How To Remove Error # 268D3-XC00037 Fake Pop-up Alerts

What is “Error # 268D3-XC00037” pop up all about?

The “Error # 268D3-XC00037” popup is nothing but a tech support scam done by visiting an infected website or through a widespread malicious program called Adware.

This would make you believe that all your credentials are at risk and if an action is not taken immediately, all your details will be taken away from the computer.

Technically, these adware’s use complicated coding to by-pass the usual firewall of the computer they are designed to insert such fake pop-ups on the victim's computer which helps the hackers to make some money by scaring and fooling people.

ALSO READ: HOW TO REMOVE MYEASYLOTTO TOOLBAR FROM BROWSER EASILY

End goal of such Adware campaign

Adware is particularly designed to make money. Once an Adware program has infected a computer, it would inject small codes into the pages which you visit very often like your banking account or any social media. This code will create numerous advertisement banners some may include fake security warnings like “Error # 268D3-XC00037” or insert a sponsored ad on the pages you are viewing.

Web browsers are always under the radar

When your computer is infected with an adware, all your web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and MS Edge may redirect you to fake security warnings or to sponsored advertisement banners.

It’s a scam but you still have an adware

Although an adware might not damage any files or Windows system, it will certainly annoy you with the frequent notification or ad banner.

Adware is not a virus and it will not harm any of your personal files, but on the other hand, it is a widespread malicious program that generates many such pop-ups and the most shocking fact about an adware program is that it would weaken the firewall of your computer internally and would make way for other malicious programs which include spyware, ransomware, and other malicious programs.

ALSO READ: THE LATEST VERSION OF CREDENTIAL THEFT MALWARE

How does an Adware spread?

1. Initially, adware installs into a computer via browser hijackers.
2. When computers are impacted by a browser hijacker it would make way for other malware and one of the very common malware these days is Adware.
3. Malware authors have developed such tools which can diagnose IP address and distinguish computers based on their security levels and infect them accordingly. In this case, the computers running on the legacy products or outdated security end up being the favorite targets of hackers.
4. It can contaminate the PC through restricted websites or through infected websites. In this case, having a good security will help the user to block such websites.
5. Adware can get into a computer through portable devices like USB stick, portable hard drives or through any other transferable media.
6. Hackers can also infect a computer using freeware programs, this has become the easiest and quickest way of infecting a computer without user’s consent.

Common symptoms of adware include:

1. The web browser would more often show signs of instability and frequent crashes.
2. The default configuration of the web browser is modified i.e. the default home page and the default search engine is changed.
3. The victim might see new extensions and add-on toolbar in the top panel of your web browser. 
4. Whenever victim tries to open anything he is been redirected to some random website which may either display advertisement banners or would give fake security warnings.
5. Poor program execution, moderate reaction time as the ads would fly out of the blue.
6. Even if the web browsers are not active the infected computer would display ads which would result in system crashes from time to time or PC would boot up for unknown reasons.
7. Security program and the inbuilt firewall is crippled.
8. New icons are added to desktop pretending to be for some kind of security.