“Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR is a scam, using red screen just to attract its victims
“Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” is a scam which belongs to cybercriminals[1] and has nothing to do with Microsoft. It is one of Critical Error viruses which have been urging victims to call “Microsoft at toll-free 1-844-734-4622 for immediate support.” Please, do NOT fall for dialing this number because you will be connected to scammers who are seeking to swindle victims' money.
Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR message informs the victim that “there was a dangerous try to get access to personal login & bank information.” The message states that data leak could occur due to Trojan or virus on the system, and that is the reason to get “professional” help immediately. Sadly, the aggressive pop-up simply aims to scare inexperienced computer users and make them react without thinking.
Fraudsters behind the “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” scam seek to swindle money from unsuspecting victims and take control of their computers to install malware. Their techniques to swindle money are very basic. Usually, they tell the victim to perform series of commands and see that the system is corrupted.
In reality, they merely command the victim go into Windows Registry or other system settings’ panel and look at entries with names that cause confusion for inexperienced users. Consequently, fraudsters suggest installing anti-malware or anti-spyware product to “fix” these issues. However, they promote overpriced software packs that cost over several hundred US dollars.
Another scenario is to use Microsoft Critical error to trick victims into providing a remote access to their computer via one of legitimate remote access programs, such as TeamViewer or LogMeIn. These programs aren’t viruses, but cybercriminals are using them to gain the access to the target computer and install any kind of malware (ransomware, keylogger or Trojan) on it.[2]
Therefore, we strongly recommend you to remove Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR message as soon as you notice these virus alerts on your browser. Ideally, scan your computer with anti-malware software to identify the cause of these ads. The 2-spyware team suggests using Reimage or Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus software for a quick “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” removal.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
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'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Ways to run into the described error message
Malware that displays deceptive pop-ups usually travels via email, although users can also unknowingly install it alongside illegal software packs or just by installing a software bundle in a rush. To prevent installation of scareware, please follow the tips provided by Udenvirus.dk team[3]:
- When checking your email, bypass messages with attachments or questionable links in them, especially if they were sent by someone you do not know personally.
- Never install licensed software for “free” from file sharing sites. Such software packs and cracks often contain some unwanted additions that belong to malware category.
- Protect your machine from malicious attempts to compromise it with anti-malware software. Do not forget to regularly update it (you should do this with all software installed on your computer).
Remove “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” malware
To wipe the malware from your system, use “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” removal guidelines provided below. We strongly recommend using anti-malware software to finish the removal. Such deceptive programs are designed to root into the computer system so that the victim could not delete them that easily.
If you are interested in ways to remove “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” virus automatically, consider using one of the programs tested by the 2-Spyware team. You can find a list of them below.
You can remove “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Malwarebytes Anti Malware. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Manual “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” virus Removal Guide:
Eliminate “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” from Windows systems
To get rid of the scam from Windows, follow the guide provided below. If it won't help to identify and remove the problem, consider using anti-malware software to delete the malware causing pop-ups from the system.
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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 “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” and related programs
Here, look for “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
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.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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 “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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 “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” removal.
Uninstall “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” virus from Microsoft Edge
To fix Microsoft Edge web browser, make sure you eliminate suspicious browser add-ons. In this case, you should pay attention to their developer, whether you can remember installing them on the system, etc.
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, “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariDelete “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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. -
Here, select “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” removal.
Get rid of “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” from Google Chrome
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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 “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” removal.
Eliminate “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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. -
Here, select Extensions and look for “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” 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 “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR”, 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.... -
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 “Microsoft Edge Critical ERROR” removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Tech support scams. Microsoft. Windows Defender Security Intelligence.
- ^ Conversation With a Tech Support Scammer. Lenny Zeltser. Information Security in Business.
- ^ Udenvirus. Udenvirus. Malware Removal Guides.