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Watch out! This website can completely freeze Google Chrome

Watch out! This website can completely freeze Google Chrome

Dec 25, 2018
12:20 pm

What's the story

Google Chrome is a handy browser, but it's often criticized for slowing down PCs, affecting the whole experience. This can prove really annoying, but now, to make matters worse, a malicious site (22xsd.tk) has been flagged that completely bricks/freezes the browser. The URL, first flagged by team Fossbytes, creates a strange, hard-to-escape loop. Here are the details.

Issue

Website blocks closing operations, gives virus infection warning

The website in question, if visited, makes it impossible for the user to close the tab or Chrome itself. It causes the browser to use nearly 100% memory and shows a 'support.Windows.com' dialog box that says the computer might be compromised with viruses. The message asks the user to refrain from shutting down the PC and gives a contact for 'technical support' from Windows.

Information

Passwords, credit card information may be compromised, the message read

The same dialog box also reads that continuing might compromise passwords, browsing history, credit card information as well as local hard disk files. Evidently, it is a counterfeit message designed to fool users.

Solution

Only force-closing Chrome can help you out

As the fake 'warning' dialog box creates a loop and repeatedly goes to the URL, you can not even close it or the browser tab. The only way out here would be to open the task manager and kill the "GoogleChrome.exe" process or shut down the computer itself (directly). Once the browser or PC restarts, clear history to avoid further problems associated with it.

Goal

Typical case of tech support scam

The goal of creating malicious sites like these is to promote a tech support scam, which can be used by fraudsters to trick people into paying money. They can use confidence tricks to gain your trust and then take remote control of your PC, ultimately charging you for the so-called support services. They may even steal credit card or banking credentials using this access.