How to remove Zeus virus alert

What makes you think it might be a fake virus warning? Did it come within or as a popup from an open browser window?

A Fake Virus scam can emanate from a mistyped URL where it's squatting. Close the Browser window using whichever method is necessary, as it cannot escape the browser unless you download something from the page.

If you cannot close the browser window, right click the Task Bar or press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys to open the Task Manager, choose Show Less Details, highlight the browser and choose End Task.

If this fails hold the power button to Shut Down. If you do this Edge may reload the page when it starts back up, but it will also give you an option to Start Fresh to avoid opening the previous tabs.

Also in Edge, if you try to X out of the browser WIndow, it may present a dialogue box to end the session. The webpage is allowed to put text in the box but cannot stop it from closing the WIndows when you choose OK, so that is safe to do.

If you called the scammers and they installed anything on your PC, open Settings>Apps, organize by Date, uninstall anything on that date you didn't install yourself. Then run a full scan with Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner. You can turn off the MB trial version in it's Control Panel.

http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti...

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcle...

If you paid them anything, notify your bank that you were scammed.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I'll keep working with you until this is resolved.

Follow the steps to scan and clean your computer as described in the following article:

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/clean-virus-in...

Hi again Nancy -

The Start Fresh tab in Edge and Internet Explorer is designed to not auto-load tabs after a hard shutdown (holding the power button) unless you want them, so that the fake virus ploy WIndows can be avoided from loading again. So you can safely choose that.

It sounds like you avoided the scam and any infection. So let's check over the install's performance.

I would not run anything from MacAfee as it is one of the worst programs that can be installed to WIndows and often ruins it beyond repair. So uninstall MacAfee to default to Windows Defender which is from Microsoft who know how to protect Windows best. Then use Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner on demand for scanning if you're in doubt.

You can go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

But remember that Factory or Upgrade installs are inferior installs which most enthusiasts won't even run because they'd expect endless issues. Consider doing the Clean Install in this link which compiles the best possible install that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

There is also an automated Refresh that reinstall WIndows but sheds corrupting factory bloatware, saving your files, but doesn't clear the drive to get it cleanest: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

Dear Greg –

Thank you for your very helpful email.  We did call the fake help number and ran the command “iexplore support” but then grew suspicious, ended the call and cancelled out of the iexplore command windows without taking any action.  We were able to close out of the browser (regularly).  We then downloaded McAfee, ran a full scan and it said there were no threats.  We closed down the computer and in the morning when we rebooted two things happened:

1. On opening the Internet Explorer browser a tab appeared that we have not seen before labeled “Start Fresh” with a button asking if we wanted to close all tabs or not.  We clicked to close all tabs
2. The computer has also been running very slowly, taking far longer than normal to complete any task.  We rebooted the computer and when the slowness continued we downloaded and ran first the AdCleaner you recommended and then the premium Malwarebytes protection.  Neither found any threats on the computer.

The computer is still running much slower than normal – do you think it is related, or any thoughts on what might be causing this?  (P.S. when we closed down last night there was a system update from Microsoft and we selected the “Update and shut down” option in case that might be important)

Nancy