Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software

If your website is blocked by a message that says Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software it means you are infected with malware that wants to steal your money. This threat enters your system via Trojan infection, spam email attachments or corrupted websites. Once it gets installed, it changes your hosts file, by adding a list of websites into it and connects it to a malicious IP address. It means that each time you try to access a particular website that is on that list, you are redirected to the per-determined IP address that displays the previously mentioned fake message. The message reads as follows:

Access Restricted!
Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software.
To restore normal browsing, press "unlock" below. Once verified you can download our unlocker.

When you click on the unlock button with a survey that insists you need to prove that you are human. In a sense Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software is similar to Why do I see this page Virus, because both infections blocks popular website access and then asks you to fill out a survey. Once you have completed the survey, you will be charged $5 each week, and it is more than obvious that it is a service you are better off without.

While Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software remains in your system, you will not be able to access Facebook, eBay, imdb, tumblr, Google, paypal, amazon, and many other popular websites that users visit every single day. Although the main target of this infection is your money, it also means that your computer may be infected with other malware that could seriously damage your PC and steal your personal information.

Aside from the fact that Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software is absolutely annoying, it also poises a number of security risks and you need to avoid them by removing the malware from your computer. To remove Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software, follow the instructions below:

How to restore your hosts file

1. Double-click My Computer and open Local Disk (C:).
2. Go to Windows and click System32.
3. When you open it, click-open drivers folder and go to etc folder.
4. Locate hosts file and open it with Notepad.
5. For Windows XP: There should be only one line at the bottom of your hosts file: 127.0.0.1 localhost. For Windows Vista & Windows 7 and Windows 8 there should be two lines: 127.0.0.1 localhost and ::11 localhost.
6. Delete everything that is below the lines mentioned above and save changes.

How to reset your browser settings

Instructions for Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+X and click Internet Options.
2. Select Advanced tab and click Reset.
3. Select Delete personal settings on Reset Internet Explorer settings dialog menu.
4. Press Reset.
5. When the reset is complete and press Close.
6. Click OK and restart the browser.

Instructions for Mozilla Firefox

1. Press the orange Firefox button and select Help.
2. Click Troubleshooting information.
3. New tab will open. Click Reset Firefox on the right.
4. Press Reset Firefox again and press Finish when the reset is complete.
5. Restart the browser.

Instructions for Google Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and click Settings.
2. Go to Users and press Delete this user.
3. Restart your browser.

Once manual removal is complete, you need to take care of the remaining infections that are definitely plaguing your PC. Run a full system scan with SpyHunter free scanner and then delete all the malware that has been detected. Invest in a powerful antimalware tool if need be.