Antivirus Security Pro: what it is and how to remove it

Antivirus Security Pro is a rogue anti-spyware, which belongs to WinWebSec. This program looks just like other threats that also hail from this group of rogue AV applications.

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.

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Antivirus Security Pro: screenshot
Antivirus Security Pro as our 2021 report showed it.

Antivirus Security Pro: summary

Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
NameAntivirus Security Pro
TypeRogue antivirus
SymptomsAn 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 processessetup.exe
EvidenceOne write-up by a security site; details still limited
First seen8 January 2021
Facts checked7 October 2026

Is Antivirus Security Pro a real security program?

  • File: setup.exe

From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since

Antivirus Security Pro is a program that should improve the security of your device

Antivirus Security Pro is a rogue anti-spyware, which belongs to WinWebSec.

This program looks just like other threats that also hail from this group of rogue AV applications. However, the new thing about it is that it comes with a digitally-signed installer, which should ensure the trustworthiness of the program.

Most likely, it is misused by malicious people or the ones who want to profit from gullible people. Once Antivirus Security Pro gets inside the system, it starts its activity by showing misleading notifications that typically announce about dangerous viruses. Note that it warns its victims only about invented infections or legitimate files that should never be eliminated.

That's why you can clearly ignore this application and remove it from the system. If you are interested what's the real purpose of its bogus alerts, the answer is really simple - it is designed to create a need for its licensed version. Definitely, you should never purchase it on purpose since Antivirus Security Pro full version is doing nothing positive on the system.

Researchers always note that you need to consider Antivirus Security Pro intrusive since it makes various changes to settings on your device and affects time on the machine significantly. More gullible people install the promoted application and suffer more damage.

Some of the fake warning alerts might display:

If your PC is infected with Antivirus Security Pro, you should immediately download and run a full system scan with an anti-malware tool that is reputable. Don't forget to download the latest versions of these programs in order to have a full virus database.

You should react to those false warnings out of nowhere and avoid any interaction with the site entirely or the program pop-ups. This way you can avoid difficult Antivirus Security Pro termination procedures in the future. As for the damage on the system folders- run and fix those affected files.

Antivirus Security Pro: screenshot
Antivirus Security Pro in our 2021 report.

From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since

Antivirus Security Pro termination tips and tricks

Note that there are many rogues that block legitimate security applications for preventing their elimination.

In this case, you should stop malicious processes that belong to the rogue app by finding them in Task Manager. This way you may also find a particular place where Antivirus Security Pro is installed and remove it.

Look for exe processes, stop them, and run a full system scan with anti-malware then.

From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Antivirus Security Pro

  • Suspicious activity detected in application setup.exe similar to behavior of the virus Win32/Conficker.X For your security and to avoid loss of data, the operation of application setup.exe has been temporary restricted.
  • To reset the application's full operation, you must use the full edition of Antivirus Security Pro.
  • Recommended: You are using a limited version of Antivirus Security Pro.
  • Please activate Antivirus Security Pro to resist all virus threats efficiently.
  • Antivirus Security Pro - Threats found when scanning, to keep your computer safe, repair is required
  • Antivirus Security Pro - Warning!
  • To keep your computer safe, the threat must be blocked

How Antivirus Security Pro got on your PC

From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since

Antivirus Security Pro is spread by other programs or on sites that can show false messages about exploitable security vulnerabilities.

It attacks poorly protected systems, so, if you want to avoid its infiltration, you have to make sure that your machine is protected with the latest version of antivirus. Still, if this PUP manages to get inside the system, it secretly downloads files that belong to the virus, so it is difficult to find all the pieces and remove them.

Please, ignore every alert that belongs to Antivirus Security Pro because this program seeks the only thing - to get your money. As soon as you start seeing alerts that belong to this rogue, you should run a full system scan with updated anti-spyware. Also, remember that the program might install other apps automatically.

How to remove Antivirus Security Pro

Nothing it reports is real.

These steps remove it and undo a payment if you made one.

  1. Step 1: Do not pay, and undo a payment if you made one

    Antivirus Security Pro 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

  2. 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 Antivirus Security Pro. 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

  3. Step 3: Remove it from startup

    Whatever Antivirus Security Pro 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

  4. 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

  5. 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 Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are

There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.

While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.

Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.

Data backups are important - recover your lost files

Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.

Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.

While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

Questions about Antivirus Security Pro

Is setup.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 setup.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 setup.exe file?

Only after you know what it belongs to. If setup.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.

Should I reset my PC because of Antivirus Security Pro?

Only if the signs point to deeper access. Reset when you see an unfamiliar process called setup.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.

I let a technician connect to my PC because of Antivirus Security Pro. 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.

Do I need to buy antivirus after removing Antivirus Security Pro?

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 Antivirus Security Pro is that security offers which arrive unasked are the ones to avoid.

I called the number from Antivirus Security Pro. What now?

End the call and do not let them reconnect. If they installed a remote-access tool, disconnect the PC from the internet and uninstall that tool from Installed apps. Change passwords for e-mail, banking and anything you typed during the call, using another device.

If you paid, contact the bank today for a chargeback. Report the number to the authorities in your country. The program behind an unfamiliar process called setup.exe in Task Manager still needs removing: follow the plan in this guide, then run a full scan in Windows Security.

Is Antivirus Security Pro a real Windows warning?

No. Real Windows Security notifications appear in the notification area and in the Windows Security app, use Microsoft's design and never ask you to call a phone number or pay to fix anything. What people report is an unfamiliar process called setup.exe in Task Manager, drawn by a program that copies the look of a system message.

Open Windows Security from the Start menu to see the real status of your PC. If it shows no threats while the window keeps appearing, the window itself is the problem, and the plan in this guide removes the program that shows it.

What is Antivirus Security Pro?

Antivirus Security Pro is a rogue anti-spyware, which belongs to WinWebSec. This program looks just like other threats that also hail from this group of rogue AV applications. The summary table at the top of this guide lists the type, the detection names, the symptoms and the damage of Antivirus Security Pro.

Reading it first helps you decide whether your computer shows the same signs. The removal plan below it works in order, from the safest step to the more thorough ones.

Will Fortect remove Antivirus Security Pro?

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 Antivirus Security Pro, 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.

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