Your PC performance might be poor ads: what it is and how to remove it
"Your PC performance might be poor" is a misleading notification that may show up on your computer during web browsing sessions on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, or any other web browsers at any time. Just like many other online scams, this fake alert tries to catch users off-guard, trying to imitate a legitimate message that users might have seen previously.
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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Your PC performance might be poor ads: summary
| Name | "Your PC performance might be poor" |
|---|---|
| Type | Online scam, fake alert |
| Causes | The fake pop-up might show up once a malicious website is visited or be triggered by secretly installed adware/malware, as well as background scripts |
| Symptoms | The pop-up message shows up seemingly out of nowhere and claims that computer performance is poor. If the PC is infected with adware, users may also see redirects to suspicious sites, sponsored links in search results, web browser changes (i.e., homepage and search engine), intrusive ads, and experience other symptoms |
| Main dangers | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs or malware, sensitive information disclosure to unknown parties |
| 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 6 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Your PC performance might be poor |
| First seen | 30 December 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Your PC performance might be poor ads dangerous?
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Your PC performance might be poor is a scam that might trick users to install malware on their computers
"Your PC performance might be poor" is a misleading notification that may show up on your computer during web browsing sessions on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, or any other web browsers at any time.
Just like many other online scams, this fake alert tries to catch users off-guard, trying to imitate a legitimate message that users might have seen previously. "Your PC performance might be poor" scam claims the following:
Because the "Your PC performance might be poor" pop-up is presented in a pop-up that looks like it is coming from a browser, many inexperienced users might follow the provided instructions and install potentially unwanted programs or malware on their computers. Thus, never believe "Your PC performance might be poor" message, as you may harm your online safety and infect your computer with malicious software.
There are several reasons why you might be seeing "Your PC performance might be poor" alert. First of all, the message might be triggered by you stumbling upon a malicious website accidentally, although a malicious JavaScript can also be the cause of it. Additionally, the redirects to sites that show "Your PC performance might be poor" scam can also be a sign of adware infection.
You should never click "Yes" and especially not download/install anything suggested by the malicious "Your PC performance might be poor" pop-up. In case you do, you might end up with malware like ransomware or a Trojan on your machine, which might render your personal files useless or send sensitive information (such as credit card details) directly to cybercriminals without your knowledge.
The worst part is that the latter might hide inside the system for a prolonged period of time, and you will not know that malicious activity is taking place.
"Your PC performance might be poor" is created by cybercriminals who are willing to monetize by tricking and harming innocent users. To make the scam more believable, crooks often employ social engineering skills - an art of manipulating users into believing something that is not true/real.
Unfortunately, because there are many computer users who are not that familiar with how malware or computers work, scams like "Your PC performance might be poor" are successful more often than not. Fortunately, many users are by now aware of the online dangers, and cybersecurity advisers and security sites often warn about the most popular scams and phishing attempts.
To remove "Your PC performance might be poor" virus, you should not click "No" or the "X" button, but simply leave the page which triggered the fake alert. In case it is impossible to close it, you should call up the Task Manager (or Activity Monitor on macOS) and shut down the process of your browser.
However, "Your PC performance might be poor" removal might not end just there. In case your computer is infected with adware, you will also have to eliminate it to stop the unwanted activity on your machine, which may include the following symptoms:
Note that malware might be present on your system too. Thus, if you noticed any suspicious activity even after leaving the malicious site that shows "Your PC performance might be poor" pop-up, you should scan your machine with anti-malware software.
If you indeed find PUPs or malware on your system, get rid of it with anti-malware software.
- Web browser redirects to scam, phishing, and other suspicious sites;
- Intrusive ads are shown on all visited websites;
- Search results filled with sponsored links that lead to predetermined sites;
- Changed homepage, new tab URL, and the search engine;
- Slow browser response time, etc.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Avoid the installation of potentially unwanted programs
The constantly occurring data breaches and new malware strains like Djvu ransomware became the epidemic of modern times.
Despite the rising awareness of all the internet users, there are many that are unwilling to listen and protect themselves as required in order to prevent computer infections; in other cases, users simply lack basic computer skills to avoid unwanted programs and malware infiltration.
Installing comprehensive security software is not enough, however, and users need to always combine it with good online browsing practices. As previously mentioned, cybercriminals often employ social engineering to make users perform actions they otherwise would not, i.e., installing unwanted software on their machines.
To protect yourself from phishing attacks, never believe pop-ups and warning messages coming from various websites and claiming virus infections, data theft, and threatening with consequences. Only install software from trusted sources (avoid torrents) and always pick Advanced/Custom settings during the installation process of freeware/shareware to get rid of all the optional components before they manage to enter your PC.
How to remove Your PC performance might be poor ads
How to remove the Your PC performance might be poor 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
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall Your PC performance might be poor
Your PC performance might be poor 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 Your PC performance might be poor, 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: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
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
A scan finds the parts of Your PC performance might be poor 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.
Uninstall from Windows
Get rid of potentially unwanted programs from Windows systems:
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
Reset Google Chrome once you remove all the PUPs from your machine:
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.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
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.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
"Your PC performance might be poor" removal may be as simple as closing down the malicious site in some cases
As mentioned above, "Your PC performance might be poor" removal might consist of simply closing down the tab of the malicious web page that you came across.
It is absolutely vital not to download anything offered by the fake alert or to click the "Yes" button, as it may trigger the installation of malware in the background. In the best-case scenario, you might end up with bloatware programs like Full System Care, Pro PC Cleaner, and others - these can also harm the computer by performing inadequate changes to it.
All in all, to remove "Your PC performance might be poor" virus along with anything that might be installed on your device, scan it with security software. Additionally, you should reset all the installed browsers.
Questions about Your PC performance might be poor ads
What is Your PC performance might be poor and why is it on my PC?
Your PC performance might be poor is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.
Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need Your PC performance might be poor, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.
Your PC performance might be poor came back after I uninstalled it. Why?
Something else is reinstalling it. Common causes are a second program from the same publisher, a scheduled task that downloads it again, or a browser extension that keeps prompting for it.
Sort Installed apps by install date and uninstall each entry from the same day that you did not choose. Then open Task Scheduler and look in the Task Scheduler Library for tasks with updater-style names that you do not recognise.
Check Startup apps in Task Manager too. If Your PC performance might be poor still returns, start Windows in Safe Mode, uninstall it there and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan, which looks for loaders that ordinary scans can miss.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Your PC performance might be poor?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Do I need to reset my browser after removing Your PC performance might be poor?
A reset is a good last step, because it undoes settings that the program changed. A reset restores the home page, new tab page and default search engine, and turns off extensions.
It does not delete your bookmarks or saved passwords in the main browsers. Add back only the extensions you trust, one at a time.
Will Fortect remove Your PC performance might be poor?
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 Your PC performance might be poor, 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
- How-To Geek: PUPs Explained: What is a "Potentially Unwanted Program"? (read October 7, 2026)
- Forcepoint: What is Ransomware? (read October 7, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (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)