“Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus (Free Instructions) - Free Guide
“Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus Removal Guide
What is “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus?
“Unable to Locate Windows License Key” fake message urges victims to contact fraudsters
“Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus appears as a fake system information tab notifying the users about the possible malware infections. Targeted victims are provided with 1-800-861-420 Windows Help Desk number and urged to call for help. However, people waiting for your call are simply tech support scammers[1] seeking to swindle money from you.
If you have encountered a redirect to the malicious website that caused this fake error message to pop-up, we encourage you to remove “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” malware immediately.
Even though the virus is designed to have a genuine look, we want to assure you that your computer system is not infected. “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” is a complete scam[2] and used to swindle money from naive computer users.
Once the users contact via the provided telephone number, cybercriminals often ask to access their computer system remotely or pay high fees in order to fix the problem. If the user installs tools to give access to his/her computer, scammers may secretly infect the system with even more high-risk malware and request to purchase expensive security software or pay more money to remove them.
We want to warn you not to trust this fake alert nor call the fraudsters via provided contact number. Instead, download a security program such as FortectIntego and scan your computer system. It will quickly detect and remove “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus.
"Unable to Locate Windows License Key" warnings are generated by a malicious program that fraudsters manage to plant on vulnerable computer systems. The deceptive message urges victims to call tech support scammers.
Potentially unwanted programs might allow malware to sneak in
Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) usually “sneak” into your computer while you download another regular app and cause malicious redirects to such rogue alerts.
You should never skip steps during download/installation process since malicious programs hide among “optional components” of the regular software. Always opt for Custom/Advances settings while installing apps. This way you will be able to protect your personal data and ensure computer’s security.
Also, PUPs can intrude your computer by various clicks on intrusive ads that lead to less than reliable websites such as:
- Websites displaying adult content;
- Gambling pages;
- Free coupon sites;
- E-shops.
If you ever get redirected to such websites, immediately leave them and avoid clicking on ads that they promote. The developers make considerable investments to make their advertisements appealing and attract naive computer users. You should not let it deceive you by its authentic look.
In addition, Zondervirus.nl teams reminds that you should keep your system up-to-date at all times.[3] Hackers use system vulnerabilities when developing viruses and you can become one of their victims. Updates are designed to fix the security flaws in software and maintain your security.
Methods to remove Unable to Locate Windows License Key virus
If you are already infected with “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus, do not call the provided number and do not pay any fees for the scammers. Trusting cybercriminals is not a wise decision. Instead, remove “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus using a reliable security software.
This way your computer will be protected from possible remote malware installations and financial threads that might arise.
We recommend automatic “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” removal because it is the safest way to eliminate all infected files and avoid doing even more harm.
If you opt to remove the adware manually, our team has prepared an informative guide provided 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.
Getting rid of “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Try to locate the program that is causing these deceptive alerts appear manually. The given instructions are designed to help you find the malware and eliminate it without the need to use anti-spyware or anti-malware software. However, we still recommend you to scan your computer using such software to detect and delete all the malicious elements at once.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- 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.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- 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:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Get rid of “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” virus using instructions suggested by 2-Spyware experts.
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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.
Remove from Google Chrome
To uninstall extensions related to the described scam program, follow the steps below.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of “Unable to Locate Windows License Key” registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting malware
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
- ^ Tech support scams. Microsoft. Windows Defender Security Intelligence.
- ^ Anthony Giorgianni. Beware of Tech Support Scams Online. Consumer Reports. Product Reviews and Ratings.
- ^ Zondervirus. Zondervirus. Malware Removal Tutorials.