System Activation Key Has Expired. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
System Activation Key Has Expired is a virus that might trick you into giving your credentials to the criminals
System Activation Key Has Expired is a scam pop-up which might trick you into believing that your computer is infected and you need to contact the so-called technical support.
System Activation Key Has Expired is a pop-up which may occur during user's browsing sessions. It is displayed by an unreliable website and claims that sensitive data has been stolen due to expired activation key. Despite how legitimate it may look and sound, you should immediately close the window or tab once you receive this message or you might be lured into giving personal information for the criminals.
| Name | System Activation Key Has Expired |
|---|---|
| Type | Scam |
| Danger level | Medium |
| Caused by | Adware |
| Telephone number | 1 888 648 1549; 1 877 670 2749; 0 800 090 3289; |
| Distribution | Bundling method, P2P networks, spam emails |
| Removal | Cybersecurity researchers suggest you to get rid of System Activation Key Has Expired with Reimage or another robust malware removal software |
People encounter System Activation Key Has Expired message if their computers are infected with a potentially unwanted program (PUP) called adware[1]. This application is designed to deliver scam notifications to lure people into believing that their systems are infected with malware, and personal data is at risk.
System Activation Key Has Expired scam says that the following information is stolen by hackers:
- Passwords;
- Messages;
- Credit card details.
Once “System Activation Key Has Expired” appears, people are encouraged to call the technical support number 1 877 670 2749. However, this message is fake, and users should never contact the supposed “help.” This is because the indicated number would only connect you with the scammers.
If you fall for System Activation Key Has Expired alert and call via given number, cybercriminals might demand you to let them access your computer remotely or purchase highly expensive so-called security software to protect your data. Unfortunately, they aim to infiltrate your system with more malicious programs to force you to continue paying for their fake services[2].
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'
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
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
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
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Therefore, never believe such fraudulent messages and remove System Activation Key Has Expired virus as quickly as possible. The best decision would be to install a professional and reliable antivirus which would eliminate all potentially unwanted programs that might deliver scam alerts for you.
We highly recommend using Reimage for System Activation Key Has Expired removal. Although, you can uninstall the adware from your computer manually as well. For that, please check the elimination instructions presented at the end of this article or get help from a specialist.
Adware: sneaks into the computer without user's permission
One of the most successful distribution technique which is highly used by cybercriminals to spread potentially unwanted programs is called bundling. Similar to other PUPs, adware enters the system in the same way — inattentive people install it during the installation of free applications.
This happens when users rush to finish the procedure and pick Quick or Recommended parameters of the installer. This way, the adware is hidden among the optional components and can enter the system without direct user's permission. For this reason, we always advise people to install software only with Advanced or Custom settings.
Uninstalling System Activation Key Has Expired virus is essential for your PC's security
It is essential to understand that System Activation Key Has Expired virus can harm your computer if you keep it on your system for long periods of time. Thus, NoVirus.uk[3] team points out that every user should get rid of it as soon as the fraudulent message pops up during the browsing sessions to protect their computers.
First, you can remove System Activation Key Has Expired by merely closing the window or tab. Although, this is just a short-term solution as the scam message will continue to pop up in the future. Likewise, there are additional measures that should be taken for a permanent elimination.
System Activation Key Has Expired removal can be completed in two ways — automatically and manually. If you want to ensure safe browsing in the future, get a reliable antivirus and run a full system scan. Otherwise, try to uninstall the adware manually with the help of the guidelines below.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove System Activation Key Has Expired, follow these steps:
Erase System Activation Key Has Expired from Windows systems
If you want to stop seeing “System Activation Key Has Expired” pop-up, search and uninstall all suspicious programs from Windows as shown below.
-
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.
-
Uninstall System Activation Key Has Expired and related programs
Here, look for System Activation Key Has Expired or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Uninstall System Activation Key Has Expired 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.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for System Activation Key Has Expired or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Get rid of System Activation Key Has Expired from Internet Explorer (IE)
During “System Activation Key Has Expired” virus removal you should reset IE settings which had been compromised.
-
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 System Activation Key Has Expired and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
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.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete System Activation Key Has Expired removal.
Delete System Activation Key Has Expired 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.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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, System Activation Key Has Expired should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariEliminate System Activation Key Has Expired from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Unwanted ads rely on add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions. Thus, you can get rid of the adware by deleting untrustworthy entries from Mozilla.
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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 System Activation Key Has Expired and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
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 System Activation Key Has Expired removal.
Remove System Activation Key Has Expired from Google Chrome
-
Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select System Activation Key Has Expired and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
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.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete System Activation Key Has Expired removal.
Erase System Activation Key Has Expired from Safari
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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 System Activation Key Has Expired or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
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 System Activation Key Has Expired removal process.
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References
- ^ Adware. Trend Micro. Enterprise Cybersecurity Solutions.
- ^ Tech Support Scams. Consumer.ftc.gov. Federal Trade Commission.
- ^ NoVirus. NoVirus. Security and Spyware News.