Windows 7 Locked after scam call - SYSKEY

Question

I have had a couple for customers fall for the "This is So and So from Windows 7 Tech support, we have detected malicious software on you PC. The customers have given the scamers access to the PC and its now locked with What looks like the XP Syskey lock screen. There are reports the Password are 123 or 1234 or abcd. But that all failed. If you have this problem:

THIS IS FOR WINDOWS 7 ONLY, MAY WORK ON OTHER OS!!!!

I have repaired the syskey issue when created by scam call from “Windows 7 Tech Support” in windows 7. I repaired customers computers (1 32-bit and 1 64-bit) successfully, To remove following the steps below:

1.     Boot from windows 7 install cd.

2.     When the Install Windows page appears, click Repair your computer to access system recovery options.

3.     Run System Restore to last point before syskey password blocked access. (This will fail, but must be done). Click run system restore again (this will take you back to the options list)

4.     Open Command Prompt from the options list.

5.     Open Regedit (Type regedit into the command prompt). Regedit will open.

6.     Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa, and change 'SecureBoot' value to 0.

7.     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SAM\SAM\Domains\Account Change F value to 0000

8.     Reboot and Login

This has worked for me on two machines. After reboot I ran Super-anti Spyware, Ad-Aware and Hitman Pro to confirm, found 68 items on Super-Anti Spyware, 5 more on ad aware and no further detection's on Hitman Pro. The PC now runs fine with not Lockouts or Passwords.

Hope this helps everyone with this problem.

MICROSOFT / WINDOWS 7 SUPPORT WILL NEVER RING YOU UNLESS YOU HAVE REQUESTED THEM TO DO SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

I think MS should exclude this syskey tool as far just few people know it meanwhile it is a widespread scam for the last years. Where can we make such suggestions to MS?

Syskey is one of many tools that scammers use for their evil actions. Excluding Syskey would not hinder them in the least.

Answer 2

I have seen this type from scammers online. They lock up all your browsers so they can trick you in believing that your computer is locked up. Any time my browsers are locked up, the first task I do is to go to ctrl-alt-delete to bring up the task manager and click on the web browser and close the process. This might have to be done a few times. Run a virus and malware scan. Many times, it is the web browser that gets locked up and there is no virus in your system. I just open the web browser again and do not go back to that website that got your browser(s) locked up !

Answer 3

I just fixed this problem on a Win 7 desktop this week. I could not get into it at all. After reading the responses here I didn't see what I did to fix it listed...You have to physically be there to do this, I pulled the hard drive from the desktop & put it in a usb enclosure. Then I copied the contents of the RegBack as described earlier. After I finished I put it back in the desktop & started the computer. Worked like a charm!    The scammer on this one deleted all restore points also.

Answer 4

Hi,

I tried to follow the steps above on windows 7 and i am still getting the password prompt on startup.  Any other thoughts?