Fake warning from Europol European Cybercrime Center is a real scam attacking PCs in Great Britain today. PCs in other countries may be targeted as well, including the United States of America. The scam attacks many browsers, but Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari in particular. Hackers have found ways of blocking these browsers with a scary warning supposedly coming from the police and other law enforcement bodies of various countries. We’ve seen the same kind of ransomware attacking the US, supposedly coming from the FBI (the Federal Bureau of Investigation). Its primary message was this – “Your browser has been locked“. The same scary alert has been used in this new Europol virus (ransomware). Of course, the governments of all these countries are not related at all to any of these fake warnings.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is under the particular attack of this new virus. It condemns uses of committing various crimes online through the attacked browser. Here is what the scary alert specifies in particular:
Europol European Cybercrime Center
EC3 Europol
All activities of this computer have been recorded. All your files are encrypted.
Attention! All your files are encrypted to prevent their distribution and use.
Due to violations of the law, your browser has been blocked because of at least one of the reasons below.
1. You have been subjected to violation of Copyright and Related Rights Law and illegally using or distributing copyrighted contents such as Video, Music or\and Software (files were found in your browser’s temporary files and your documents), thus conflicting with Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Criminal Code of the United Kingdom.
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Criminal Code stats a fine or two hundred minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty of two to eight years.
2. You have been viewing or distributing prohibited Pornographic contents: Child Porno photos and such were found in browser’s temporary files and your documents.
Thus, you are violating article 202 of the Criminal Code of the United Kingdom. Article 202 of the Criminal Code states a deprivation of liberty of four to twelve years.
3. Illegal access has been initiated from your PC without your knowledge or consent, your PC may be infected with malware, thus you are violating the law of Neglectful Use of your Personal Computer. Article 210 of the Criminal Code declares a fine of up to 50,000 GBP and/or deprivation of liberty of four to nine years.
Pursuant to the amendments of the Criminal Code of the United Kingdom of May 28, 2011, this law infringement (if it is a first time offense) may be considered as conditional in case you pay the fine.
To unlock your computer and avoid other legal consequences, you are obliged to pay a release fee of 200 GBP, payable through Ukash (you must purchase the Ukash card and enter the code). You can buy the card at any store or gas station, payzone or paypoint.
Find the nearest epay or payzone location.
Go to any location with a PayPoint or Payzone terminal.
As for Ukash: 200.00 GBP (one voucher code).
Please note: Fine can only be paid within 12 hours. As soon as 12 hours expire, the possibility to pay the fine is lost forever. All your PC data will be detained and criminal’s procedure will be initiated against you if the fine will not be paid!
You must not pay any fine through Ukash payment system! This is an obvious scam initiated by hackers to steal money from scared users. Don’t ever pay funds to these crooks in the amount of 200 GBP or any other sums, since they will never be refunded by the frauds.
Obviously, this fake Europol European Cybercrime Center warning should be ignored by you completely! Do not ever trust its contents and don’t pay any fake fine of 200 GBP! To delete this fake Europol warning (virus) and reset your browser please follow the steps listed below.
Similar removal video at YouTube:
Recommended ransomware removal solution for Windows OS platforms:
- First of all, stop (end) your browser by clicking “Ctrl-Alt-Delete” hotkey combination.
- Restart your computer into Safe Mode with Networking. To do it, keep hitting F8 key repeatedly, before Windows OS starts booting.
- Select your operating system and the account that got locked with ransomware.
- When Windows launches in Safe Mode with Networking, use “Win + R” hotkey combination to open Windows Explorer.
- In the address line insert the text “https://www.system-tips.net/download.php“
- Click “OK”.
- Download, install, update and run Plumbytes Anti-Malware.
- Scan your computer with Anti-Malware and remove all detected threats.
- Restart your computer.
- Share this information with your friends on Facebook and other social networks.
Similar removal video at YouTube:
So, we do recommend you to try the above method initially. Then, if it does not work, try these other guides below. It is probable that these other methods will be effective solutions to fix your problem. If this information has been helpful to you please share it with other friends of yours.
Solution to get rid of “Your browser has been locked” message for Apple’s Mac OS X Users.
- Open Safari browser.
- Click on the Safari menu and then select “Reset Safari”:
- It is mandatory to mark all items and hit the “Reset” button:
Alternative removal guides to remove other forms of ransomware from your computer:
- Ransomware removal in Safe Mode with Networking – https://www.system-tips.net/ransomware-removal-in-safe-mode-with-networking/
- Removal of ransomware that modifies “Shell” registry entry – https://www.system-tips.net/remove-ransomware-that-modifies-shell-registry-entry/
- Removal of ransomware that replaces explorer.exe file – https://www.system-tips.net/ransomware-that-replaces-explorer-exe-file-guide-to-unlock/
Optional ransomware removal through System Restore:
- Ransomware removal in Safe Mode with Networking – https://www.system-tips.net/ransomware-removal-in-safe-mode-with-networking/
- Removal of ransomware that modifies “Shell” registry entry – https://www.system-tips.net/remove-ransomware-that-modifies-shell-registry-entry/
- Removal of ransomware that replaces explorer.exe file – https://www.system-tips.net/ransomware-that-replaces-explorer-exe-file-guide-to-unlock/
Optional ransomware removal through System Restore:
https://www.system-tips.net/how-to-unlock-computer-though-system-restore-restore-point/
Optional similar virus removal video guide (through System Restore method):
Important! If the above-mentioned guidelines didn’t help you unlock your PC, use this guide as a final solution – http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-your-computer-has-been-locked-ransomware and this guide as well.
