Hirgoles.xyz scam (fake) - Free Guide

What is Hirgoles.xyz scam?

Hirgoles.xyz – a dubious website designed by scammers to mislead users

Hirgoles.xyz is a scam website that operates by imitating legitimate virus warnings, often appearing to come from trusted cybersecurity companies. This site presents users with false alerts about supposed infections on their devices, urging them to purchase what is claimed to be antivirus protection. However, the virus warnings shown are entirely fabricated, made to resemble a real security scan to deceive users.

Although these alerts are fake, the risk of having adware on your device shouldn’t be overlooked. Adware is often responsible for generating these misleading messages and can expose your system to further security issues if left unchecked.

In the sections that follow, this article will explore the Hirgoles.xyz scam in more detail and offer advice on recognizing and removing adware. Staying informed and alert is essential to safeguarding your system against these types of fraudulent activities.

How users reach malicious sites

Users often come across scam sites like Hirgoles.xyz through two main paths: either by accidentally visiting compromised websites or due to infections from adware or other malicious software.

The first way occurs when users land on legitimate websites that have been compromised. These sites may have vulnerabilities or outdated software, allowing attackers to insert harmful code. This code can then silently redirect users to fraudulent websites without their awareness. Because the malicious links are hidden within legitimate sites, users often only realize something is wrong after they’ve been exposed to the scam.

The second scenario involves users whose devices are infected with adware or similar malware. Adware, known for displaying unwanted ads, can make its way into systems when bundled with other software downloaded from the internet. Once installed, it can cause sudden redirections to scam websites or trigger annoying pop-up ads that lead users to these fraudulent sites.

Whether through compromised websites or malware infections, encountering these scam sites can result in serious consequences, such as financial losses or even identity theft. This emphasizes the importance of staying cautious online and ensuring strong security practices are in place.

Misleading messages makes users anxious or even paniced

Fear plays a significant role in many online fraud schemes, making it a prime target for scammers. When users see alarming warnings about viruses supposedly found on their devices, they often panic, particularly if they’re not well-versed in how malware works. To enhance their deception, scammers frequently use the names of major companies like Google, Microsoft, or Norton to appear more legitimate.

When users unintentionally visit the Hirgoles.xyz scam site, they are greeted with a convincing but fake security scan. The site typically shows files being scanned, followed by pop-up alerts claiming malicious activity has been detected. Shortly after, users see messages that might resemble the following (though the wording could vary slightly):

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!
Your McAfee subscription has expired!
Renew now to keep your PC protected.
Viruses found on this PC most likely track internet activity to collect banking details and login credentials. Unprotected PCs are 93% more vulnerable to suffer from malware.

Those unfamiliar with these scams may believe that a genuine security company has found harmful viruses on their system and feel pressured to act immediately. This reaction is exactly what the scammers aim for—taking advantage of users who are unaware of the fraudulent nature of the messages.

As with many phishing websites, none of the content on Hirgoles.xyz is real, and the virus scan results are entirely fabricated. These deceptive methods are commonly used by numerous other scam sites.

Checking the system for real infections

In many cases, you may encounter a phishing site like Hirgoles.xyz after visiting an already suspicious website. Websites associated with torrents, peer-to-peer sharing, or software crack distributors often contain hidden, dangerous links. Just one accidental click on these types of sites can lead to an unexpected redirect. It’s advisable to avoid visiting such sites to minimize the risk.

Alternatively, your device may already be infected with adware or other potentially harmful programs. If this is the case, you may notice an increase in unwanted advertisements or frequent redirects while browsing. These infections make it more likely that you will encounter malicious ads or fake updates, increasing your exposure to scams.

Using reliable security software, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, is strongly recommended to perform a full system scan. These tools can detect and remove malicious files from your device. Additionally, with FortectIntego, you can clear leftover files like tracking cookies, improving both security and system performance.

Check push notification settings

Fraudulent websites like Hirgoles.xyz have expanded their tactics, taking advantage of more than just direct user interaction by exploiting push notifications. Originally designed by legitimate sites to deliver timely updates or alerts to users, push notifications have been hijacked by scam sites for deceptive purposes.

These sites often trick users into enabling notifications through misleading prompts or fake alerts. Once users give permission, the site can continuously send questionable or unwanted messages, even when the user is not actively browsing that particular site.

The problem persists even after any suspicious software is removed from the computer, as these notifications are linked to the browser’s permissions, not to any installed programs. Therefore, simply removing malware won’t stop these intrusive alerts, which can continue to disrupt the user’s browsing experience.

These constant notifications can serve various malicious purposes, such as phishing attempts or redirecting users to other scam websites. Fortunately, there is a way to resolve this issue. The steps to disable these harmful push notifications are provided below, allowing users to restore control over their browsing environment.

Google Chrome

1. Open the Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced.
3. Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
4. Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
5. Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
2. Click on Privacy & Security section.
3. Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
4. In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the URL's drop-down menu.
5. Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.

Safari

1. Click on Safari > Preferences…
2. Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
3. Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.

MS Edge (Chromium)

1. Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
2. Select Site permissions.
3. Go to Notifications on the right.
4. Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
5. Click on More actions and select Block.