.How can I remove scam Windows Defender security alert from screen?

Question

.How can I remove scam Windows Defender security alert from screen?

Michael McCann 20

I was on YouTube via Google and received pop ups regarding a Microsoft Security alert and providing a number to call. I am sure it was a scam; my security system says all is fine. I turned off my computer several times and also hit alt F4, but the alert popups are still on the screen and prevent me from using the web. Help!?

Moved from: Microsoft Security | Microsoft Defender | Microsoft Defender for Office 365

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Answer 1

Carl-L 3,845 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Michael McCann,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. It's my pleasure to help you today.

I understand your concern about the pop up you see and why you want to remove it. You are correct, this is a scam. While it does look like legitimate Windows Defender alert, genuine alerts won't ask you to call any number to resolve this.

Aside from what the other has said, if you still see the pop up after clearing the cache and cookies, please consider reset the browser settings. You can do it directly from the browser settings or you can go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select your browser and go to Advanced Settings > Reset.

Also, aside from the Windows Defender scanning. You should also scrim around the file and folder to see if there are anything suspicious. The popup might come from an adware that is installed in your computer from a website.

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C.L 0 Reputation points

2025-12-01T22:12:10.11+00:00

During the past ~3 months I've been getting pop ups saying Update windows, critical error, remove viruses now/ quick scan, or windows defender can't scan, click install to update windows. and I check windows defender and it says that every thing is fine. It also says that their from Mcafee and Microsoft defender when it always sends me to a Norton antivirus link. Worst of all it says it's from Microsoft Edge while I almost certainly know it's a scam.
C.L 0 Reputation points

2025-12-01T22:15:59.2133333+00:00

Also Microsoft if it's helpful I have the link. https://d4n15eohubcc73e4v2mg.stylechainnetwork.com/b8bfbe85/?cid=0e249213b70fa5d5cbca&extclickid=d4hmgoohubcc73fkelsg&clickid=d4n15eohubcc73e4v2mg&list=8&lp_key=17646fe9e77cea43caf7b3d5a6457e44c1c6027431&domain=cleartrailvision.com&language=en-US&browser=Edge&osname=Windows&osversion=10#
Carl-L 3,845 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-02T14:30:02.55+00:00

Hello C.L,

Thanks for letting me know your situation.

Regarding the popup show as Microsoft Edge. Many scams website will try to mimic Microsoft application logo to trick users into thinking they are the real ones. For your particular case, Windows Defender will never show any notification through Microsoft Edge. If they need to tell you to check something, the notification will come from the apps itself. For other cases, Edge popups usually will show the website in the top of the notification, so you can rely on that information to check if the website is a Microsoft Website or come from an unknown website. Also, if you hover on their links (don't click it, just hover on it), it will show the correct URL. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

To remove scam Windows Defender security alerts that appear as pop-ups on your screen, follow these steps:

Do Not Call the Number: If the pop-up provides a phone number, do not call it. This is a common tactic used by scammers.
Close the Browser: Try closing the browser completely. If the pop-ups persist, you may need to force close the browser application through the Task Manager:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find your browser in the list, select it, and click on End Task.
Clear Browser Cache: After closing the browser, reopen it and clear your cache and cookies:
- For Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select the time range and check the boxes for cookies and cached images/files.
- For Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
Run a Full Scan: Use Microsoft Defender Antivirus to run a full scan of your system to ensure that no malware has been installed:
- Open Windows Security, go to Virus & threat protection, and select Scan options. Choose Full scan and click Scan now.
Reset Your Browser: If the pop-ups continue, consider resetting your browser settings to default. This can help remove any unwanted extensions or settings that may have been changed by the scam pop-up.
Use Microsoft Edge: If you are not already using it, consider switching to Microsoft Edge, which has built-in protections against known scam sites and pop-ups.
Stay Informed: Be cautious about unsolicited messages and always verify the source before taking any action. Microsoft does not send unsolicited emails or make unsolicited phone calls to request personal information.

If you suspect that you have been affected by a tech support scam, you can report it to Microsoft and take additional security measures as needed.

Answer 3

JC 6,695 Independent Advisor

Hello,

If these scam notifications are web based they’re likely coming from your browser, go to settings and search “notifications”, and remove all notifications coming from websites.

Hope this helps,

JC

C.L 0 Reputation points

2025-12-01T22:19:43.4866667+00:00

It does help.

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