Win 7 Protection 2014: what it is and how to remove it
Win 7 Protection 2014 is a rogue anti-spyware program that may show up on your computer without downloading it there. If you noticed its scanners and alerts saying that your computer is seriously infected and that you have to purchase its licensed version for eliminating them, it means that your PC is infected.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
An automatic scan can look at hunter.exe and the other programs installed around the same time.
Do it yourself · free Remove Win 7 Protection 2014 yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Win 7 Protection 2014: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Win 7 Protection 2014 |
| Type | Rogue antivirus |
| Symptoms | An unknown process in Task Manager |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 4 more facts
| Files and processes | hunter.exe |
|---|---|
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
| First seen | 26 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Win 7 Protection 2014 a real security program?
- File:
hunter.exe
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
What is Win 7 Protection 2014?
Win 7 Protection 2014 is a rogue anti-spyware program that may show up on your computer without downloading it there.
If you noticed its scanners and alerts saying that your computer is seriously infected and that you have to purchase its licensed version for eliminating them, it means that your PC is infected. If that is the case, the most important thing is to ignore Win 7 Protection 2014 alerts and system scanners that typically report about a long list of invented but seriously-looking viruses.
Keep in mind that this program has no virus data base, so it is not capable of detecting trojans, adwares, other rogues and similar cyber threats. If you run it on two different computers, you would clearly see that it shows the same alerts and reports about the same viruses.
In addition, Win 7 Protection 2014 is scareware that seeks to make people purchase its licensed version. That's why it says that you have to purchase its licensed version if you want to fix your computer. Of course, that's just a scheme used for stealing people's money. For that you can use any of programs that are given below.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
How can Win 7 Protection 2014 infect my computer?
Just like Win 7 Antivirus 2014, Win 7 Protection 2014 virus is mostly spread using fake pop-up notifications offering people to check their computers for free.
Note that such ads may show up either on illegal or on legitimate websites, so you should be very careful. In addition, you may get infected with this virus thru spam. If you received an email that tries to convince you to download its attachment, you should double check the sender.
Also, look for typo or grammar mistakes because they can easily show you which mail is fake and used for spreading such viruses as Win 7 Protection 2014. Just as its name suggests, this programs seeks to infect Windows systems. If you are using Windows 7, then you should be very careful with this rogue. The clearest sign showing that your computer was affected is such and similar notifications:
If you think that your PC was affected by this rogue anti-spyware, you should ignore its alerts and NEVER pay for Win 7 Protection 2014 license. We say so because by making a payment you may not only give your money to scammers.
You may also reveal your credit card information and other personal data to them. Please, if you are suffering from fake alerts and system scanners, follow a guide below and remove Win 7 Protection 2014 virus without wasting your time.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Win 7 Protection 2014
- Win 7 Protection 2014 has blocked a program from accessing the internet This program is infected with Trojan-BNK.Win32.Keylogger.gen Private data can be stolen by third parties, including credit card details and passwords.
How to remove Win 7 Protection 2014
Nothing it reports is real.
These steps remove it and undo a payment if you made one.
Step 1: Do not pay, and undo a payment if you made one
Win 7 Protection 2014 reports problems to sell a licence: the "threats" or "errors" it lists are invented or harmless leftovers.
If you already paid, ask your card issuer to dispute the charge and cancel the subscription both in the seller's account and through your bank.
If you called a phone number it showed and let someone connect, treat the PC as remotely accessed and remove the remote tool. Uninstalling it from Windows 11 or Windows 10 does not cancel a subscription by itself.
Full procedure with screenshots: What to do after paying a scammer
Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Win 7 Protection 2014. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Whatever Win 7 Protection 2014 installed usually starts with Windows.
Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10, and disable what you do not know, starting with entries that have an empty Publisher column.
Open file location on the right-click menu shows the file, which helps you decide and tells you what to delete later. Disabling is safe: if something you need stops working, switch it back on.
Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 4: Delete the folders left behind
What the uninstaller leaves behind is usually in the user folders. Open File Explorer, switch on View > Show > Hidden items (in Windows 10 View > Hidden items), and go through
%LocalAppData%,%AppData%, %ProgramData% and the two Program Files folders.Sort by Date modified and delete folders that appeared together with the problem and belong to no program you use. Folders with random names that hold
.exe,.dll, .js or .ps1 files are the strongest sign.Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
How to remove Win 7 Protection 2014?
If you want to remove Win 7 Protection 2014 from your computer, you should remember that we don't recommend you to use manual removal guide because that you can easily remove wrong files from your computer. If you need a detailed guide explaining how to do that, read this guide.
ATTENTION! If you can't download or launch any them, try these options:
1. USING SYSTEM RESTORE TO DISABLE VIRUS:
2. REBOOTING TO SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING:
3. CREATING GUEST ACCOUNT FOR SCANNING COMPUTER:
If you have another user (guest) account, you can try to run a full system scan from it. You just need to log into it and download for a full system scan. You can activate your guest account with a help of these steps:
4. USING ANOTHER PC FOR DOWNLOADING ANTI-SPYWARE:
- Click Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.
- As soon as Restore system files and settings window shows up, select Next.
- Choose the restore point that you want and click Next .
- Click Finish to confirm and wait until your PC reboots.
- Now download and run a full system scan after updating it.
- Restart your computer
- As soon as your computer becomes active, start pressing the F8 key continuously until you see Advanced Boot Options screen.
- Here, select Safe Mode with Networking (for that, use the arrow keys) and then hit Enter.
- Login as the same user as you were in normal Windows mode
- Now right click on IE or other browser's icon and select Run As or Run As administrator. Enter your Administrator account password (if needed).
- Enter this link to your address bar: https://www.2-spyware.com/download/hunter.exe and download a program on your desktop. Launch it to remove malicious files.
- Click Start -> Control Panel and select User Accounts and Family Safety.
- After a new window shows up, click on Add or Remove User Accounts -> Guest Account.
- Now click on Turn On button and restart your computer
- Now wait until you see Windows log on screen and select Guest account for downloading recommended anti-spyware.
- Take another computer that is not infected by this virus and download or on it.
- After completing the procedure, transfer this anti-malware to the CD/DVD, external drive, or USB flash drive.
- In the meanwhile, kill malicious processes on your infected computer. For that you can use this tutorial.
- Stick the device you used for transferring anti-spyware program to your infected PC and launch it.
Questions about Win 7 Protection 2014
Is hunter.exe safe?
It depends on where the file is and who signed it, not on the name. Open Task Manager, go to the Details tab, right-click hunter.exe and choose Open file location. A file inside Program Files or System32 with a valid digital signature from a known company is usually part of a legitimate program.
A file in AppData, Temp or ProgramData with no signature, especially one that restarts itself after you end it, is suspicious. If you cannot tie the process to anything you installed, uninstall recent unfamiliar programs and run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
Can I delete the hunter.exe file?
Only after you know what it belongs to. If hunter.exe is part of a program, uninstall that program through Settings instead, so its services and tasks go too. If it belongs to nothing and is unsigned, end the process, disable whatever starts it and then delete its folder.
Do not delete files from the Windows folder or files signed by Microsoft: those are part of the system, and removing them can stop Windows from starting. When in doubt, run a Microsoft Defender scan first and let it decide.
How do I know Win 7 Protection 2014 is fake?
Three things give it away. It appears as an unfamiliar process called hunter.exe in Task Manager, a window from a program rather than from Windows Security. It pushes you to act quickly by calling, paying or downloading.
And the threats it reports never show up when you run a scan in the real Windows Security app. Microsoft does not put phone numbers in warnings or charge for removing threats through pop-ups. Close the window, do not call, and follow the steps to find and uninstall the program behind it.
I let a technician connect to my PC because of Win 7 Protection 2014. Is it safe now?
Not until you check. While connected, the caller could install other programs, create a user account or look at saved passwords. Disconnect from the internet, uninstall the remote access program and anything else installed during the call, and run a full scan and the Microsoft Defender offline scan.
From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and turn on two-step verification. If the caller opened your online banking, call the bank today. A reset of Windows is the safest option if you cannot tell what was done.
Should I reset my PC because of Win 7 Protection 2014?
Only if the signs point to deeper access. Reset when you see an unfamiliar process called hunter.exe in Task Manager again after removal, when Windows Security cannot start or update, when remote access tools you did not install keep appearing, or when you simply cannot trust the PC any more.
Otherwise, the plan in this guide plus an offline scan is enough. If you do reset, choose Remove everything and Cloud download for a fresh copy of Windows, restore only documents and photos, and reinstall programs from their official sites. Change important passwords from the clean system afterwards.
Do I need to buy antivirus after removing Win 7 Protection 2014?
No. Windows 11 and Windows 10 include Microsoft Defender in Windows Security, which provides real-time protection, scheduled scans, the offline scan and protection against unwanted apps at no cost. Keep it switched on and updated, and turn on Reputation-based protection under App & browser control.
If you prefer a third-party product, buy it from the vendor's own site after reading independent test results, never from a pop-up or a phone call. The lesson of Win 7 Protection 2014 is that security offers which arrive unasked are the ones to avoid.
Did Win 7 Protection 2014 steal my information?
Not by itself, as far as reports show. Programs that display an unfamiliar process called hunter.exe in Task Manager are built to scare people into paying or calling; they rarely take data on their own.
The risk comes from what you did in response: typing card details into the program, or letting a caller connect to your PC. If you did neither, uninstalling the program is enough. If you did either, treat that information as exposed:
- block the card
- change passwords from another device
- remove any remote-access tool that was installed
What should I do if I already clicked or replied to Win 7 Protection 2014?
Stop all contact, do not click anything else and secure your accounts right away. If you typed a password, change it at once from a clean device, then turn on two-factor authentication.
If you gave card or bank details, call the bank on the number printed on your card and ask to block or replace it. If you installed something or allowed remote access, disconnect from the internet and follow the removal plan. Keep screenshots and the message, because they help when you report it.
Will Fortect remove Win 7 Protection 2014?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Win 7 Protection 2014, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)