Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7) scam (Free Guide)

What is Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7) scam?

“Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7)” is a scam message that claims that the PC has been locked

Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7)is a fake alert you should not trust

Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7) might be encountered by accident while browsing the web on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or another web browser. Upon entry to one of the malicious websites that propagate the fake alert, users would be bombarded with several pop-up messages that are meant to induce panic.

The shown message might seem like it's from Microsoft due to the logo used, as well as certain UI elements that can be seen on the official Windows support page. However, the scam has nothing to do with the tech company and is fabricated by online fraudsters that try to scam users into calling the fake support number.

Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7) error message often claims that several viruses have been found on the system and that the PC has been blocked. Allegedly, the only way to recover from this is by calling tech support from Microsoft. The provided phone number is fake, and you shouldn't trust it, as you might end up paying for fake services – losing money to scammers in the process.

How do scam messages spread?

Users do not visit malicious websites purposely unless they are willing to risk it deliberately – usually, people access torrents and similar websites that distribute pirated software, despite knowing about the risks. Speaking of which, visiting high-risk sites is one of the primary reasons why users encounter phishing content online, as these pages often host fake “Download” buttons or malicious scripts that redirect them there. To avoid this, please refrain from visiting websites with dubious content and employ a powerful ad-blocker to prevent malicious script execution.

Another reason for persistent browser redirects is adware^[1] – a type of potentially unwanted software that spreads via bundling and similar deceptive methods. For this reason, many users might not even be aware that adware is present on their devices. Common symptoms of infection include unexpected browser settings changes (for example, altered homepage and new tab address), increased advertisement activity, redirects to malicious websites, etc.,

Scam authors put your browser in full-screen mode

It is important to note that the scam targets Windows users, as it would make little sense for those using other operating systems (websites can read some basic information as soon as you enter it, including IP address,^[2] OS type, and versions, browser type and version, etc.).

Once users enter the malicious page that hosts the scam, their browser would immediately go into full-screen mode with the hopes of frightening visitors. This is a rather clever trick, as many people have never used the browser's full-screen mode, and they wouldn't know how to exit it.

The virus alert is fake, although you should still check your system for adware or other infections

Several pop-up messages would be shown immediately, with the top one saying the following:

Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7)
Trojan Spyware Alert – Error Code: #0x268d3
Access to this PC has been blocked for security reasons.

In the background, users would also be able to read about how their personal information is being stolen and that their computers and personal safety are allegedly in grave danger. These social engineering^[3] tricks are not new and have been used by many other scams, including “Error # WINDOWS-PORN-91” scam, “Error code # MS-6F0EXFE” scam, WARNING CRITICAL MESSAGE, and many others.

How to deal with Pornographic_Spyware Alert – Error Code #0x268d3(00×7) scam alerts

Once users are in a situation with what seems like a locked screen, they tend to panic more, which increases the likelihood of them calling the fake support. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes you could make, as scammers will try to convince you that some special software of a remote connection is required to remediate the situation.

The best thing to do after encountering the fake alert is not to interact with it – don't call the number and don't click any buttons. Instead, you should close down the tab that hosts the scam message immediately. While this might not seem possible immediately, it is actually very easy to do – simply press F11 on your keyboard. This would immediately take you out of the full-screen mode and then you can close the page.

In some cases, it might not be possible to close down the web page due to other tricks used by crooks. In this case, proceed with the following steps:

• Press Win + Shit+ Esc to call up the Task Manager
• Click More details if required
• Find the process of your browser – select it
• Press End task at the bottom-right corner.

Now that you have your browser shut down make sure you check your system for adware. Our first suggestion would be to perform a full system scan with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes anti-malware software, which would guarantee that all the malicious programs are removed automatically. You can also try looking for adware manually as we explain below.

Look for unwanted programs installed on the system level

Windows

• 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.

Mac

While moving apps into Trash is how you delete most normal applications, adware tends to create additional files for persistence. Thus, you should look for .plist and other files that could be related to the virus. If you are not sure, skip this step entirely.

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.

Remove suspicious extensions and clean your browsers

Adware might also be installed as an extension on your browser. You can find the installed apps by clicking the “Extension” button next to the settings menu. If that is not possible for some reason, you can also follow the guide below and that would allow you to remove extensions via browser settings.

Your next task is cleaning web browser caches, which includes the removal of cookies. These tiny items are used to perform tracking activities, and various third parties use them to generate ads for you. The gathered data can also be shared, so it is best to remove cookies and other web data to avoid this. You can do it automatically with FortectIntego or follow the guidelines below.

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.