If you are asking how this terrible ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 virus infection managed to get into your PC, you should not look far for answers – the alert is a simple page designed by cybercriminals to scare users and make them call the provided phone number. Once they are on the line, they will be further fed fake facts about their computer health state, so that money could be later extorted for the “provided help.”
Name | ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam |
Type | Fake alert, phishing, tech support scam |
Claim | Users are informed that their machines are infected with “Storm Worm” and “Riskware,” and that their personal details are being stolen; additionally, crooks also attempt to scare victims by claiming that they Windows login will be disabled if the alert is closed |
Aim | To make users call the alleged Microsoft support and make them pay money for provided “services” |
Distribution | Malicious websites, adware |
Risks | Financial losses, malware infections, personal file loss/compromise, privacy issues |
Removal | You are not in danger, as long as you do not engage with the fraudulent message in any way. Simply close down the tab to leave the page. If you are unable to, call up the Task Manager and shut down the process of your used browser. You should also check your system for adware or other malicious software – all the instructions below |
Further steps | If you called fraudsters and paid money, contact your bank and try to revert the payment. If your security software flagged something, you should also reset the installed web browsers and perform system fix with tools like FortectIntego |
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam can be encountered on multiple different website URL's, e.g., “freepchelp88.azurewebsites.net” on any web browser, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or Internet Explorer. In other words, the scam is browser-based, and notification has nothing to do with Windows system alerts you might be accustomed to seeing (the page attempts to imitate Windows Blue Screen of Death).
However, we can assure you that ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam is fake and has nothing to do with real Microsoft technicians. There are several similar scams that aim to mislead users in the same way by pretending to be tech support from Microsoft – a few examples include:
- “Windows Error Code: DLL011150” scam
- Pornographic virus alert from Microsoft
- Virus alert from Microsoft
- Your device has been blocked
While these scams might look slightly different and provide different messages, they are fundamentally identical. They all attempt to imitate legitimate Microsoft website or alerts, claim about virus infections/personal information compromise, and ask to call the provided number to resolve the seemingly disastrous situation.
Upon entering a malicious site, ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam message would popup, which is almost identical to the one presented in the background
** MicroSoft Alert **
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999(3)
Please call us immediately at:
+1-844-311-7591 ( Toll Free)
Do not ignore this critical alert.
If you close this page, your computer login will be disabled to prevent further damage to our Internet.
Your computer has warned us that it has been infected with a Storm Worm and Riskware. The following information is being stolen…1.Social Media Logins
2.Bank Account Details
3.Email Account Login
4.Images stored on this computerYou must contact us now so that our engineers can walk you through the removal process over the phone or via Remote Access to protect your identity and computer.
Call Windows: +1-844-311-7591 (Toll Free)
As you can see, the ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 popup is designed to scare users and make them panic – this is one of the main social engineering tactics that is surprisingly very effective when it comes to fraud. In reality, the “Storm Worm” does not exist, and “riskware” is just a name for a particular malware type.
Malicious actors behind the scam attempt to exploit inexperienced users by stuffing their minds with words they are not familiar with. Indeed, ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 might seem like something Microsoft would use to describe legitimate errors with. However, you should always keep in mind that real company would never ask you to call a provided tech support number – this is generally true for all the companies.
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 is a tech support scam that asks users to call fake support number to eliminate the alleged infections and prevent personal information compromise
Unfortunately for those who get tricked by scammers, the ordeal might end up pretty badly. As soon as users call the allegedly toll-free number +1-844-311-7591 (which might actually be a number charged at premium rate), they will be immediately told that they have a serious problem. As the call progresses, crooks might ask callers to provide remote access to their devices, ask them to download malicious software or ask them for credit card details.
Thus, you should not fall for this, and remove ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam from your screen as soon as you see it. If you are incapable of doing so, you should call up the Task Manager and shut down the process of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another browser that you are using.
While ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 alert might be encountered after being redirected from another website, random redirects can indicate that there is an adware program installed on your system. These potentially unwanted programs typically find their ways into users' machines without asking for a direct permission, and then begin to show intrusive advertisements, inject popups, redirect to suspicious or malicious websites, etc.
Therefore, ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 removal might consist of adware/malware elimination – it can be performed manually as per instructions below or automatically with security tools such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. Additionally, experts recommend performing additional scans with repair tools such as FortectIntego.
Tips to avoid being scammed online
Fraud has been around for hundreds of years, so there is no surprise there that the malicious practice was transferred to online sphere as soon as there was a possibility for that to happen. Unsurprisingly, cybercriminals use various tactics to install malware on users' devices, steal their personal information, or scam them and and make them pay for services that do not exist or a re of a horrendous quality.
There are several ways of how you can get tricked online. Crooks employ built-in features to deliver misleading content to users all the time. For example, a page can be constructed in a way to look like a legitimate login page of MS Outlook – users who visit it might believe that it is genuine, and provide their credentials to cybercriminals without realizing it. Website spoofing, along with email spoofing, are among the most popular techniques that result in malware infiltration for thousands of users.
Tech support scams, however, are much easier to recognize, as they are fundamentally flawed in many ways. Here's what you should look out for:
- Claims that your computer is infected with viruses, trojans, worms, or other malware;
- All personal and sensitive information, such as Facebook login, banking details, and other data, is being leaked by cybercriminals;
- Fake virus names, error code names;
- A threat of consequences (“your computer will be corrupted,” “your information will be stolen,” “your hard drive will be corrupted,” etc.)
- A phone number that is meant to be used for resolving all the issues (typically varies to prevent being caught by authorities).
Also, you could employ powerful security software with real-time protection feature that would warn you about spoofing, phishing, tech support scam, and other malicious websites.
ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 popup can show up on any web browser after being redirected from a malicious site or due to adware infection
Ways to deal with ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam
Just to make it clear – if you remove ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam from your screen before you engage with any components inside or call the fake number, you should be safe. However, you should perform checks for adware and malware – you can do that either manually or automatically. If you want to find potentially unwanted programs yourself, follow the guide we provide below. Nonetheless, to find invisible malware and ensure proper elimination, we suggest you employ anti-malware software instead.
There are additional steps you should take if you called the number provided in the ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam message. For example, you should call your bank ask it to revert the payment if you made one. Additionally, if you granted a remote access to your PC, you should also change all your passwords at once. This is also another reason to scan your machine with security software.
Note: you should also reset your web browsers if your security software flagged adware or malware, as unwanted components might remain even after the infection is eliminated.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
To delete unwanted programs that redirect to ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 virus scam and similar sites, proceed with the following steps:
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
In case adware was found on your system, reset Google Chrome as explained below:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of ERROR # 0x6a4-0xf9fx3999 scam registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting adware
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.