The Windows Defender security warning that might randomly pop up on your screen while you’re browsing is a type of malware that wants you to trick into contacting scammers, also known as phishing. You can get infected with it by visiting a suspicious website, clicking on a malicious link, or simply having adware on your computer.
Luckily, you can easily get rid of it. In this article, you’ll learn how toremove Windows Defender security warning scamfrom your computer once and for all. Additionally, you’ll get some useful tips on how to protect yourself from other viruses.
How to remove the Windows Defender scam?
- Reset your browser’s settings or reinstall it
- Scan your computer for malicious software
- For scans, use a reputable antivirus tool
What is the Windows Defender security warning?
Windows Defender security warning is a type ofscarewareor aphishing scam.
It redirects you to a page that looks like the official Microsoft website, even though its URL suggests otherwise. The pagewill display a message that your computer has been infected with malware(Trojan, for example) and that you need to contact a customer support agent by phone so that they could fix the problem.
One thing you should know about the Windows Defender Security warning is thatit looks like a legit message by Windows, and that’s why it’s so dangerous – many users might not even bat an eye and try to google about it.
It is a common tactic of scammers – making a pop-up look as legitimate as possible so that people would not suspect anything bad.
In any case, the telephone number is most likely to direct you to ascam call centerwhere an agent will either try to infect your computer withmalware, steal your personal information, or demand you pay money for fake services.
| Name | Windows Defender/Security Warning message |
| Type | Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud |
| Devices | Any device with a web browser, but Windows devices are obviously more targeted |
| Symptoms | Fake error messages, fake warnings, pop-up errors, fake scans |
| Damage | Loss of sensitive information, identity theft, monetary loss, possible further infections |
Why I am seeing the Windows Defender security warning?
There could be a few different reasons why you’re seeing the Windows Defender security warning. Here are some of the possible ones:
- You visited a compromised websitethat redirected you to the scam page
- You clicked an adthat redirected you to the fake website
- You have malicious adwareinstalled on your device
In any case, simply closing the window might not solve the problem, as, once it appears, the pop-up message might show up every single time you open your browser.
How to remove Windows Defender security warning pop-ups
As the Windows Defender security warning isbrowser-based, most of the steps you should take to get rid of it are also related to your browser. Here are the possible measures you can take to make the warning disappear:
- Force close and reopen your browser
- If you still get redirected to the scam page,reset the browser’s settings(more instructions below), or completelyreinstall the browser
- If this still occurs, you might haveadware or some kind of a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program)installed on your computer and need to remove it
If you are unsure which one of the installed apps causes this behavior, an antiviruscan detect that for you and remove it from your computer.
Remove Windows Defender security warning from your browser
Resetting the browser settings is one of the first things you should do if you want to get rid of the Windows Defender Security warning scam. Below you will find the instructions on how to do it on different browsers.
Remove Windows Defender pop-up from Chrome
1. Click on thethree dots at the top right corner
2. Choose“Settings”
3. Click“Advanced ”in the bottom left of the window.
4. Press”Reset and clean up”
5. Choose“Restore settings to their original defaults”
6. Click“Reset settings”
Remove Windows Defender pop-up from Microsoft Edge
1. Click onthe three dots
2. Open“Settings”
3. Press on“Reset settings”
4. Click“Restore settings to their default values”
5. Press“Reset”
Pressing reset will rid your browser of this scam.
How can I protect my PC against viruses?
Eveb after you Remove Windows Defender security warning scam is not the only virus you can get on your computer. There are lots of even bigger threats on the internet, and you should take every precaution to avoid them.
Here are the basic measures to protect your device against viruses:
- Don’t click on random linkswithout knowing where they will lead you to
- Don’t download suspicious applications
- Keep your OS and all the software updated
- Don’t open suspicious emails (learn to identify them here)or their attachments
- Use an adblockerto block malicious ads
- Use an antivirusto help you identify and remove threats
Conclusion
While, as a program,Windows Defenderis a legit one, the security warning that appears on your browser is not. In fact,this seemingly harmless pop-up can do a lot of damage if you click on it or decide to call the number it displays. Thankfully, there are a few ways to get rid of it without causing any harm to your device. The most effective ones are restoring your browser settings and scanning the computer with areputable antivirus tool. Afterward, you should also make sure that you don’t get infected with malware again. This means practicing internet hygiene (e.g., avoiding suspicious websites) and getting a good antimalware tool that would prevent such threats in the first place.
