Control-scanning.com ads: what it is and how to remove it
To many, entering the Control-scanning.com site might be rather nerve-racking due to the contents that it shows. All of these warnings and alerts are fake, and the mentioned security vendor has nothing to do with the plot of Control-scanning.com authors.
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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Control-scanning.com ads: summary
| Name | Control-scanning.com |
|---|---|
| Type | Scam, ads, redirect |
| Infiltration | Redirects from other malicious websites, adware |
| Scam content | Claims that the security software subscription has expired and needs to be immediately renewed to remove the allegedly found threats. Asks to download potentially malicious software and enable push notifications |
| Dangers | Loss of finances due to fake subscriptions; redirects to other malware-laden, scam websites; installation of potentially unwanted or malicious software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 10 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Notification spam from a website |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | control-scanning.com |
| Ads shown as | Desktop notifications |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Installed on the PC | Nothing; a browser notification permission only |
| First seen | 10 November 2022 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What the Control-scanning.com ads ads look like
Your PC is infected with 5 viruses!
Is Control-scanning.com ads dangerous?
From our report of Nov 2022 · not reviewed since
Check your device for adware and malware
Any malware supposedly "found" by the scam site is entirely fabricated, and these results should be dismissed outright.
In reality, any user that visits the site will see the same result - it will claim that five viruses have been found on the device.
As we touched on before, adware might be to blame for the sketchy sites you keep getting redirected to. Adware is software that typically comes bundled with other programs or gets installed via other shady methods. This makes it hard to detect. Once it's on your device, unwanted software can run processes in the background, generate ads, redirect web traffic, and perform other unwanted/malicious activities.
This will help you to identify and remove all malicious components on your system quickly and effectively. Also, with , you can get rid of leftover files, such as cookies which are used for tracking purposes, and clean your system for optimal performance.
Security software will take care of all the potentially unwanted programs for you, but it won't clean your browser caches.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content, and press Clear.
- Click Safari > Clear History...
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
From our report of Nov 2022 · not reviewed since
Push notifications: annoying pop-ups might come from Control-scanning.com
Upon entering the site, you might be asked to enable push notifications.
If you hit "Allow" within the prompt, either intentionally or not, you will later receive spammy pop-ups that appear at any time when the browser is open, regardless of whether it is being actively used or not.
Besides, Control-scanning.com would show more damaging messages about virus infections and clicks to links of malicious websites. So make sure you don't engage with any of these by instead accessing browser settings and blocking the website's URL from the "Allowed" list:
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open the Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
- Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
- Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
- Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
- Click on Privacy & Security section.
- Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
- In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the URL's drop-down menu.
- Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.
- Click on Safari > Preferences...
- Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
- Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Go to Notifications on the right.
- Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
- Click on More actions and select Block.
From our report of Nov 2022 · not reviewed since
Control-scanning.com is a fake website designed to scam users who enter it
To many, entering the Control-scanning.com site might be rather nerve-racking due to the contents that it shows.
All of these warnings and alerts are fake, and the mentioned security vendor has nothing to do with the plot of Control-scanning.com authors. People behind this message are scammers who attempt to scare people into thinking that their machines are heavily infected and need to be cleaned with security software.
You should not download anything from this website, as you might be redirected to a malicious place where you could be tricked into downloading potentially unwanted or malicious software.
Likewise, do not accept push notifications, as the site will start spamming you with intrusive and malicious ads later. If you accept, we'll provide instructions on how to stop the push notifications, along with a guide on how to eliminate unwanted software from your system.
From our report of Nov 2022 · not reviewed since
The warning signs of questionable websites
You're more likely to come across dubious content online if you visit websites of questionable integrity on purpose.
For example, users who illegally download software are exposing themselves to malware or links that could take them to gamble, phishing, spoofing, or other dangerous places online.
Deceptive links are often inserted onto insecure pages in strategic places-- such as a fake "Download" button or a link to a torrent website. In other, more severe cases, users might be redirected to another site simply by accidentally clicking on empty space on the page. Furthermore, malicious scripts could automatically initiate redirects too. The answer here is staying away from pirated software, its cracks, and other illegal places.
Since avoiding malicious websites is not always possible, it's crucial that you know how to identify them. It is all falsified.
All "virus scanners" you see online are fake - only security software installed onto your device can detect and remove malware. The same goes for messages that claim Flash Player or other software is outdated or missing; if you act on these, you're likely to, in turn, get a virus.
From our report of Nov 2022 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Control-scanning.com
- ACTION REQUIRED Your McAfee Subscription Has Expired!
- Renew now to keep your PC protected.
- If your PC is unprotected, it is at risk for viruses and other malware.
- Cleaning web browsers is one of the secondary things you should do after PUP/malware removal to secure your privacy.
- The URL is usually the first red flag - for example, Control-scanning.com does not belong to any official security vendor website, despite the logos and messages claiming it to be from McAfee.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
control-scanning.com
How to remove Control-scanning.com ads
How to stop Control-scanning.com notifications
Do this in every browser you use, and in every profile inside it: each keeps its own list of sites allowed to send notifications.
Nothing has to be uninstalled for the notifications themselves.
Which browser shows the ads?
Step 1: Remove control-scanning.com from Chrome's notification list
Open More (the three dots) > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications, or paste
chrome://settings/content/notificationsinto the address bar.Under Allowed to send notifications, open the menu next to
control-scanning.comand choose Remove or Block, and do the same for any other address you do not recognise.Next to Not allowed to send notifications, click Add and enter control-scanning.com, so the site cannot ask again. The menus are the same in Chrome on Windows 11 and Windows 10, and each Chrome profile keeps its own list.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Step 1: Remove control-scanning.com from Edge's notification list
Edge stores its own permission list, separate from Chrome's, and it is often the browser behind these pop-ups on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications, or paste
edge://settings/content/notifications. Removecontrol-scanning.comfrom Allowed, then add it under Not allowed to send notifications. Notifications that show the Edge logo come from this list.
Edge on Windows 11: Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Step 1: Remove control-scanning.com from Firefox's notification permissions
In Firefox the permission sits in Settings > Permissions and data > Notifications (in older versions Privacy & Security > Notifications > Settings). Select
control-scanning.comin the list, click Remove Website, and confirm with Save Changes.Firefox only shows these notifications while it is open, so if they stopped after closing Firefox, this is the browser to clean. The steps are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Firefox on Windows 11: the Notification Permissions window. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Then, whichever browser you use
Step 2: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
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 Control-scanning.com ads
control-scanning.com keeps sending notifications. Is it a virus?
No. Notifications from control-scanning.com come from a permission stored in the browser, not from a program installed in Windows. Someone clicked Allow on a prompt from that site, usually without realising what it meant, and the site now sends ads through the browser's notification system.
Antivirus scans often find nothing because there is nothing to find on the disk. Removing control-scanning.com from the browser's list of allowed sites stops the messages for good. A scan is still useful if you clicked a notification and downloaded or ran something from the page it opened, because those downloads can be unwanted programs.
Did a notification from control-scanning.com infect my computer?
A notification cannot infect a PC. It is a short text with a link that the browser displays. Clicking it opens a page, and a page cannot install anything unless you agree to a download and run the file.
So the answer depends on what you did after clicking. Looked and closed: you are fine. Downloaded but did not open: delete the file.
Opened a downloaded file: uninstall what it added and scan the PC. Typed card or login details: contact the bank and change the password. In every case, remove control-scanning.com from the browser's allowed notifications so the messages stop.
What is Control-scanning.com?
Control-scanning.com is a push-notification spam site, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing desktop notifications, 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.
Control-scanning.com 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.
Why does control-scanning.com keep showing up?
There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from control-scanning.com, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.
If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if control-scanning.com never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.
Do I have to change settings in every browser?
Only in the browsers that allowed control-scanning.com, but checking all of them takes a minute and is worth it. We saw the notifications in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Chrome and Edge keep their notification lists under site settings, and Firefox under Privacy & Security > Permissions.
Remove control-scanning.com and any other unfamiliar site from each list, then turn off new notification requests if you do not need them. Remember that every browser profile has its own list, so a second profile can keep the messages coming after you clean the first.
Are the pop-ups I see really from Control-scanning.com?
Compare them with the details in the table above. Control-scanning.com produces desktop notifications, and the clearest sign of it is notifications from control-scanning.com. 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.
Is it safe to click Block or Allow on a notification prompt?
Clicking Block is safe; it only tells the browser not to show notifications from that site. Clicking Allow is not dangerous to your files either, but it gives the site a channel to your desktop that spam sites abuse at once.
The prompt itself is part of the browser, so you can trust its buttons. What you cannot trust is the text on the page around it. If a page explains why you must click Allow, choose Block or close the tab.
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.
Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?
No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:
- running a downloaded file
- installing an extension
- giving a stranger remote access
That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.
Will Fortect remove Control-scanning.com?
No program removes Control-scanning.com itself, because there is nothing on the PC to remove: the notifications come through a permission saved in the browser, and only the browser's settings take it away, as the steps above show.
What Fortect can do is check the rest of Windows. Its free scan looks for malware, unwanted programs and damaged system files, which is useful if you clicked the ads, downloaded something from the pages they opened, or are not sure what else changed on the PC.
If the scan finds nothing and the notifications stopped after you removed the permission, this problem is solved. Use Microsoft Defender as a second opinion whenever you have downloaded files from pages like these.
Sources
- Imperva: Phishing attacks (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- 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)