Removal guide Ransomware

Remove FBI “Your PC is blocked” virus (Removal Instructions)

By Stelian10 min read

The FBI MoneyPak Ransomware is a computer virus, which will display a bogus alert, that pretends to be from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and states that your computer has been blocked due to it being involved with the distribution of pornographic material, SPAM and copyrighted content.
The FBI 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 100$ in the form of a MoneyPak code.
Furthermore, to make this alert seem more authentic, this virus also has the ability to access your installed webcam so that the alert shows what is happening in the room.

Advertisements

If your computer is infected with FBI virus,then you are seeing any of the below screens:

The bogus notification from the FBI will display the following message:

The FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation

ATTENTION!
IP: xxx.xxx.xxx
Location: Your Country Here
IPS: Your ISP Here

Your PC is blocked due to at least one of the reasons specified below.

You have been violation Copyright and Related Rights Law (Video, Music, Software) and illegally using or distributing copyrighted content, thus infringing Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, also known as the Copyright of the Criminal Code of United States of America.

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of two to five hundred minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty for two to eight years.

You have been viewing or distributing prohibited Pornographic content (Child Porno, Zoofilia and etc). Thus violating article 202 of the Criminal Code of United States of America. Article 202 of the Criminal Code provides for a deprivation of liberty for four to twelve years.

Illegal access has been initiated from your PC without your knowledge or consent, your PC may be infected by malware, thus you are violating the law of Neglectful Use of Personal Computer. Article 210 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to $100,000 and/or a deprivation of liberty for four to nine years.

Pursuant to the amendment to the Criminal Code of United States of America of May 28, 2011, this law infringement (if it is not repeated – first time) may be considered as conditional in case you pay the fine to the State.

Fines may be paid within 72 hours after the infringement. As soon as 72 hours elapse, the possibility to pay the fine expires, and a criminal case is initiated against you automatically within the next 72 hours!

To unblock the computer, you must pay the fine through MoneyPak of 100$.

The FBI notification is a scam, and you should ignore any alert that this malicious software might generate.
Under no circumstance should you send any money via MoneyPak to these cyber criminals, as this could lead to identity theft,and if you have, you can request a refund from MoneyPak stating that the payment was due to a scam and a computer virus.

Advertisements

FBI MoneyPak Virus Removal Guide

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove the FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked will start automatically when you login to your computer and display its screenlocker 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 FBI Computer Locked lock screen virus with System Restore
OPTION 2: Remove FBI Computer Locked virus with with HitmanPro Kickstart
OPTION 3: Remove FBI Computer Locked virus with Kaspersky Rescue Disk

OPTION 1: Remove FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked 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.

Advertisements

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 FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked malicious files with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Even after using System Restore,

  1. You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link, then double-click on the icon named mbam-setup.exe to install this program.
    Download MalwarebytesFree official installer. Your download starts right away.
  2. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process, then at the last screen click on the Finish button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]
  3. On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan, and then click on the Scan button to start searching for the FBI Computer Locked malicious files.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]
  4. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for FBI Computer Locked virus as shown below.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanning for FBI Computer Locked
  5. When the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan has finished, click on the Show Results button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]
  6. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the computer infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected. Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked), then click on the Remove Selected button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malwar removing FBI Computer Locked  virus]

STEP 3: Double-check for the FBI Computer Locked virus with HitmanPro

  1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
    Download HitmanProOfficial Sophos download. Free scan, free 30-day trial to remove threats.
  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.
    HitmanPro scanner
    Click on the Next button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.
    HitmanPro installation
  3. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for FBI Computer Locked malicious files.
    HitmanPro detecting for FBI Computer Locked  virus
  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 FBI Computer Locked virus.
    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 30 days activation button]

Advertisements

OPTION 2: Remove FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked lock screen.
As the FBI Computer Locked 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.
    Download HitmanProOfficial Sophos download. Free scan, free 30-day trial to remove threats.
  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 FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked 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:
    Download Kaspersky Rescue DiskOpens the download page in a new tab.
  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.
    Download ImgBurnOpens the download page in a new tab.
  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]
Advertisements

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 FBI Computer Locked 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 FBI Computer Locked infection. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future, and perform regular computer scans with HitmanPro.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove FBI Computer Locked Ukash virus from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.

Finish the cleanup. Keep protection on.

Follow the removal steps above, then consider ongoing protection against malicious software and unwanted advertising.

Affiliate links We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How we’re funded

MalwarebytesSCAM & MALWARE PROTECTION

Go beyond a one-time scan.

Malwarebytes can detect and remove malware and unwanted programs. Premium Security adds real-time protection against new threats.

  • Scam Guard for suspicious messages
  • Real-time malware protection with Premium
Explore MalwarebytesExplore features on the official website
AdGuardAD & TRACKER BLOCKING

Reduce unwanted ads and redirects.

AdGuard filters ads and trackers while you browse. It can help reduce exposure to advertising that sends you to unwanted pages.

  • Blocks intrusive ads and pop-ups
  • Filters trackers while you browse
Explore AdGuardExplore features on the official website

Features vary by device and plan. These tools add protection; they do not guarantee that a website or offer is trustworthy.

Join the discussion

49 comments

Share your experience or ask a question about this article.

Discussion

  1. Harold Simmons

    Very informative and most of the tools used are free. Great job!

    ReplyReport
  2. Adam Simonow

    Thanks a lot for this info my mom had this on her computer and I did a lot of searching but nothing worked..except this site..running rstrui.exe is a useful tool I had no idea about..Thanks again for saving her the money we were going to pay to have this removed.. I will save this site

    ReplyReport
  3. Don Nabhani

    hi. idk if i solved the problem or not.. i used avast anti virus boot time scan and i managed to use my pc now .. but is my pc safe ?

    ReplyReport
    1. Stelian Pilici

      In reply to Don Nabhani

      Hello,
      If you can normally login into your computer, and if you have performed the HitmanPro and Malwarebytes scan, then your computer should be clean!
      Stay safe!

      ReplyReport
  4. Stelian Pilici

    Hello,
    It looks like this infection is not allowing you to start in Safe Mode. In this case I recommend that you try to create a bootable HitmanPro USB or a Kaspersky Rescue Disk as seen in this article.

    If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove this infection, you can start a thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum: http://malwaretips.com/Forum-Malware-Removal-Assistance
    Stay safe!

    ReplyReport
  5. Jenna

    Thank you for your help! I was able to remove the FBI virus in less than ten minutes through safe mode command prompt. I’m flabbergasted that I could remove this virus myself.

    ReplyReport
  6. tanner

    another way to do it is to go to safe mode command prompt and go to control panel and make a new user then get on with them and download and use malwarebytes

    ReplyReport
  7. Todd Miller

    Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to create these instructions. They worked well and were easy to follow. Thanks again.

    ReplyReport
    1. bertmeister

      In reply to max

      thank you very much for this information. I followed the instructions, had to use method 2 and everything worked great. Thanks again!

      ReplyReport
  8. Amy

    Mine keeps going to the Windows Error Recovery screen and then tries to launch startup repair. It is a repeating cycle and won’t let me run the Hitman Pro program. This virus is bad and I’m so frustrated because I keep hitting a dead end. :(

    ReplyReport
  9. chuckm37

    Here is a trick I use often in working on Virus infected machines. It worked for me recently when I found The FBI virus had blocked access to Safe mode with or without networking, Safe mode with command prompt still worked. Boot into safe mode with command prompt and enter “explorer” in the prompt and press enter. Explorer starts windows in safe mode at that point. Close the command prompt window, access the control panel->User Accounts. Add a new user with admin privledges and do a normal reboot. Use the new user Id to login and run a deep virus scan (I use Avast Boot scan) to clean up the virus. Works for most viruses I have found and it is simple.

    ReplyReport
  10. Bert

    I used the hitmanpro but it does not pick anything up (stays green) when restart virus still there HELP!

    This virus asks for $300 – it seems more than what I’ve seen. Does that mean it is a newer more robust/not easily picked up variety?

    ReplyReport
    1. Stelian PiliciTeam

      In reply to Bert

      Hello Bert,
      Can you boot your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and type msconfig in the Command prompt. This should start the Windows System Configuration tool. Go to the Start-up tab, and search for any suspicious or unknonw entries (random numbers or letter, ctfmon.exe and other suspicious entries) and uncheck them from start-up. Next boot your computer in regular mode and perform a scan with HitmanPro and Malwarebytes as seen on the guide.
      And then perform a scan with the following tools:
      STEP 1: Run a scan with RogueKiller

      1. Please download the latest official version of RogueKiller.
        RogueKiller Download Link (This link will automatically download RogueKiller on your computer)
      2. Double click on RogueKiller.exe to start this utility and then wait for the Prescan to complete.This should take only a few seconds and then you can click the Scan button to perform a system scan.
      3. After the scan has completed, press the Delete button to remove any malicious registry keys.

      STEP 2: Run a scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.

      1. Please download the latest official version of Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
        EMSISOFT EMERGENCY KIT DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Emsisoft Emergency Kit)
      2. After the download process will finish , you’ll need to unpack EmsisoftEmergencyKit.zip and then double click on EmergencyKitScanner.bat
      3. A pop-up will prompt you to update Emsisoft Emergency Kit , please click the “Yes” button.After the Update process has completed , put the mouse cursor over the “Menu” tab on the left and click-on “Scan PC“.
      4. Select “Smart scan” and click-on the below “SCAN” button.When the scan will be completed , you will be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Emsisoft Emergency Kit has detected.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the ‘Quarantine selected objects‘ button.
      ReplyReport
      1. Bert

        In reply to Stelian Pilici

        Thanks for the quick reply – I cannot get the pc to start with command prompt – it goes to a blue screen with lots of garbage and a message about physical memory dump.

        Report
        1. Stelian PiliciTeam

          In reply to Bert

          Hello,
          It sounds like you have a very nasty rootkit on this machine.Can you try to create a HitmanPro Kickstart USB as see on the guide?
          If it still doesn’t work,you’ll need to create a Kaspersky Rescue CD as seen HERE: http://malwaretips.com/blogs/anonymous-virus/ , on Method 2.
          If everything fails, then you’ll need to create an account on our forums and a member of the staff will help you (with more advanced tools) to remove this nasty virus: http://malwaretips.com/Forum-Malware-Removal-Assistance
          Good Luck!

          Report
  11. CLiF co.

    I am attempting to create the HitmanPro.Kickstart USB flash drive from HitmanPro website and get an error message: “#112, copy”. I have clicked retry several times on two different flash drives. What am I doing wrong?

    ReplyReport
  12. Glenn

    You are very good. The other websites I went to often underestimated the power of the FBI virus, by treating it like an easy fix–as though the virus had not completely disabled everything–or else they suggested solutions that only a computer pro could have used. But I am no computer pro and the virus is horrible. I could not use the first two of your three methods to get rid of the lock screen. The virus would not let me go into safe mode (or maybe MS was too incompetent to) and I could not do a restore because my Windows has never let me set a restore point. The solution had to come from outside, and you knew when the others did not. HitmanPro really did the trick. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyReport
  13. ENRIQUE

    Thank you. My computer is up and running well once again. It’s pretty sad that you buy an anti-virus and it doesn’t run when you install the cd. After uninstalling the antivirus, WHAM, my computer has a virus. When I call tech support, they tell me they can fix my computer for a “reasonable” fee. Wrong answer. Thanks again for your help. I’ll be cheering on Barca to win the Copa Del Rey !!

    ReplyReport
  14. jen

    You have been a life saver. Running the malwarebytes scan now. I’m so glad this is FREE another site tried to get $85 with me doing the work.
    Thank you so much

    ReplyReport
  15. Just stuck

    I have been working all morning trying to fix virus. I downloaded the malware onto a thumbdrive and followed the steps of opening system in safe mode with command prompt, conducted cd restore and rstrui.exe, went back to reboot system in windows normal and before I could run a system scan, got a white screen. I am so sick of seeing this white screen. Please help if anyone can.

    Flustrated! Yes I spelled it correctly….

    ReplyReport
    1. Stelian PiliciTeam

      In reply to Just stuck

      Hello,
      Start your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt, and type msconfig in the Command prompt. This should start the Windows System Configuration tool. Go to the Start-up tab, and search for any suspicious or unknonw entries (random numbers or letter, ctfmon.exe and other suspicious entries) and uncheck them from start-up. Next boot your computer in regular mode and perform a scan with HitmanPro and Malwarebytes as seen on the guide.
      Good Luck!

      ReplyReport
  16. Lynn

    The “virus” only seems to have infected one of the users on my computer. When I hit the F8 key upon re-starting my computer, the up and down keys do not move the highlighted area off of “open normally” or something like that. Since the other users are operating ok, can I download the Malwarebytes and/or Hitman Pro from one of them and go from there?

    ReplyReport
    1. Stelian PiliciTeam

      In reply to Lynn

      Hello Lynn,
      Is any of them an Administrator account? Go ahead and perform the scan and see if they manage to remove the infection.

      ReplyReport

Report a comment

Reports are private and reviewed by a moderator.

Written by

Stelian

Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.

61,116 articlesWriting since 2011
More from Stelian →

MalwareTips community · since 2009

Stuck on a step? 75,000+ members can help you for free.

Post your question on the forum and our volunteer malware removal experts will walk you through it, step by step.

75K+members
999K+forum messages
100K+forum topics
17+years online

Previous

Remove MAGYAR RENDŐRSÉG virus (Removal Guide)

Next

Remove File Restore (TUTORIAL)

Share