BitSecure AV ads: what it is and how to remove it
BitSecure AV is a potentially unwanted application that is advertised as an anti-virus program, also capable of performing a set of other functions, such as cleaning disk and registry, providing web protection features, and performing other tasks typical to system optimizers. However, the app is known to show false-positives to deliberately mislead users and convince users buying its licensed version of BitSecure AV.
Facts checked October 6, 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.
If redirects to lesvirus.fr keep coming back, a free scan can check extensions, programs and browser settings in one pass.
Do it yourself · free Remove BitSecure AV ads yourself 4 steps, about 12 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
BitSecure AV ads: summary
| Name | BitSecure AV |
|---|---|
| Type | The application is categorized as a potentially unwanted program and fake system optimizer/antivirus |
| Installation means | Potentially unwanted apps are usually installed via software bundles that are hosted on third-party sites or from the official site when being tricked by fake certification markings or promises |
| Developer | Digital Protect Services S.R.L. |
| Potential risks | Users may spend money on software that uses fake claims about heavily infected or damaged machine |
| Behavior | BitSecure AV uses audio messages to deliver fake warnings about the allegedly infected system and spams users with offers and pop-ups that ask them to purchase its licenced version |
| 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 11 more facts
| Detection | 4 AV engines detect the application as insecure or malicious (Virus Total results): Win32/GT32SupportGeeks.W Potentially Unw Program.Unwanted.3484 PUP.Optional.BitSecureAV Malicious; no Microsoft detection name is known for this name |
|---|---|
| Termination | Use our detailed removal instructions below or get rid of the unwanted app using anti-virus program that detects the app |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Redirects to an unknown domain |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | lesvirus.fr |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 28 October 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the BitSecure AV ads ads look like
BitSecure AV is a next generation and advanced protection software that saves your system from potential and harmful threats and infections, all in real-time. It also functions effortlessly to provide you a safe and smooth browsing experience with its features like Firewall and Web Protection.
Is BitSecure AV ads dangerous?
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
BitSecure AV is a fake system optimizer that engages in misleading voice notifications after a system scan
BitSecure AV is a potentially unwanted application that is advertised as an anti-virus program, also capable of performing a set of other functions, such as cleaning disk and registry, providing web protection features, and performing other tasks typical to system optimizers. However, the app is known to show false-positives to deliberately mislead users and convince users buying its licensed version of BitSecure AV.
Potentially unwanted program classification is applied to BitSecure AV not only due to its deceptive practices and questionable benefits but also because it is distributed as an optional component inside third-party software packages.
For this reason, users often find the app installed on their systems even if they do not remember it asking for the installation approval. Finally, BitSecure AV also claims that it is approved by bodies like AppEsteem, although the program is simply being monitored as a deceptor.
System optimizers generally have a bad reputation, as they often mislead users by showing thousands of entries after a scan, misleading the inexperienced users into thinking that their systems are in deep trouble and need fixing immediately.
However, if looking closely, it is evident that BitSecure AV marks various harmless files as dangerous (for example, registry entries that barely take a few kilobytes of space and would not impact the performance of the PC).
However, it does not mean that the functionality of system optimizers is not useful - there are plenty of tools that actually do work and do not show false-positives in order to make you purchase a product that hardly works.
Thus, if you installed the PUP intentionally when looking for software that can clean your PC, choose instead, it can help you remove virus damage and fix various Windows-related issues. However, you should first remove BitSecure AV, as it will not leave you alone and show pop-ups and redirect you to pages that offer to purchase its full license.
The developers of BitSecure AV are highly confident in their product, as they claim on their site:
However, there are many thinks that the app developers Digital Protect Services S.R.L. don't want you to know. BitSecure AV engages in multiple behaviors that are considered deceptive, and here's why:
Do not trust the developers of this PUP and hurry up with the BitSecure AV removal process. Once you terminate the unwanted application, it is also advisable to scan your machine with anti-malware software.
- BitSecure AV users Avira's engine instead of its own, which is never mentioned anywhere;
- The app runs its own scheduled tasks, even if the scheduled scanning option is turned on;
- The official website shows fake certification badges of AppEsteem and Checkmark, both of which never certified the app;
- After the scan, the program engages in voiced notifications that claim that the Windows machine is at risk and users need to click on the "Get Protected" button in order to fix found items.
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Pay close attention when installing software from third-parties
Unlike malware, potentially unwanted programs are not considered to be a significant security threat.
However, these applications often engage in deceptive practices that aim to trick users that are less tech-savvy and make them purchase services or functionality that rarely provides any positive effects on the computer. Thus, before you install system optimization tools, you should check for reviews online, as they often show the shortcomings of deceptive apps.
In most of the cases, however, PUPs get installed on the computers without asking for direct permission from users. This is because a so-called software bundling practice is used - it is engineered so that users would not notice optional components during the installation of another application.
Lesvirus.fr researchers warn that vigilance is vital when dealing with third-party software installers, as tricks like fine print, pre-ticked boxes, misleading buttons, and other methods are often used. Also, when installing new apps, make sure you always pick Advanced/Custom settings as it will allow you to detect hidden components that otherwise would be installed without notification.
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on BitSecure AV
- System optimizers might be helpful tools that can help inexperienced users to clean the system from junk and make it run faster.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
lesvirus.fr
How to remove BitSecure AV ads
How to remove the BitSecure AV extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
BitSecure AV often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
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 BitSecure AV. 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: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: 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
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
Access Programs and Features section via Control Panel on Windows operating systems to remove BitSecure AV:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
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 Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Get rid of BitSecure AV fake optimizer and use reliable tools instead
While "BitSecure AV virus" is hardly a correct term, some users might be using it due to deceptive PUP functionality practices, especially when they find it installed seemingly out of nowhere.
Regardless of terminology, the app is hardly useful, as it uses another AV maker's database (why not just use Avira instead?) and might actually damage vital Windows parts like the registry. Thus, remove BitSecure AV from your machine and find other tools that can be useful instead of engaging in deceptive practices.
BitSecure AV removal can be performed by using our manual guide below - usually, PUPs are as simple to get rid of like any normal applications.
Questions about BitSecure AV ads
How do I stop lesvirus.fr from opening?
Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.
Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.
If lesvirus.fr still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.
Did lesvirus.fr install a virus on my PC?
Very unlikely, unless you downloaded and opened something from the pages it led to. Redirect domains such as lesvirus.fr sell your visit to advertisers; they do not need to install anything to make money.
What can be installed is the thing that causes the redirects in the first place, such as an extension or an ad-supported program that came with free software. That is why the checks in this guide look at extensions, notification permissions and Installed apps.
A full scan with Microsoft Defender afterwards gives you a clear answer about the rest of the PC. If the scan is clean and the redirects stop after removing the cause, you are done.
What is BitSecure AV?
BitSecure AV is an adware extension, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
BitSecure AV does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Which browsers does BitSecure AV affect?
In the cases we checked, BitSecure AV showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.
Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.
Are the pop-ups I see really from BitSecure AV?
Compare them with the details in the table above. BitSecure AV produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to lesvirus.fr. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?
Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.
Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.
I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?
Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.
Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.
Did BitSecure AV collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
Will Fortect remove BitSecure AV?
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 BitSecure AV, 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
- Lesvirus: Lesvirus (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)