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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Nov 2017

How to remove Windows Product Key Failure virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

Do not fall for the fake “Windows Product Key Failure” virus alert

Windows Product Key Failure image

You can encounter “Windows Product Key Failure” on the compromised website or on legitimate site if it was hacked. Typically, this deceptive message informs its victims about the failure to authenticate the Windows Product Key. Then, users are notified that their Windows OS is blocked and they need to contact the Tech Support via 1 888 335 0661 number.

Just like similar fake alerts, for example, “Windows Defender Alert: Zeus Virus,” “Windows Security Alert,” “CRITICAL ALERT FROM WINDOWS,” and many others, Windows Product Key Failure virus seeks to scare its victims and convince them that they need to reach these recommended computer experts to fix their Windows OS. At this point, we assure you that this warning is not real and you don't need to contact these scammers to unblock your operating system. Most probably, you just need to force quit your web browser. 

As you must have already realized, the “Windows Product Key Failure” fake pop-up[1] is mainly developed for phishing.[2] Scammers can not only include your telephone number into pricey services, but can also trick you into allowing a remote access to your computer system “to fix the problem”. However, what they actually do is infect it with other malicious programs and charge considerable amounts of money for their so-called support services.

If you got introduced with this message, just close the tab/window and remove “Windows Product Key Failure.” You can do that by following the step-by-step guide that is attached at the end of this article. Make sure you do NOT skip any steps since you might uninstall files that are necessary for a proper work of your system.

Windows Product Key Failure illustration

Besides, “Windows Product Key Failure” message is a perfect tool to promote third-party security software that is either ineffective or enormously expensive. We do NOT recommend messing with this. If you need some kind of program on your computer, make sure you find the official developer to prevent more viruses on your computer.

To sum up, Windows Product Key Failure scam has nothing to do with the real Microsoft Technical Support. If you want to avoid financial losses or ransomware attacks, make sure you ignore warnings that appear out of nowhere. Keep in mind that they show up as soon as you start your computer, not when you are browsing the Internet.

To begin “Windows Product Key Failure” removal and not letting the scammers swindle money from you, we recommend you to employ a reputable anti-malware program like FortectIntego. It will help you with the whole elimination process and will also automatically replace damaged files, if it finds such files on your computer

Stay away from the sponsored ads to prevent the adware infection

Even though the most popular method used to distribute the potentially unwanted program (PUP) remains bundling, experts from NoVirus.uk[3] spotted that a vast of computers are infected via malicious ads as well.

Cybercriminals take advantage of careless app developers that agree to promote anything without attentive inspection beforehand. Thus, many sponsored ads may lead you to less than reliable pages used to distribute high-risk computer infections.

if you want to avoid the PUPs, follow the steps below:

  1. Use a professional security software and remember to update it regularly;
  2. Install applications only with Custom or Advanced settings;
  3. Search for any pre-marked boxes that allow to infiltrate the bundled program and de-select them;
  4. Avoid any types of ads, even though they look legitimate.

Learn how to stop “Windows Product Key Failure” alert from bothering you

You can either remove Windows Product Key Failure scam automatically or manually. The first method is much more reliable since the professional security software eliminates the potentially unwanted program (PUP) for you. You just need to directly download it from trustworthy developers and let it scan your files attentively.

Manual “Windows Product Key Failure” removal process requires specific IT skills. Thus, we have prepared instructions you can use at the end of this article. Make sure to be careful.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

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

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

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

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

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

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

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

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