PROTECT YOUR PC! pop-up scam (fake) - Free Instructions

What is PROTECT YOUR PC! pop-up scam?

PROTECT YOUR PC! is a scam that rushes users to install unknown antivirus software

PROTECT YOUR PC! is a message that tries to get users to install an antivirus

“PROTECT YOUR PC!” is a pop-up scam that tries to get users to install antivirus software. It uses various techniques to try to convince people that they need the security program. Recently, there has been a rise in fake antivirus scams. We have previously written about pages like Protectnscan.com, Protectionyoupc.com, and Antivirus-protection.shop.

All of these pages are disguised as security alerts from well-known security software brands to gain trust. There are also pages that are made to look like Windows alerts. For example, the “Windows 10 May Be In Danger” scam has fooled many users into thinking that their system might be infected.

The message seems to come out suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere. People could have ended up on this site because they were browsing through unsafe websites and clicking on deceptive ads. When the scam page opens up, users are met with this message:

"PROTECT YOUR PC" pop-up scam generates revenue for individuals behind it

PROTECT YOUR PC!

Do you want to clean Windows after surfing the WEB?

Please note: Over time, junk files accumulate on Windows. It is recommended to delete these files and free up the used memory.

Solution: Install our new antivirus software, the comprehensive utility for your Windows!
Our new antivirus software offers the following functions:

• Quickly clean up junk files
• Windows garbage collection
• Correction of all errors

Fraudsters behind this page do not seem to be using the scare tactics that other scam creators do. The message feels a bit more like a suggestion and not a threat. However, that does not mean the site does not have malicious intent. You should avoid downloading and installing anything from random pop-ups and websites.

It is best to use official web stores and developer websites because they are the safest way to get the software you want. You should always do your research first – look a the reviews, ratings, and the number of users the app has. Installing software from a random website that does not even write the name of the program is not a good idea. It should be always clear what you are getting.

Start the removal process

1. Clear your browsers

You might be seeing the “PROTECT YOUR PC!” pop-up scam page because you have a malicious extension added to your browser which is causing pop-ups, banners, redirects, and an overall increase of commercial content in your device. Even if you do not notice these symptoms we suggest investigating your browser.

The first thing you should do is go to your browser settings and check if you see any suspicious add-ons in the list. The best way to do this is by removing the extensions one by one and seeing if you notice any difference. You can follow our guide if you need help:

Google Chrome

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

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 on Uninstall at the bottom.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
• Select Add-ons.
• In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

One more thing you should do is clean cookies^[1] and cache from your browser. Many websites use these tracking technologies to see the links you click on, things you purchase online, and other data like your IP address,^[2] geolocation, pages you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase online. Generally, this is not a bad thing as it helps websites and program developers to personalize the user experience.

But we see that more often, cookies are used to generate revenue. They can be sold to advertising networks or other third parties and used to target you with ads even more. There have also been cases when cookies were hijacked and used for malicious purposes.

Security experts recommend clearing them regularly. It stops the tracking and deletes the collected data from your machine. This can become quite an annoying and lengthy process so you can use a maintenance tool like FortectIntego which will do this automatically with a click of a button. This powerful software can also fix various system errors, corrupted files, and registry issues which is especially helpful after virus infections.

2. Scan the system for adware

Scams like “PROTECT YOUR PC!” can also appear because of adware,^[3] so we strongly suggest using anti-malware tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes to scan your system. Adware is a type of program that generates commercial content like pop-ups, banners, and redirects on your machine to collect revenue.

Such PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) are mostly spread on freeware^[4] distribution sites. The owners of these platforms include additional programs in the installers without clearly disclosing this. Most people skip through the installation process and do not notice bundled software. That is why it is so important to have a tool that can detect these processes for you.

Manual removal of adware can be tricky if you do not have experience. Even if you uninstall the program itself, it can leave some traces behind (like files, registry entries, etc) which can result in a renewal of the infection. PUAs are also often disguised as handy tools that you would never suspect, like antivirus software, system optimizers, media players.

Professional security tools will scan your machine, eliminate intruders, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a suspicious program can make any changes. Otherwise, you can use the guide below to remove the supposed antivirus if you have installed it or to try to identify any suspicious programs that should not be on your computer:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

There is a thing you can do to minimize the risk of adware infection. If you are keen on using freeware platforms, you have to be focused during the installation. Always choose the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation method. Read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to find out what the program will be able to do and what data it will collect. The last and most important part is to check the file list. Untick the boxes next to any additional programs that you did not choose to install.