Table of Contents
Introduction
Fake virus alerts are becoming very common nowadays, and they make surfing the web less convenient and useful than it should be; one such example of a fake virus alert is the “Zeus Virus,” which hijacks and locks web browsers until the user takes some action. The Zeus Virus is designed by hackers to scare people into taking immediate action, through which they can take advantage of your situation and get a hold of your personal information or data.

What is the Zeus Virus?
The Zeus Virus is a popup window that appears on your screen if you visit a website infected with a virus; that popup window displays a text message that differs slightly between web browsers. This virus steals personal data from computers, and the users should remain cautious so that they can remove this malware at once.
Users are encouraged by the virus to contact the Microsoft Technical Department through a given toll-free number; however, this is a scam that contains a fake number and message. This message also has nothing to do with Microsoft and is meant solely to exploit users’ trust.
The falsity of this message is proven as it states that “Windows has detected,” while windows cannot detect anything like that on your Mac or PC. You should close the window and make sure never to visit that website again.
What Does It Do to Your Computer?
The Zeus Virus does not damage the computer, and all the information that appears on the BSOD locked screen is false.

The Zeus Trojan Virus does not even exist when it comes to Mac. You will only be under threat due to this virus if you try to call or communicate with the false tech support through the number or details provided on the false popup alert. The fake warning and the plug-in extension are the key issues, and they are almost impossible to avoid.
The plug-in will keep on redirecting the Internet browser to the fraudulent site; the whole point of this is to pressurize the user to dial the telephone number provided to talk to their “technicians.” These technicians will tell you that the only way to avoid any damage to your computer is by paying them money.
Signs that Your Computer is Infected by the Zeus Virus
The Zeus Virus is not hard to miss; MAC users who get the Zeus virus will have a BSOD-style lock screen, which is also known as the blue screen of death. This lock screen has an extensive list of process names and timestamps that are meant to scare off the users.
A popup appears under this virus, which states: “Do not restart the computer” and “Windows has detected a Zeus Virus.” The popup will prompt the user to call the technicians on a given telephone number and will ask for a code (mentioned on the alert) through which the technicians will fix the problem.
Zeus Virus Detected Popup Appeared – What Should You Do Now?
You should close the window and carry on with your day if the Zeus Virus Alert pops up on your screen after visiting a certain website. Make sure that you do not visit that particular website again. You would need to Quit or Force Quit the website browser if the fake virus prevents it from being closed easily, as they are generally persistent. You can choose the option to reopen all of your previously closed tabs or windows once you have restarted the computer. This is what you should do:
- Clear out your entire browser history and restart your browser
- Remove any browser extensions that seem suspicious to you
- Reinstall or completely uninstall your browser
If you are unable to Force Quit the browser for any particular reason, then restart your computer while ignoring any fake warnings that tell you not to restart your computer.
Steps on How to Remove the Virus
Since the Zeus virus is a fake alert and not a virus, there is nothing that needs removing. It is, however, possible that if you click on the alert, the link may download malware onto your computer; therefore, you should never click on the link on any popup window.

Removing Zeus Virus from Mac
In case you have clicked on it already, there are a few ways you can use it to remove it. You can use different types of anti-virus programs that are useful for removing MAC malware, which can allow the threat to be removed simply with just a few clicks. This is what you should do:
- Download the program, which is usually available for free on the developer’s site,
- Launch the program from your applications folder,
- Now choose the Malware Removal Tool,
- Press Scan and then wait as it scans your computer,
- Then remove any malware if found.
Once you have clicked on “Remove,” the Malware Removal Tool will get rid of any possible malware that may be on your MAC.
Removing Zeus Virus from Windows
To remove the Zeus virus alert from your windows operating system, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.
- Uninstall the program which is malicious from windows
- You can then scan your windows system for malware or other possible viruses using an anti-virus program
- Then reset your browser settings to the default or original
- Shut down or computer and then restart
Tips to Prevent Reoccurrence
There are a few things that help avoid the reoccurrence of this virus. The best method of prevention you can adopt is to be careful when visiting these types of websites.
You should also prevent any sites that seem suspicious to you like an mp3 downloading site or sites that claim to distribute anything for free; This can include free software downloads or application bundles, etc. Refrain from visiting any website which does not seem right or looks suspicious.
Final Thoughts
The name of the Zeus Virus can easily scare people into submission when the warning window pops up; however, if you are aware of how to handle this situation, you can easily counter it by closing the window or by restarting your computer. The good news is that you have nothing to fear from the Zeus Virus, and you should always prioritize your cybersecurity and guard all your private and personal information.
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