XLGPrivacyControlCenter: what it is and how to remove it
XLGPrivacyControlCenter is a successor of the rogue security tool XLGuarder. Just as in its previous version, this malicious computer program does nothing to protect your Windows computer but rather infects it and starts showing fictional notifications via the taskbar or pop-ups.
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.
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.
An automatic scan checks installed programs, startup items and browser extensions for anything that came with XLGPrivacyControlCenter.
Do it yourself · free Remove XLGPrivacyControlCenter yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
XLGPrivacyControlCenter: summary
| Name | XLGPrivacyControlCenter |
|---|---|
| Type | Rogue anti-virus, malware |
| Operation | Shows fake scan results and intrusive pop-up notifications which claim that system is infected; it would not allow users to remove these alleged threats unless the full licensed of the app is purchased. In other words, its a scam |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 5 more facts
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
|---|---|
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
| Program | XLGPrivacyControlCenter |
| First seen | 27 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is XLGPrivacyControlCenter a real security program?
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
XLGPrivacyControlCenter is a fake anti-malware that will spam your computer with fake alerts non-stop
XLGPrivacyControlCenter is a successor of the rogue security tool XLGuarder.
Just as in its previous version, this malicious computer program does nothing to protect your Windows computer but rather infects it and starts showing fictional notifications via the taskbar or pop-ups.
The app's main goal is to make users scared about their computer security and petrosal safety, which would prompt them to buy its full version. Never do that and remove this malware from your device as soon as possible.
Most commonly, users get infected with this malware when they open spam emails and allow the malicious attachments to run macros on their systems. Clicking links embedded within such emails can also result in virus installation. However, there are plenty of other distribution channels that could cause the infection - they include:
Once it gets on a system, XLG PrivacyControlCenter reports numerous infections and offers to delete those after people purchase the full version of the program. These tactics are fraudulent because it reports fabricated threats; and the full version of the tool is non-functional, just like "trial." This program is simply malicious.
Occasionally, malware would also show various fake pop-ups and notifications on the machine alerting about alleged illegal activity, privacy violations, and expired licenses of legitimate programs. You should never believe any of this and delete XLG PrivacyControlCenter from your computer as soon as possible.
This might not be that easy, however, as the program can use Windows registry and other functions to prevent its easy uninstall. Therefore, you should instead employ or for the job. A full system scan should find and eliminate the infection automatically for you.
- fake online scanners;
- already installed Trojans;
- drive-by downloads;
- fake codecs and cracks, etc.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Avoid being infected with malware
It is evident that malicious programs are not installed by users intentionally.
While it is true that the action is performed by users themselves, it is just that they are tricked into doing so thanks to various dubious techniques. Therefore, being vigilant is extremely important to protect your computer from dangerous infections.
One of the main defense mechanisms is security software, especially one that can detect and prevent infiltration of malware in real-time. Additionally, web protection is also one of the mandatory features for improved security.
Your own behavior, however, is just as important. Security software won't help you if you will disable it once the warnings start showing up. Thus, be vigilant - never download cracked programs or visit high-risk websites that contain such dangerous files.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Opt for a quick PrivacyControlCenter
Rogue anti-virus programs can be a real pain to get rid of, as they establish changes within the Windows registry and perform other system modifications.
You can try uninstalling these malicious programs via the Control Panel first and see if that works for you.
However, that is not likely to work, so you should instead employ a robust anti-malware tool and perform a full system scan with it. It will ensure that all the malicious components are eliminated for good. Also, don't forget to clean your web browsers, as explained below.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on XLGPrivacyControlCenter
- You can also delete malware automatically with
- If malware messed up the operation of your Windows computer, you might have to reinstall it.
How to remove XLGPrivacyControlCenter
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
XLGPrivacyControlCenter 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
Step 2: Uninstall XLGPrivacyControlCenter
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10. Sort the list by install date and find XLGPrivacyControlCenter, then choose Uninstall from the three-dot menu next to it (in Windows 10, click the entry and then Uninstall).
Remove anything else installed on the same day that you do not recognise, because such programs usually arrive together in one installer. If the uninstaller opens a browser page with an offer or a survey, close it: the program is removed either way.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Whatever XLGPrivacyControlCenter 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
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
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 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:
- 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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from 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 suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- 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.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- 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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
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.
Questions about XLGPrivacyControlCenter
Can I safely uninstall XLGPrivacyControlCenter?
If you did not install XLGPrivacyControlCenter 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.
XLGPrivacyControlCenter will not uninstall. What can I do?
First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove XLGPrivacyControlCenter from Installed apps there.
If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.
I entered my card number in XLGPrivacyControlCenter. What should I do?
Call your card issuer using the number on the back of the card, report the purchase as fraud and ask for a new card. Ask them to block further charges from the same merchant. Watch your statements for small test charges, which often come before larger ones.
If you used a password on the order page or the same e-mail for the purchase, change that password and expect phishing e-mails that mention the purchase. Your bank can also tell you whether the merchant is linked to other fraud reports.
Is XLGPrivacyControlCenter 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 XLGPrivacyControlCenter in the list of installed apps, 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.
Do I need to buy antivirus after removing XLGPrivacyControlCenter?
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 XLGPrivacyControlCenter is that security offers which arrive unasked are the ones to avoid.
What is XLGPrivacyControlCenter?
XLGPrivacyControlCenter is fake security software, sometimes called a rogue antivirus or scareware. The program, XLGPrivacyControlCenter, shows invented or exaggerated problems to make you pay for a licence, and some versions send you to phone "support".
It does not protect the PC, and the threats it lists are not a reason to pay. Fake security programs usually arrive through fake virus warnings on websites, extra offers in free installers or ads for faster PCs. Uninstall it and use the free protection built into Windows instead.
XLGPrivacyControlCenter has no uninstaller. How do I get rid of it?
Some scareware does not register an uninstaller, or its uninstaller only opens another sales page. In that case, end the program in Task Manager, then go to Task Manager > Startup apps, right-click its entry and choose Open file location to find its folder. Disable the startup entry, restart in Safe Mode and delete the folder.
Check Task Scheduler for tasks with the same name. Finally, run the Microsoft Defender offline scan, which removes remaining files that Microsoft knows about. Restart afterwards and check that nothing named after XLGPrivacyControlCenter starts again.
I let a technician connect to my PC because of XLGPrivacyControlCenter. 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.
I called the number from XLGPrivacyControlCenter. 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 XLGPrivacyControlCenter in the list of installed apps still needs removing: follow the plan in this guide, then run a full scan in Windows Security.
Will Fortect remove XLGPrivacyControlCenter?
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 XLGPrivacyControlCenter, 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)