The ICE Cyber Crime Center – Virus Removal Guide

Photo of author

Written by: Stelian

Published on:

If your computer is locked, and you are seeing a “Your computer has been blocked” notification from Department of Homeland Security’s ICE Cyber Crime Center, then your computer is infected with a piece of malware known as Trojan Reveton.
[Image: The ICE Cyber Crime Center virus]
The ICE Cyber Crime Center virus is distributed through several means. Malicious websites, or legitimate websites that have been hacked, can infect your machine through exploit kits that use vulnerabilities on your computer to install this trojan without your permission of knowledge.
Another method used to propagate this type of malware is spam email containing infected attachments or links to malicious websites. Cybercriminals spam out an email, with forged header information, tricking you into believing that it is from a shipping company like DHL or FedEx. The email tells you that they tried to deliver a package to you, but failed for some reason. Sometimes the emails claim to be notifications of a shipment you have made. Either way, you can’t resist being curious as to what the email is referring to – and open the attached file (or click on a link embedded inside the email). And with that, your computer is infected with the ICE Cyber Crime Center virus.
The threat may also be downloaded manually by tricking the user into thinking they are installing a useful piece of software, for instance a bogus update for Adobe Flash Player or another piece of software.
The ICE Cyber Crime Center virus is also prevalent on peer-to-peer file sharing websites and is often packaged with pirated or illegally acquired software.

Once installed on your computer, the ICE Cyber Crime Center virus will display a bogus notification that pretends to be from Department of Homeland Security’s ICE Cyber Crime Center, and states that your computer has been blocked due to it being involved with the distribution of pornographic material, SPAM and copyrighted content.

The ICE Cyber Crime Center virus will lock you out of your computer and applications, so whenever you’ll try to log on into your Windows operating system or Safe Mode with Networking, it will display instead a lock screen asking you to pay a non-existing fine of $300 USD in the form of a Moneypak voucher.
Furthermore, to make this alert seem more authentic, this virus also has the ability to access your installed webcam, so that the bogus ICE Cyber Crime Center notification shows what is happening in the room.

The ICE Cyber Crime Center virus locks the computer and depending on the user’s current location, displays a localized webpage that covers the entire desktop of the infected computer and demands payment for the supposed possession of illicit material.
[Image: ICE Cyber Crime Center MoneyPak virus]
Cyber criminals often updated the design of this lock screen, however you should always keep in mind that ICE Cyber Crime Center will never lock down your computer or monitor your online activities.

The message displayed by the threat can be localized depending on the user’s location, with text written in the appropriate language.

ICE
The ICE Cyber Crime Center
Your computer has been blocked
The work of your computer has been suspended on the grounds of unauthorized cyber activity.

Possible violations are described below:
Article -174. Copyright
Imprisonment for the term of up to 2-5 years
(The use or sharing of copyrighted files). A fine from 18,000 up to 23,000 USD
Article – 183. Pornography
Imprisonment for the term of up to 2-3 years
(The use of distribution of pornographic files). A fine from 18,000 up to 25,000 USD
Article – 184. Pornography involving children (under 18 years)
Imprisonment for the term of up to 10-15 years
(The use or distribution of pornographic files). A fine from 20,000 up to 40,000 USD
Article – 104. Promoting Terrorism
Imprisonment for the term of up to 25 years without appeal
(Visiting the websites of terrorist groups). A fine from 35,000 up to 45,000 USD
Article – 68. The distribution of virus programs
Imprisonment for the term of up to 2 years
(The development or distribution of virus programs, which have caused harm to other computers). A fine from 15,000 to 28,000 USD
To unlock your computer and to avoid other legal consequences you are obligated to pay a release fee of $300 USD.
An attempt to unlock this computer by yourself will lead to the full formatting of the operating system. All the files, videos, photos, documents on your computer will be deleted.

The ICE Cyber Crime Center lock screen is a scam, and you should ignore any alerts that this malicious software might generate.
Under no circumstance should you send any Greendot Moneypak code to these cyber criminals, and if you have, you can  should request a refund, stating that you are the victim of a computer virus and scam.

How to remove “ICE Cyber Crime Center” virus (Removal Guide)

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove the ICE Cyber Crime Center infection from your your computer. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point STOP and ask for our assistance.
The ICE Cyber Crime Center will start automatically when you login to your computer and display its screen-locker so that you are unable to access your computer, therefore we will need to remove this infection by using any of the below methods:
OPTION 1: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center lock screen virus with System Restore
OPTION 2: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center virus with with HitmanPro Kickstart
OPTION 3: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center virus with Kaspersky Rescue Disk

If you are using an Apple Mac OS X machine, then you will need to follow our Remove “Your Browser Has Been Blocked Up” from Apple Mac OS X removal guide.
If you are using an Android phone, then you will need to follow our Remove Police or FBI virus from Android phone (Removal Guide).

OPTION 1: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center lock screen virus with System Restore

System Restore helps you restore your computer’s system files to an earlier point in time. It’s a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos.
Because the ICE Cyber Crime Center virus will not allow you to start the computer in Windows regular mode, we will need to start System Restore from the Safe Mode with Command Prompt mode.

STEP 1: Restore Windows to a previous state using System Restore

  1. Reboot your computer into Safe Mode with Command Prompt. To do this, turn your computer off and then back on and immediately when you see anything on the screen, start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard.
    [Image: F8 key]
    If you are using Windows 8, the trick is to hold the Shift button and gently tap the F8 key repeatedly, this will sometimes boot you into the new advanced “recovery mode”, where you can choose to see advanced repair options. On the next screen, you will need to click on the Troubleshoot option, then select Advanced Options and select Windows Startup Settings. Click on the Restart button, and you should now be able to see the Advanced Boot Options screen.
  2. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter on your keyboard.
    [Image: Starting computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt]
  3. At the command prompt, type rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.
    [Image: Start System Restore to remove lock screen virus]
    Alternatively, if you are using Windows Vista, 7 and 8, you can type: C:\windows\system32\rstrui.exe , and press Enter. And if you are a Windows XP user, type C:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, then press Enter.
  4. System Restore should start, and you will display also a list of restore points. Try using a restore point created just before the date and time the ICE Cyber Crime Center lock screen virus has infected your computer.
    [Image: Restore settings to remove ransomware]
  5. When System Restore has completed its task, start your computer in Windows regular mode, and perform a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro, as seen in the next step.

STEP 2: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center malicious files with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free uses industry-leading technology to detect and remove all traces of malware, including worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware, and more.
It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware works well and should run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.

  1. You can download download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from the below link.
    MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)
  2. Once downloaded, close all programs, then double-click on the icon on your desktop named “mbam-setup-consumer-2.00.xx” to start the installation of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware setup program]
    Picture of User Account Control You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
  3. When the installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation process.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Setup Wizard]
    To install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on your machine, keep following the prompts by clicking the “Next” button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Final Setup Screen]
  4. Once installed, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program, and that a scan has never been run on your system. To start a system scan you can click on the “Fix Now” button.
    [Image: Click on the Fix Now button to start a scan]
    Alternatively, you can click on the “Scan” tab and select “Threat Scan“, then click on the “Scan Now” button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Threat Scan]
  5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now check for updates, and if there are any, you will need to click on the “Update Now” button.
    [Image: Click on Update Now to update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware]
  6. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for the pop-up virus. When Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is scanning it will look like the image below.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware while performing a scan]
  7. When the scan has completed, you will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has detected. To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes Anti-malware has found, click on the “Quarantine All” button, and then click on the “Apply Now” button.
    [Image: Remove the malware that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has found]
    Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
  8. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now quarantine all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. When removing the files, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot your computer, please allow it to do so.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware while removing viruses]
    After your computer will restart, you should open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and perform another “Threat Scan” scan to verify that there are no remaining threats

STEP 3: Double-check for the ICE Cyber Crime Center virus with HitmanPro

HitmanPro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security measures you have taken (such as anti virus software, firewalls, etc.). HitmanPro is designed to work alongside existing security programs without any conflicts. It scans the computer quickly (less than 5 minutes) and does not slow down the computer.

  1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
  2. Double-click on the file named “HitmanPro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “HitmanPro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows). When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below.
    [Image: HitmanPro start-up screen]
    Click on the “Next” button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.
    [Image: HitmanPro setup options]
  3. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for any malicious files that may be on your machine.
    [Image: HitmanPro scanning for malware]
  4. When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the “Next” button, to remove any virus that has been found.
    [Image: HitmanPro scan results]
  5. Click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
    [Image: HitmanPro Activate Free License]

OPTION 2: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center virus with with HitmanPro Kickstart

If you cannot start your computer into Safe Mode with Command Prompt mode, we can use the HitmanPro Kickstart program to bypass ICE Cyber Crime Center lock screen.
As the ICE Cyber Crime Center ransomware infection locks you out of your computer, you will need to create a bootable USB drive that contains the HitmanPro Kickstart program.
We will then boot your computer using this bootable USB drive and use it to clean the infection so that you are able to access Windows normally again.
You will also need a USB drive, which will have all of its data erased and will then be formatted. Therefore, only use a USB drive that does not contain any important data.

  1. Using a “clean” (non-infected) computer, please download HitmanPro Kickstart from the below link.
    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro Kickstart)
  2. Once HitmanPro has been downloaded, please insert the USB flash drive that you would like to erase and use for the installation of HitmanPro Kickstart. Then double-click on the file named HitmanPro.exe (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or HitmanPro_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows).
    To create a bootable HitmanPro USB drive, please follow the instructions from this video:
  3. Now, remove the HitmanPro Kickstart USB drive and insert it into the ICE Cyber Crime Center infected computer.
  4. Once you have inserted the HitmanPro Kickstart USB drive, turn off the infected computer and then turn it on. As soon as you power it on, look for text on the screen that tells you how to access the boot menu.
    [Image: Windows Boot Menu screens]
    The keys that are commonly associated with enabling the boot menu are F10, F11 or F12.
  5. Once you determine the proper key (usually the F11 key) that you need to press to access the Boot Menu, restart your computer again and start immediately tapping that key. Next, please perform a scan with HitmanPro Kickstart as shown in the video below.
  6. HitmanPro will now reboot your computer and Windows should start normally. Then please Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro, and scan your computer for any left over infections.

OPTION 3: Remove ICE Cyber Crime Center virus with Kaspersky Rescue Disk

If any of the above methods did not clean your infected computer, we can use a Kaspersky Rescue Disk Bootable to clean the Windows registry and to perform a system scan to remove the ICE Cyber Crime Center virus.
To create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk, we will need the following items:

  • A clean (non-infected) computer with Internet access
  • A blank DVD or CD
  • A computer with a DVD or CD burner

STEP 1: Download and create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk CD

  1. You can download Kaspersky Rescue Disk utility from link below:
    KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download Kaspersky Rescue Disk (kav_rescue_10.iso) on your computer.)
  2. To create the bootable rescue disk, we will need to use the ImgBurn program. You can download ImgBurn from the below link, then install this program.
    IMGBURN DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new page from where you can download the ImgBurn program)
  3. Insert your blank DVD or CD in your burner, then start ImgBurn and click on the Write image file to disc button.
  4. Under Source click on the Browse for file button, then navigate to the location where you previously saved the Kaspersky Rescue Disk utility (kav_rescue_10.iso), then click on the Write button.
    [Image: Bootable Kaspersky Rescue CD]
    That’s it, ImgBurn will now begin writing your bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk.

STEP 2: Start your computer using the Kaspersky Rescue Disk

  1. Once you’ve got the Kasperky Rescue Disk in hand, insert it into the infected computer, and turn off and then turn it on again.
  2. As soon as you power it on, you will see a screen that tells you to press any key to enter the menu, so please tap any key to boot your machine from the Kaspersky Rescue Disk.
    [Image: Starting infected computer from Kaspersky Rescue Disk]
  3. In the next screen, you will need to chose a language, then you click on Kaspersky Rescue Disk. Graphic Mode and press ENTER, to start the Kaspersky Rescue Disk.[Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk Graphic Mode screen]

STEP 3: Scan your system with Kaspersky Rescue Disk

  1. Within a few short seconds you should see the full working environment, with the Kaspersky Rescue Disk screen front and center as shown below.
    [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk scanner]
  2. Switch tabs over to the My Update Center, and then click the Start update button to load the latest anti-virus definitions. Please be patience while this process its completed.
    [Image: Updating Kaspersky Rescue Disk antivirus definitions]
  3. Switch back over to the Objects Scan tab, select the drives you want to scan, and then click the Start Objects Scan button.
    [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk scan]
  4. When Kaspersky Antivirus will detect the ICE Cyber Crime Center virus, you’ll be prompted to select an action. When this happens, please select Quarantine or Delete to remove this infection from your computer.
    [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk prompt]
  5. When the antivirus scan has completed, you can restart back into Windows regular mode, by clicking on the Kaspersky Start button [Image: Kaspersky Rescue Disk Restart button] (lower left corner), and selecting Restart.
    Once your computer will start in Windows regular more, download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro, and scan your computer for any left over infections.
Your computer should now be free of the “The ICE Cyber Crime Center” virus. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove “The ICE Cyber Crime Center” ransomware from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.

10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams

Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.

  1. Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.

    warning sign

    Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).

    If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.

  2. Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.

    updates guide

    Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.

    If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.

  3. Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.

    shield guide

    Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.

    If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.

  4. Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.

    install guide

    Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.

    If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.

  5. Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.

    cursor sign

    Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.

    If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.

  6. Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.

    trojan horse

    Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.

    If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.

  7. Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.

    lock sign

    Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.

    If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.

  8. Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).

    lock sign

    Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.

    If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.

  9. Back up important files and keep one backup offline.

    backup sign

    Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.

    If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.

  10. If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.

    warning sign

    Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.

    • Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
    • Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
    • Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
    • Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
    • Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
    • Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
    • Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.

These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.

68 thoughts on “The ICE Cyber Crime Center – Virus Removal Guide”

  5. OMG!! You really are the best, Stelian. This is the second time I have turned to your blog for assistance and you never disappoint!! I used option #2 above to get rid of this creepy trojan and it worked like a charm!! Thank you soooooo much for your good work. You are really making a difference for a lot of laymen like me. You’re the bomb, bro……..

  6. Thank you so much. I use option 1, but after I click safe mode with command prompt ,the system try to boost but this virus is always went back to window start page . So ,I hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete then task manager , when you back on the main page before Virus load up you have 1 min or less to do system restore ,so I did that several times before system restore kicked in . Now my PC is back to normal. Thank again for your info.

  7. Hey guys! So I had the variant that blocked the safe mode with prompt method but accidentally found something else that worked, although not intended.
    I am an avid online gamer so I have a lot of stuff that loads up upon restart (Steam, Curse, etc). It seems this virus does not “initiate” the block until everything is loaded up. When I realized that my computer was not loading up in safe mode, I went to system restore as fast as I could and initiated the system restore before everything else had loaded in.
    What happened was, as soon as the computer went into restore mode it looked like the virus was trying to assert itself but the sysrestore process locked it out. The system restored successfully and I did not even have any traces of the virus left after both a Hitman and Malwarebytes scan.
    I know this is not a “good” fix, but it worked without having to use alternate boot methods.
    Thanks for the info though and this thing is nasty!

  8. Thank you. Went with the HitmanPro Kickstart option & followed instructions w/100% successs. Your the MAN! Thanks.

  11. Another method, if you have another PC, is to remove the infected HD and use an adapter to connect it to an uninfected PC with virus scan ability. Run a custom scan on the suspect HD. It may, or may not, find the infection, depending on the virus scan ability to detect it.

  12. Thank You!!!! I have been here all day trying to get rid of the ICE malware. Tried many websites for their solution but none had work until OPTION 2. It was not easy as the videos made it seemed but with patience and re-trial it has finally work!!! First, the Hitman was not functioning well so I tried another USB. It finally uploaded but the scan would not get passed 16% and it terminated it (3 times it did this). I had it to a quick scan instead and found one thing that did not seemed like a malware but when ahead and delete it. After that, my laptop started up normally without the blocked screen and so decided to do a full scan again with Hitman and this time it did finished the scan and found many malware. Deleted everything so hopefully Hitman did remove all of the malware. Thank you so much!! My files are saved!!

  13. I tried to use the hitmanpro USB option but to scan it needs to use the internet to which I can’t access due to ice. What can I do?

  15. Just finished following your instructions and poof!!!!! All normal again. You have helped so many of us we thank you!!!

  16. The second step worked for me, and I confirmed it with HitmanPro. Thank you so much. The Ice Cyber Crime Center malicious files was bad! Appreciate your help.

  17. The Kaspersky disc runs but does not locate the virus. Any other options, the two other suggested ones did not work either

  19. Ran malwarebytes the first time as a full scan and it found nothing. Then I ran it again as a quickscan and it found the malware. I ran Hitman as a back up and it too found the same virus. Removed from both programs and restarted. Back to normal. Thanks!

Comments are closed.

Previous

Remove Netmahal Search (Removal Guide)

Next

Australian Federal Police – Virus Removal Guide