Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus: what it is and how to remove it
"IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" is a fake pop-up message that is displayed on bogus Germain websites. It claims that your PC is disabled and all of your important data such as log-in names, passwords, and credentials are at risk.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus |
| Type | Adware extension |
| Symptoms | Redirects to an unknown domain |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 6 more facts
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Domains | dieviren.de |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 14 November 2017 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What the Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus ads look like
** IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT **
Is Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus dangerous?
From our report of Nov 2017 · not reviewed since
"IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus displays fake alert to trick naive computer users
"IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" is a fake pop-up message that is displayed on bogus Germain websites.
It claims that your PC is disabled and all of your important data such as log-in names, passwords, and credentials are at risk. Scammers also urge the victim to reach the authorized support help via 0 800 723 4924 number. However, analysts from DieViren.de explain that this is not a legitimate alert and warn not to contact the criminals.
This virus has also been known as "Ihr Computer Wurde Gesperrt und Alle Daten Verschlüsselt Wurden" and used to lock the computer for a ransom. Computer users have been seeing it as a fake FBI alert that reports about copyrighted content on user's computer. Typically, this alert locked computers to scare its victims into paying the invented fine.
Today "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" scam displays the following message:
If you happen to see this message on your computer, make sure you ignore it. Besides, we suggest you to remove "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" fake alert as soon as you encounter the alert.
Even though this virus attacks those who live in Austria and Luxembourg, be aware that there are many identical versions that are distributed in other world's countries at this moment. Yet, all of them are developed for the same reason — phishing . If you call these fake technicians via the provided number, you can discover that your telephone bill was greatly increased for the "repair service".
Besides, people working behind "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus can misuse your personal information to send you spam messages or swindle your money in other ways. Moreover, scammers might ask you to give a remote access to you computer to "fix" the critical error.
However, what they would probably try is to infect the system with malicious programs and insist on paying more more for their services. Besides, there is a possibility that this fake message is used to promote useless security software that is offered once the victim contacts the criminals.
You should neither call the scammers nor purchase expensive antivirus programs. Alternatively, start "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" removal with a reliable anti-malware software such as or any other of your choice.


From our report of Nov 2017 · not reviewed since
A potentially unwanted program (PUP) is the reason why you encounter such fake pop-up messages
"IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that secretly infiltrates the computer without your knowledge.
It is often bundled together with other free third-party applications that you can download from suspicious sites.
You should avoid any types of illegal downloads and always choose to install software with Custom or Advanced options. They will allow you to detect any pre-selected boxes that permit to install bundled programs. You must un-tick them and carefully monitor the process.
Remember that Quick or Recommended settings will hide the marks allowing additional downloads and trick you to unconsciously install the potentially unwanted program (PUP).
From our report of Nov 2017 · not reviewed since
Terminate "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus within a few minutes
Depending on the version your are dealing with, you need to find either adware-type program or ransomware which is related to "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" scam.
If you want to opt for a fast and safe removal option, choose a professional security software and let it scan your files thoroughly. All programs that have been tested with this virus are listed below.
Those who are up for a challenge, can try to remove "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus manually with the help of the guide presented below. Just remember that skipping steps might lead to severe computer damage. Besides, keep in mind that we can't provide exact names of adware and ransomware, so you will have to eliminate all suspicious entries. Thus, strictly stick to the guidelines.
"IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus from your Windows OS with the help of the instructions provided below. Make sure you remove all programs that look suspicious.
"IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus from your Google Chrome browser. You can also reset this browser.
From our report of Nov 2017 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus
- IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT Fehler # DW6VB36.
- Bitter rufen Sie uns sofort an unter: 0-800-723-4924.
- Ignorieren Sie diese wichtige Warnung nicht..
- Wenn Sie diese Seite schließen, wird der Zugang auf Ihren Computer deaktiviert, um weitere Schäden an unserem Netzwerk zu verhindernihr Computer hat uns alarmiert, dass er mit einem Virus und Spyware infiziert wurde.
- Die folgenden Daten werden gestohlen ...
- Facebook-Login >Kreditkartendaten >E-Mail-Konto-Login >Auf diesem PC gespeicherte Fotos.
- Sie müssen uns sofort kontaktieren, damit unsere Ingenieure Sie per Telefon durch den Löschvorgang führen können.
- BITTE rufen Sie uns in den nächsten 5 Minuten an, bevor Sie mit einem Verlust Ihres gesamten Computers zu rechnen haben.
- Völlig kostenlos erreichbar unter : 0-800-723-4924
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
dieviren.de
How to remove Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.

Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus.
If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.

Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
You can remove "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus from your Windows OS with the help of the instructions provided below. Make sure you remove all programs that look suspicious.
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

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

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

Remove from Google Chrome
To get rid of the annoying fake pop-ups, remove suspicious plug-ins that are linked to the "IHR COMPUTER WURDE GESPERRT" virus from your Google Chrome browser. You can also reset this browser.
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 suspicious extensions 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.

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 Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
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.

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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
To fix your Mozilla Firefox browser, remove any extensions that might be related to the adware and restart it.
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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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.

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

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

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

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

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 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 from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus
Why does my browser keep going to dieviren.de?
Something is sending it there. On one site only, that site's ads are the cause and leaving the site ends it.
On many different sites, the usual causes are an extension you installed with something else, a site you once allowed to send notifications, or an ad-supported program in Windows that changes how the browser behaves. dieviren.de itself is only a stop on the way: it records the visit and forwards you to whatever advertiser pays most.
Check the extensions page, then the list of sites allowed to send notifications, then Installed apps sorted by date. Removing the cause stops the redirects; blocking the domain alone usually does not, because the network moves to a new one.
Is it safe that my browser was redirected to dieviren.de?
Landing on dieviren.de does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:
- some ask you to allow notifications
- some show fake virus warnings
- some offer downloads
- ask for card details
If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.
If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.
What is Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus?
Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus is an adware extension, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Which browsers does Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus affect?
In the cases we checked, Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.
Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.
Are the pop-ups I see really from Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus?
Compare them with the details in the table above. Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to dieviren.de.
Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
Did Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?
Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.
Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.
I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?
Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.
Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.
Will Fortect remove Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Ihr Computer wurde gesperrt und alle Daten verschlüsselt wurden virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- DieViren: DieViren (read October 7, 2026)
- The Indiana University: What Are Phishing Scams and How Can I Avoid Them? (read October 7, 2026)
- GData: Potentially Unwanted Programs. Much More Than Just Annoying (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)