Windows Antivirus Rampart: what it is and how to remove it
Windows Antivirus Rampart is a fake antivirus program, a part of the FakeVimes family of rogue programs. Just like its previous versions, Windows Ultimate Security Patch, Windows Guard Tools, and others, it displays fake security notifications, disturbs the proper functioning of your legitimate programs, uses fake scanners, and does more things that damage your system.
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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Windows Antivirus Rampart: summary
| Distribution | Fake updates for various programs and fake online scanners |
|---|---|
| Damage | Monetary losses, installation of other malware, identity theft |
| Name | Windows Antivirus Rampart |
| Type | Rogue antispyware, malware, scamware |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| 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
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Program | Windows Antivirus Rampart |
| First seen | 27 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Windows Antivirus Rampart a real security program?
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Windows Antivirus Rampart is a program that will not protect you from computer threats
Windows Antivirus Rampart is a fake antivirus program, a part of the FakeVimes family of rogue programs.
Just like its previous versions, Windows Ultimate Security Patch, Windows Guard Tools, and others, it displays fake security notifications, disturbs the proper functioning of your legitimate programs, uses fake scanners, and does more things that damage your system.
In most cases, it enters computer systems after imitating some updates, like Adobe Acrobat, Java, Flash Player, or others. However, there could be other methods for its distribution, such as software bundlers, Trojan downloaders, software cracks, etc.
Once the malicious executable s launched, it is basically impossible to know when this scamware gets access to your machine and to stop it at the stage of infiltration. From this point in time, the program can take over the control of Windows.
Once installed, Windows Antivirus Rampart is configured to start automatically with each system reboot. The program pretends to look for infections on your system by running its fake scanner. In fact, this scareware cannot detect anything, so by the end of this scan imitation, the program generates a fake list of infections and tells to remove those files by getting a licensed version of the virus.
That is the way the comes for cybercriminals. Unfortunately, paying for this type of program does no good to us, ordinary computer users. You will simply lose your money and stay with the same problems on your system that you had. This rogue will continue running fake scans and disturb you in all possible ways.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Fake alerts are used to convince users to buy rogue anti-spyware
One of the most annoying things that rogue programs do is displaying tons of different security notifications providing completely false information.
Some of the read:
As you see, they warn that your system is at risk because of some security-related issues. In fact, these alerts are completely fake, and they are only used to make you believe that your system is infected and pay for Windows Antivirus Rampart. Make sure you don't get tricked by these fake alerts and get rid of the virus immediately!
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Windows Antivirus Rampart
- You can try to uninstall this program manually via the Control Panel or perform a full system scan with security software
- Malware can cause serious issues after it is removed, resulting in system crashes and errors.
- To fix these problems automatically, use
- System information security is at risk.
- It is recommended to activate protection and run a full system scan.
- Error Software without a digital signature detected.
- Your system files are at risk.
- We strongly advise you to activate your protection.
How to remove Windows Antivirus Rampart
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
Nothing that Windows Antivirus Rampart says it found needs fixing by Windows Antivirus Rampart. Close its windows and do not enter card details.
If you bought it, contact your bank or card issuer about a dispute and cancel any renewal, keeping the receipt e-mail as evidence. Uninstalling it from Windows 11 or Windows 10 removes the program but leaves the subscription running.
Full procedure with screenshots: What to do after paying a scammer
Step 2: Uninstall Windows Antivirus Rampart
Windows Antivirus Rampart is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select Windows Antivirus Rampart, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 4: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after Windows Antivirus Rampart, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\Program Files (x86)too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Windows Antivirus Rampart that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Windows Antivirus Rampart removal steps
Do not trust this rogue under any circumstances.
Use a reputable antispyware program to remove Windows Antivirus Rampart as soon as you detect it on your machine. Do not hesitate to do that straight after detecting this program on your machine, as it can cause even more damage over time.
As this malware disables your antivirus, ensure that your antivirus normally starts when you finalize cleaning your PC. The most effective way to do so is using anti-malware programs like or . If you cannot start a scan in normal mode, access Safe Mode with Networking as explained below and then launch a scan immediately.
Finally, use to clean your web browsers automatically and fix any type of damage that the system could have sustained due to the infection. Otherwise, you might have to reinstall Windows altogether.
Questions about Windows Antivirus Rampart
Can I safely uninstall Windows Antivirus Rampart?
If you did not install Windows Antivirus Rampart yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows.
Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name. Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps.
Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
How do I stop programs like Windows Antivirus Rampart from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped Windows Antivirus Rampart before it reached the app list.
Did Windows Antivirus Rampart steal my information?
Not by itself, as far as reports show. Programs that display windows Antivirus Rampart in the list of installed apps 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
How do I know Windows Antivirus Rampart is fake?
Three things give it away. It appears as windows Antivirus Rampart in the list of installed apps, 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.
Do I need to reinstall Windows to get rid of Windows Antivirus Rampart?
Usually not. A thorough clean-up is enough when the offline scan finds nothing afterwards and you do not see windows Antivirus Rampart in the list of installed apps again. A reset is the safer choice if an attacker had remote control, if security tools were switched off, or if detections come back after every clean-up.
Windows 11 can reset itself without a USB stick under Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Copy documents and photos out first and scan the copies. A reset does not change passwords or undo stolen data, so the account steps still apply.
Someone called offering a refund for Windows Antivirus Rampart. Is it genuine?
Almost certainly not. Refund calls are a well-known second stage of scareware and tech support scams. The caller says you are owed money, asks you to install a remote access program to "process" it, then opens your online banking, makes it look as if too much was refunded and asks you to send the difference back.
Hang up. Real refunds go back to the card or PayPal account you paid with, through your bank or the payment provider, and never need remote access or a gift card.
Windows Antivirus Rampart will not uninstall. What can I do?
Close it in Task Manager first, then uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps (in Windows 10, Apps & features). If it blocks this or restarts itself, start Windows in Safe Mode, where third-party programs do not start automatically, and uninstall from there.
Afterwards run a Microsoft Defender offline scan and delete any leftover folder named after Windows Antivirus Rampart in C:\Program Files or %AppData%. If nothing works, Windows can be reset while keeping your personal files, which removes the program together with any settings it changed.
What could the caller do while connected to my PC?
Anything you could do. Callers working with fake alerts like Windows Antivirus Rampart typically show you Windows logs as "proof", install their own remote tool for later, and steer you to online banking or a gift card purchase. Some add a password to Windows or lock the PC if you refuse to pay.
Remove every remote access program you did not install yourself, check Settings > Accounts > Other users for new accounts, and change important passwords from a clean device. If you cannot be sure what was changed, a reset of Windows is the safe choice.
Is Windows Security enough to protect me from programs like Windows Antivirus Rampart?
For most home users, yes, especially with Potentially unwanted app blocking turned on in Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings. That setting blocks many scareware installers before they run.
No security tool stops every scam, though, because programs like Windows Antivirus Rampart are usually installed by the user after a frightening message. The habit that helps most is simple: ignore any website or pop-up that claims to have scanned your PC, and never call a number shown in a warning.
Will Fortect remove Windows Antivirus Rampart?
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 Windows Antivirus Rampart, 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)