“Your Windows OS is damaged” scam promotes fake updates

Your Windows OS is damaged is yet another scam[1] created for tricking Windows OS users that they need to install an update. However, this warning does not have anything in common with Microsoft, and you should not install any content from such website.
Redirects to Your Windows OS is damaged scam website typically starts after the installation of the adware program. This usually happens unintentionally when downloading free programs from the internet.
However, “Your Windows OS is damaged” redirect might occur when you visit a high-risk website too. Thus, if this website shows up in the browser only once, your device should not be infected unless you were tricked into clicking an “Update” button on the scam website.
Creators of “Your Windows OS is damaged” virus use social engineering[2] to make users believe that they simply do not have a choice but to install the supposed “update.” The fake alert looks like genuine Windows popup and has timer added to it. The message states:
“System Warning
Your Windows OS is damaged
Your Windows version:
Note: Your current version of Windows Security infected with Viruses and other malicious applications. Viruses must be removed in:[timer]
Important: Please click UPDATE button to install the latest version and protect your data”
As evident, hackers try to shock the confused victim and make them click on the fake update. If the user proceeds, the additional dubious application is installed. However, if the user clicks on “Update” button, he or she will not be downloading an update for Windows, but rather a malicious application.
As we have mentioned earlier, “Your Windows OS is damaged” pop-ups are usually caused by an adware program installed on your computer. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) is not dangerous itself. However, it might make the system vulnerable to malware attacks and cause numerous problems when browsing the web, for example:
- delivery of pop-ups, banners, in-text or other types of online ads;
- delivery of fake security alerts;
- promotion of questionable programs;
- redirects to technical support scam websites;
- redirects to promotional sites;
- data tracking.
All these activities diminish browsing experience. However, chances to catch a computer virus or reveal personal information to cyber criminals increase as well. Thus, you should not hesitate and remove “Your Windows OS is damaged” adware from the system.
FortectIntego is a helpful tool that can simplify “Your Windows OS is damaged” removal a lot. However, if the installation of a security software does not seem like the right option to you, you can find manual removal guide at the end of the virus description.

Adware can be avoided by being protective
The most common adware distribution method is bundling. This method allows attacking PUPs to various free programs. In this way, developers of freeware generate advertising revenue and authors of PUPs get a chance to infiltrate user’s devices unnoticed.
However, Your Windows OS is damaged hijack, as well as other PUPs, can be avoided. A security team from udenvirus.dk[3] reminds general security tips that you should follow when installing a new program:
- Pick your source for free software carefully. If it is unknown, make sure to research it online
- When installing free software, opt for Advanced/Custom settings and never skip steps using “Next” button in a quick succession
- Opt out additional components that might be pre-selected
- Read Terms of Use, Eula and Privacy Policy.
Eliminate the irritating Your Windows OS is damaged virus
You can remove “Your Windows OS is damaged” virus by using our step-by-step guide below this article. The guide is written in a clear and easy to understand manner. However, it might be overwhelming for novice users. Hence, if you are dealing with this kind of cyber threat for the first time, you should opt for the second method.
Therefore, if you find “Your Windows OS is damaged” removal guide too complicated and confusing, you should download and install reliable security software instead. We suggest you pick one of the programs mentioned below.
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.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

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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