“Your Computer Has Been Locked To Prevent Damage” error – a scam that might distribute hazardous malware

“Your Computer Has Been Locked To Prevent Damage” virus defines a tech support scam[1] which alarms users that their personal data has been stolen. It operates as an ordinary browser scam that temporarily hijacks users' browser and asks to call the indicated phone number. Since there are dozens if not hundreds of similar and identical scams, the phone number may vary. In this case, +39 0426 270 222 is indicated.
| name | “Your Computer Has Been Locked To Prevent Damage” |
|---|---|
| Type | Tech support scam |
| Fake Claim | Access to the PC was blocked because of multiple virus infections |
| Purpose | Draw out personal details; gain remote access to a PC, infect it with malware or steal private data; push installing useless expensive programs |
| Elimination | Check for any infections hiding on your device by scanning it with a reliable security tool |
| System health | Ensure that your computer runs smoothly and that all tracking cookies are deleted by performing system diagnostics with the FortectIntego PC repair tool |
Unlike typical Microsoft Security Alerts, users are redirected to a web page with a black wallpaper that promotes the phone number in a big font. Interestingly, the tab is entitled to ESET Internet Security Alert. However, there are no visual or written references to a product of this company. Besides, another pop-up message indicates the same information as other typical tech support scams:
** Your computer has been blocked **
Error # 268D3
Please call us immediately at +39 0426 270 222
Further content alarms users that the following data might be stolen:
- Facebook Login
- Credit Card Details
- Email Account Login
- Photos stored on this computer
In order to make the message even more terrifying, an additional notification occurs in the right corner of the page stating “ransomware detected.”[2] However, such a tech scam support message does not indicate any actual information but repeats the same content provided in the main message.
If you tend to visit movie streaming sites and similar poorly protected domains, you are likely to encounter such scareware.[3] Pay attention that regardless of what is indicated in the message, the random URL site name is the indicator that it is purely a tech support scam. Exit the page by clicking on “Prevent this page from creating additional dialogues.“
If there is no such option on a scam message, shut down the browser via Task Manager. More information is provided below. You may also find SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes useful in completing “Your Computer Has Been Locked To Prevent Damage” removal procedure.
Once you make sure that there are no malware or potentially unwanted programs hiding on your device by running a full system scan with reliable anti-malware software, you have to take care of the overall system health. The easiest way to do that is by running system diagnostics with the time-tested FortectIntego tool. It will automatically detect all system irregularities and delete all tracking cookies.

Distribution techniques are obscure
Usually, such tech support scams function via rogue scams and adware scripts placed in other domains – illegal movie streaming or gaming websites. Certain malware elimination tools grant malicious URL blocking services. For instance, the full version of Malwarebytes includes such an option.
Keep the software up-to-date to limit the probability of “Your Computer Has Been Locked to Prevent Damage” hijack and occupation of similar tech support scams. After you cancel the window of this scam, it is still recommended to perform certain steps to remove scam scripts fully.
Remove “Your Computer Has Been Locked To Prevent Damage” scam
If the above-described elimination method does not work, press CTRL+SHIFT_ESC and wait until Task Manager appears. Find the task indicating Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, or another browser you use, right-click on the task, and choose to end it.
As a result, the window should close. Though such browse malware usually hijacks your browser just once, it is possible that some more elaborate samples might settle on a browser for a longer time. In that case, the below removal instructions will be of use.
There is also a faster method to get rid of this browser scam. Let malware elimination tool remove “Your Computer Has Been Locked To Prevent Damage” virus web scripts. Repeat the scan to make sure the browser is free from unwanted and troublesome scripts.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

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

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

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
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 Remove.

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

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
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.

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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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
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 suspicious extensions 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 dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

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

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