How to fix
“Critical System Failure” Error Pop-Up
on Windows

Hi. I receive a pop-up alert on Chrome, which reports about “Critical System Failure” and urges to call for technical support. I suspect that it’s a scam, but I would like to be sure. Could you please provide specificities about this message?

“Critical System Failure” is a rogue pop-up alert, which is classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) or technical support scam. The past two years were pandemic regarding fake technical support alerts as a number of such messages on Windows OS increased more than 30 percent. The number of Mac OS affected by rogue warnings increased almost twice. Therefore, it’s obvious that hackers improve their scam techniques and find more and more new ways of breaking the rules.

“Critical System Failure” tech support scam is triggered by malware or, more specifically, adware-type program. Usually, it is installed on the system via software bundle in the form of a web browser plug-in or extension. Immediately after its attachment to the browser, a potentially malicious code is executed and the user starts receiving a pop-up “Critical System Failure” on random occasions.

Compromised Windows Security
Please call technical support 855-616-6772
Computer ID: xxxx-xxxx
Response Code

The message freezes web browser’s screen as it lacks "Close" button. Due to this fact and warnings related to system’s security, people often fall for believing that this is a real problem. Despite the lack of a Close button, there is a "Next" button provided. However, it’s crucial NOT to click it because it contains a link to a scammers’ website, which may include installer of the remote desktop tool, such as LogMeIn. As a consequence, online crooks may get remote access to your computer and start sucking up personally-identifiable information. However, usually, the installation of this tool requires user’s permission and, thankfully, people are aware enough of fraudulent activities on the Internet and prevent themselves from installing it without reason. Nevertheless, clicking the "Next" button on “Critical System Failure” support scam alert is not the primary purpose.

By displaying “Critical System Failure” scammers seek to trick people into calling the given number. That’s why the content of the message is a serious system infection and a necessity of professional support. 855-616-6772 is the number that supposedly belongs to professional IT technicians. However, that’s just what crooks are saying. The people sitting on the other side of the handset are frauds who may try to shove you a fictitious service for a considerable sum of money. They may also ask people to install remote desktop tools and doing so would be the biggest mistake ever. In a nutshell, “Critical System Failure” tech support has nothing to do with the actual performance of your PC. It’s a hoax, which pollutes your web browser, takes up CPU, and may open security loopholes. Therefore, it’s crucial to fix “Critical System Failure” error ASAP.

How to Fix “Critical System Failure” Error Pop-Up on Windows?

The “Critical System Failure” alert is fake and should be eliminated without delay. Since it is activated by malware, the first thing that you should do is to delete the malware, which is the culprit and then reset your web browser’s settings. Thus, you should:

Step 1. Remove malware

The most reliable way to delete malware from the affected system is to run a scan with a professional anti-malware. To remove “Critical System Failure” tech support scam, we would recommend using [d1]. The removal can also be performed manually:

• Click Ctrl + Shift + Esc and check for svchost.ex process. It has been found that the malware that triggers “Critical System Failure” scam exploits svchost.ex, which is a legal Windows host process. Thus, click the process and select End Task.
• Then open Control Panel and go to the Add/Remove Programs.
• Find suspicious applications on the list, click on them and select Uninstall.
• After that, click Win key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
• In search of Registry Editor, type the name of the apps that you have just deleted.
• If some of the search results are found, delete all of them.

Step 2. Reset web browser’s settings

Lastly, you should reset web browser’s settings. Otherwise, a potentially dangerous web browser’s plug-ins may keep working and bring you a “Critical System Failure” tech support scam notification. If you don’t know how to do that, here’s the guidelines that you can use:

How to reset Google Chrome
How to reset IE
How to reset Edge
How to Reset Mozilla Firefox