Remove “High Priority Message” virus (Improved Guide) - Support Scam
“High Priority Message” scam wants to trick unsuspecting computer users into calling fraudsters and wasting money on their services
“High Priority Message” alert is a deceptive pop-up that appears on the screen after visiting a phishing website. Such visits might occur due to adware existence on the computer but can also occur after clicking on a malicious online ad[1]. These scam pop-ups say “Do not ignore this high priority message” and repeatedly urge the victim to call a provided “toll-free” number.
It has been noticed that the deceptive tech support scam message comes from Criticalwarningerrortgfn.xyz domain; however, pop-ups displaying similar fake security warnings can be opened by a variety of different scam pages available today.[2] If you noticed a similar warning on your screen, close the browser and check your computer for adware/spyware installed on it. You can use Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego software to scan the computer if you want.
The website behind the “High Priority Message” pop-up says:
A problem has been detected and windows has been shutdown.
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESSOR_EQUAL
If this is first time you’ve seen this screen, contact windows technician: 1-800158-029
Beginning dump of physical memory.
Immediately contact technical support to prevent further damage
A problem has been detected, and Windows has been crash
The rest of the message says that “the problem seems to be caused by the following file: SPCMDCON.SYS” and informs about “PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA” issue. However, these issues are invented and do not even exist on your PC. Therefore, you must find and remove “High Priority Message” malware that is trying to convince you to contact tech support scammers.
It is hard to identify which program is causing these deceptive pop-ups, so we recommend using anti-malware software for identification and “High Priority Message” removal. If you haven’t decided what security program you want to use, consider relying on software suggested by our and Zondervirus.nl[3] teams: Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
"High Priority Message" virus aims to scare the user and trick him into calling cyber criminals seeking to swindle money from him. Besides, frauds might be trying to get remote access to victims computer in order to install malware on it.
Deceptive software and their distribution methods
There are thousands of deceptive programs that users install unknowingly. However, there is a way to prevent their installation. You just need to remember the list of things listed below:
- Potentially unwanted programs tend to travel alongside freeware or shareware, so keep that in mind when installing free software downloaded from the Internet. Make sure you choose Custom/Advanced installation settings to see all additional items added to your download and deselect them;
- Software cracks and other illegal software tends to contain malicious files or malware downloaders, so better stay away from them not only to avoid involvement in illegal distribution and use of pirated software but also for your safety;
- Avoid opening questionable email attachments or links sent to you by unknown people.
Keeping the system secured with an anti-malware software is also a very good idea. It helps to automatically ward off suspicious attempts to compromise your system.
Remove “High Priority Message” fake alerts using proper software or manually
You can try to remove “High Priority Message” virus in two ways – manually or automatically. However, we have noticed that many people experience problems when trying to delete the deceptive adware manually, so we assume that tech support scammers continuously change the name of the program and files related to it to avoid detection.
Automatic “High Priority Message” removal option is probably the best choice when trying to delete the described virus from the computer. It also helps to wipe all other dangerous files and programs away at once. If you haven’t decided what program to use for elimination of computer threats, consider checking the list of programs provided below.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. 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.
To remove “High Priority Message” virus, follow these steps:
Remove “High Priority Message” from Windows systems
Eliminate the virus displaying High Priority Message warnings to you by uninstalling suspicious software off your computer immediately.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall “High Priority Message” and related programs
Here, look for “High Priority Message” or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove “High Priority Message” from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties.
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Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
Eliminate “High Priority Message” from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for “High Priority Message” or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Erase “High Priority Message” from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for “High Priority Message” and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete “High Priority Message” removal.
Delete “High Priority Message” virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, “High Priority Message” should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Uninstall “High Priority Message” from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
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Here, select “High Priority Message” and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information.
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Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete “High Priority Message” removal.
Get rid of “High Priority Message” from Google Chrome
In Chrome, enter chrome://extensions page and delete unwanted extensions that could be displaying the fake pop-ups to you. In addition, reset Chrome to eliminate all suspicious changes to browser settings.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions.
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Here, select “High Priority Message” and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete “High Priority Message” removal.
Remove “High Priority Message” from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences.
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Here, select Extensions and look for “High Priority Message” or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by “High Priority Message”, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari....
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Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete “High Priority Message” removal process.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer various losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Software issues created by malware or direct data loss due to encryption can lead to problems with your device or permanent damage. When you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work.
It is crucial to create updates to your backups after any changes on the device, so you can get back to the point you were working on when malware changes anything or issues with the device causes data or performance corruption. Rely on such behavior and make file backup your daily or weekly habit.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware occurs out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the system restoring purpose.
About the author
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References
- ^ David Bisson. Taboola ads exploited to serve up tech support scams. Graham Cluley. Latest Computer Security News, Opinion and Advice.
- ^ Tech support scams. Microsoft. Windows Defender Security Intelligence.
- ^ ZonderVirus. ZonderVirus. Malware Removal Guidelines, Security Tips & Tricks.
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