How to Remove Google Chrome Critical ERROR Scam Message?

Guide to Remove Google Chrome Critical ERROR Scam Pop-up

Have you encountered the above Error message on your browser screen? It seems like you are in a mush.

Google Chrome Critical ERROR is a misleading advertising pop-up displayed to trick users to call a fake support service and demand a whooping amount from them to fix the issue that never existed. The error is known to be associated with a scamming network.

The browsers targeted by this networking scam include:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Internet Explorer

History of Critical ERROR scams

Google Chrome Critical ERROR scam has evolved from different forms of red screen scams. The RDN/YahLover.worm!055BCCAC9FEC Infection Popup is one such scam spotted earlier in August this year. The error message displayed in the Pop-Up is misleading to scare users into thinking that their computer is infected with the imaginary RDN/YahLover.worm!055BCCAC9FEC computer virus.

The end motive behind this deed is to trick users into calling the listed remote support number so that they can try to sell you unnecessary software and services at huge costs.

The error messages displayed in both the scams resemble the legitimate warning displayed by Google when you visit a malicious site.

However, unlike legitimate warning, this message may be a result of covert installation of some adware or browser redirect in the system.

Here is the original message displayed by Google when users visit any suspicious site.

How did you get the Google Chrome Critical ERROR message POP- UP in your system?

Threat actors resort to deception to dupe users and embezzle them of their hard earned income. Google Chrome Critical ERROR message is also a part of such chicanery. You may have fallen prey to this deceit because of the following reasons:

• Software Bundling: Legitimate software may include malicious program in their payload. Installation of these applications paves way to the invasion of these embedded PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Program) that may cause harm to your system by redirecting you suspicious sites or display sham pop-ups like the Google Chrome Critical ERROR.
• Visiting Malicious Websites: Visit to suspicious websites may also result in the appearance of annoying Google Chrome Critical ERROR pop-ups. The pernicious JavaScript code embedded in the source code of these websites may spoil user system and inundate the user browser screen with such misguiding pop-ups.
• Infected External media drives: Mounting infected CD, DVD, USB drives, SD cards etc without proper scanning can also pave way to the proliferation of this adware program in the system.

What happens when user places a call on the number provided in the pop-up?

The convincing message displayed on the user browser window informing them about their system being compromised, even when it is not is done to prompt them to place a call to the tech support number +1(888)-562-5234. When called on this number, the threat actors pretend to be from official Microsoft Tech Support who scares users that they have detected in-numerous viruses on your system. To get your system risk free, they need to pay some 1000$. Innocent users may fall in the trap without realizing it is a scam and lose this hefty amount.

Victims need to be cautious and under no circumstances should call to this number.

Threat Summary

1. Name: Google Chrome Critical ERROR Scam
2. Browsers Affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge
3. Targeted Operating System: Windows
4. Category: PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program)
5. Symptoms: The affected browser is locked. A scam message is displayed that scares users of suspicious infiltration, asking them to call tech support number to fix any possible issues.

How to Remove the Google Chrome Critical ERROR Pop-up and Secure Your PC?

Note: Before we begin, try to remember how the extension got downloaded  on your computer system. Generally, these programs come bundled with free applications that we download off the internet. It is a good practice to locate and uninstall such programs while removing the PUP.

STEP A: Uninstall the malicious program form the Control Panel

Windows XP

1. Click on the “Start” button on the bottom left corner of your screen. A Start menu will be displayed as shown below. From this menu select the option that reads “Control Panel”.
2. In the window that will be displayed, click the option “Switch to classic view”.
3. This will display all the options/icons available to you. From the displayed icons, click on the icon that reads “Add or Remove Programs”.
4. Select the “Uninstall a program” option from the “Programs” category. A list will populate on the screen displaying all the programs.
5. Select the programs related to Google Chrome Critical ERROR and click on the Uninstall button.

Windows 7/Vista

1. Right click on the “Start” button located at the lower left corner of the screen. From the Start menu, click on “Control Panel”.
2. The “Control Panel” Window will be displayed on the screen. Click on “Uninstall a Program” option from the “Programs” category.
3. The “Programs and Features” window will be displayed on the screen. A list will populate on the screen displaying all the programs.
4. Scroll though the list of programs and select the programs related to Google Chrome Critical ERROR and then click on the “Uninstall” button.

Windows 8/10

1. Right click on the “Windows logo” on the lower left side of the computer screen. From the drop down menu, select and click on “Control Panel”.
2. The “Control Panel” window will be displayed. From this window select “Uninstall a program” option form the “Programs” category.
3. A list will populate on the screen displaying all the programs.
4. Select the programs related to Google Chrome Critical ERROR and click on the “Uninstall” button.
5. In the confirmation box, click on the box that reads “OK” to save changes.

STEP B:  Remove malicious extensions from your browser

Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three vertical dots ( ) i.e.Menu option which are located at the upper right corner of the Chrome Window.
2. Find and click on More tools from the drop down menu that is displayed & select Extensions or you can open a Chrome window and type “chrome://extensions” in the address bar.
3. Check the developer mode option which is located opposite to extensions heading on the top of the Chrome window. By enabling the developer mode, additional details and option related to all the installed extensions will be displayed. One of the details that will be displayed is the ID. ID is the folder name created by the extension at the location “C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions”.
4. Locate the malicious extension you want to uninstall or delete. Copy and paste the folder name opposite to the ID Tag of that extension into a notepad file. In this case the folder name is related to “Google Chrome Critical ERROR”
5. Now, uncheck the enabled option next to the extension in question. Make sure you also click the trash icon to delete the extension from the browser. It is important to note that even after uninstalling and deleting the extensions from the browser, the extension might not uninstall properly. Thus, it is a good practice to make sure that we have deleted the folder as mentioned in step 3.
6. Make sure that you have made the hidden files and folders visible.
7. Open My Computer and go to “C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions”. Now, look for folder with the name as specified in Step 4 i.e. “Google Chrome Critical ERROR”. Delete the folder if present.
8. Close and reopen the browser. It is also advisable to restart your computer once done.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox, click on three horizontal lines ( ) at the top right corner of the Firefox Window and select the Add-ons option. ) at the top right corner of the Firefox Window and select the Add-ons option.
2. On the Add-ons manger page, select and click on the Extensions tab as shown below.
3. Find the extensions related to Google Chrome Critical ERROR and click on the remove button.
4. In addition, try to remember how the extension got downloaded on your computer system. If this extension was bundled with some other software, then make sure to delete that as well.

Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer, Click on the Gear icon ( ) which is at the top right corner of the Internet Explorer Window.
2. From the newly appeared drop-down menu, click on the option that reads Manage Add-ons.
3. A new window will appear on the screen. On this window choose the option that reads Toolbar and Extensions. Under the Show option, select the option that reads “All add-ons”. This option will allow you to see all the browser extensions.
4. Select the Extension related to Google Chrome Critical ERROR and click on the Disable button which is at the bottom right of the computer screen.

STEP C:  Reset your Browser to default settings

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines () which are at the top right corner of the computer screen.
2. A Drop down menu will be displayed. On this menu click on the “Help” () button as shown in the image below. The Help menu will be displayed on the screen.) button as shown in the image below. The Help menu will be displayed on the screen.
3. From this menu click the option that reads “Troubleshooting information“. A new tab will open up with the Troubleshooting information.
   
4. On the Troubleshooting Information page, click on the button that reads “Refresh Firefox” as shown in the image below.
5. The “Refresh Firefox” message box will pop up on the screen. On this message box click on the “Refresh Firefox” button.
6. After this Firefox will close itself and a new window will be displayed which will list the information that is imported. Click on the option that reads “Finish” to complete the task.

Google Chrome

1. Open Google chrome and click on the three vertical dots ( ) which is at the top right corner of the computer screen. A drop down menu will appear on the screen. From this menu choose the option that reads “Settings”. ) which is at the top right corner of the computer screen. A drop down menu will appear on the screen. From this menu choose the option that reads “Settings”.
2. The Chrome’s settings window will be displayed on the screen. On this screen scroll through the bottom of the page and click on the option that reads “Advanced option” as shown below.
3. The Advanced setting options will be displayed on the screen. Scroll through the list of options till you find the “ Reset browser settings” section. Click on the icon as shown below.
4. The reset dialogue box will pop up on the screen. From this dialogue box click on the button that reads “Reset”.

Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer and click on the gear icon ( ) which is at the top right corner of the browser screen. A drop down menu will be displayed on the screen. From this drop down menu, click on the option that reads “Internet options”. ) which is at the top right corner of the browser screen. A drop down menu will be displayed on the screen. From this drop down menu, click on the option that reads “Internet options”.
2. The “Internet options” dialogue box will be displayed. Click on the “Advanced” tab. In the Advanced tab click on the button that reads “Reset” as shown in the image below. The “Reset Internet Explorer Settings” section will be displayed on the screen. Now click on the button that reads “Reset” .Precautions: In this dialogue box make sure to uncheck the “Delete Personal settings” option to save your passwords and other important data.
3. When it’s done, click on the button that reads “Close” to complete the task. Now close and reopen your browser.

Tips to prevent your computer system from getting infected –

1. Keeping the Operating System Updated- In order to remain protected and avoid such infections, it is recommended to keep your Operating System updated by enabling the automatic update on your system. The systems with outdated or older versions of Operating System become an easy target for the attackers.
2. Resist clicking on spam emails – One of the major techniques used for malware distribution is forwarding spam emails to the user. The system gets infected as soon as the user clicks on the attachment. These mails appear to be genuine, so be aware and resist falling for these tricks.
3. Keep an eye on third party installations- It is quite important that you take due care while installing any third party applications for they are major source of such infections. Such malware programs come bundled with the free applications thereby requiring the user to remain cautious.
4. Regular periodical backup- In order to keep your data and files safe, it is recommended to take regular back up of all your data and files either on an external drive or cloud.
5. Use Anti-Virus Protection- We strongly recommend the use of antivirus protection/internet security in your PC like Hitman Pro and BULL GUARD so that it remains safe.
6. Enable the Ad Blocker/Popup Blocker in your browser- Enabling the popup blocker/ ad blocker in your chosen browser will help you to stay protected from annoying adware.