“Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam virus (Tech Support Scam) - Simple Removal Guide
“Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam virus Removal Guide
What is “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam virus?
The unsavory features of the “Your connection is not safe” virus
“Your connection is not safe” virus is otherwise known as “NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID” virus is a fake browser notification that shows up when the computer is infected with some type of malware [1]. Currently, we know little about what this PUP might be, but the practice shows that it is most likely some advertising-based application, typically an adware [2]. You might get accidentally infected by such PUPs while browsing the web or installing software without examining the software package components closely enough. And when you are already infected, “Your connection is not safe” pop-ups [3]will be the first symptom to give the virus away. More suspicious aspects of these notifications reveal in their contents. Look at this extract taken from the fake NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID alert page:
Your connection is not safe
Attackers might be trying to steal your information from www.yourcomputerdata.com (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards) NET::ERR_CERT_DATE_INVALID
Attackers hack your data from overseas countries
Call immediately to secure your connection: 0800-090-3286 (Toll Free)
Please call us immediately at: 0800-090-3286 (Toll free)
If you close this page, your computer access will be disabled to prevent further damage to our network.
Hide advanced / Reload
As you can see, the scammers use a lot of the social engineering techniques and scare tactics [4] to convince the users into calling the supposed tech support number. For this reason, experts have also labeled this infection a Tech Support Scam. Needless to say, you should not get into contact with any supposed technicians but rather hurry with the “Your connection is not safe” removal because this virus may lead to serious privacy infringements or financial loss. We suggest you stop the unpleasant consequences of the hijack before they even take place by scanning your computer with a professional anti-malware software. FortectIntego is one of the options you have for this purpose.
We hear about Tech Support scams more often these days [5], and these parasites are appearing in a growing number of different types and forms. Luckily, “Your connection is not safe” malware is not a lock screen type of Tech Support scam. Nevertheless, just like its counterparts which block the access to the computer, this virus may block the browser by not allowing you to close it or properly use it for the web search. In such a case, you will have to work your way around this obstacle before being able to remove “Your connection is not safe” from your computer properly. Our experts will gladly assist you in the process: you will find comprehensive virus decontamination instructions just below the article.
How do the tech support scams infect computers?
“Your connection is not safe” is a notification that starts popping up on the browser after the computer users unknowingly install some adware on their computers. This usually happens when the users download software from some untrusted sources and carelessly install it on their computers. Please keep in mind that any software or programs you are installing on the computer should always be examined for added components and scanned with some antivirus utility to prevent malware from sneaking into the system. We should warn you not to rely on the automatic tools to protect you from “Your connection is not safe” scam. Be proactive and take protective measures yourself.
How should I get rid of “Your connection is not safe” pop-ups?
Some users may feel hesitant to remove “Your connection is not safe” virus because they are dealing with such an infection for the first time. Nevertheless, even the less experienced users can get rid of this virus without much difficulty. It all depends on the technique chosen for the virus elimination. If you choose manual “Your connection is not safe” removal, it is not surprising that the whole process may look slightly overwhelming. Eliminating the virus automatically, though, should not trigger similar feelings simply because the specialized program will carry out all the removal process automatically. Besides, this option is much safer and guarantees that all of the potentially malicious computer components are eliminated from the computer, leaving the system virus-free.
Getting rid of “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
To escape browser blocking, press CTRL+ALT+DEL to access the Windows Task Manager and terminate the running browser by clicking “End Task” next to the process.
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Remove “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam using System Restore
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
-
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
-
Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
-
Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
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When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam. After doing that, click Next.
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Now click Yes to start system restore.
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Bonus: Recover your data
Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.If your files are encrypted by “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam, you can use several methods to restore them:
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from “Your connection is not safe” Tech Support Scam and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting malware
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
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- ^ What are malware, viruses, Spyware, and cookies, and what differentiates them . Symantec antivirus blog.
- ^ What is Adware? - Definition. Kaspersky Lab research blog.
- ^ Pop-up ad. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- ^ Paul Gil. What Exactly Is 'Scareware'?. Lifewire website.
- ^ The hunt for tech support scammers. Malwarebytes Labs blog.