How to remove “Windows Defender Security Center” scam alert

What is “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up?

While browsing web-pages, you may see “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up window stating that your computer is infected. In reality, it’s not a system application it’s merely scam alert in form of GIF animation which is caused by PUP (potentially unwanted program). So rest assured, you got nothing to worry about. To get rid of this irritating pop-up, you should remove the program-initiator. Here you will find both automatic and manual methods to remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up. Just follow the instructions, described below.

How to remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up from your computer?

Note: Removing “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up goes in Safe mode with networking.

The best and easiest way to remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up from your computer is to use special anti-malware program that has this threat in its database. The program is fully automated, all you need to do is to download and install it. Once you’ve installed anti-malware application, it will scan your system and remove all the threats.

It scans your computer and detects various threats like “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up, then removes it with all of the related malicious files, folders and registry keys. After deep scanning of your system, it will easily find and delete “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up. Use this removal tool to get rid of “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up for FREE.

Download Norton

Norton 360 Antimalware – this program will help you to get rid of “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up. It can find malicious program that is corrupting your system and clean up junk files after removal.

Download MalwareBytes

CleanMyMac – fully removes all instances of “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up from Mac and Safari. After deep scanning of your system, it will easily find and delete “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up. Use this removal tool to get rid of “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up for FREE.
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Combo Cleaner – finds malware and can clean up leftover items after removal. It can find malicious program that is corrupting your system and clean up junk files after removal.
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How to enable Safe mode:

For Windows XP, Vista, 7

1. Turn off your PC;
2. Turn it on and immediately press F8 button;
3. You’ll see Advanced Boot Options menu;
4. Select Safe Mode with arrow buttons;
5. In Safe Mode navigate to Control Panel, then choose Uninstall a program and remove “‘The proxy server is not responding’ error”.

For Windows 8/8.1 and 10

1. Press the Win+R buttons, type msconfig in box and press Enter;
2. Choose Boot tab, and click on Safe Boot check box;
3. Select the type of Safe Mode: Minimal or Network;
4. Press OK and reboot your PC;
5. In Safe Mode navigate to Control Panel, then choose Uninstall a program and remove “‘The proxy server is not responding’ error”.

How to remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up manually

Step 1: Remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up from Control Panel

In order to get rid of “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up, first thing you need to do is to uninstall malicious program from your computer. When removing “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up, try to find suspicious recently installed programs and delete them too, as it’s pretty common that any malware comes with some other unwanted programs.

Windows XP:

1. Select Start.
2. Control Panel.
3. Then choose Add or Remove Programs.
4. Search for program related to “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up.
5. Click Uninstall.

Windows 7/Windows Vista:

1. Select Start.
2. Then Control Panel.
3. Choose Uninstall a Program.
4. Find program related to “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up and choose Uninstall.

Windows 8/Windows 8.1:

1. Open the Menu.
2. Select Search.
3. After that choose Apps.
4. Next Control Panel.
5. Then as in Windows 7, click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
6. Find program related to “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up, select it and choose Uninstall.

Windows 10:

1. Click on the Start button (or press the Windows key) to open the Start menu, then select Settings at the top.
2. Choose App & features on the left menu.
3. On the right side, find program related to “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up and select it, then click on the Uninstall button.
4. Click on Uninstall to confirm.

Note: If you can’t find required program, sort programs by date in Control panel and search for suspicious recently installed programs.

Step 2: Remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up from browsers

Once you’ve uninstalled the application, remove “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up from your web browser. You need to search for recently-installed suspicious add-ons and extensions.

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Push Alt + F.
3. Choose Tools.
4. Select Extensions.
5. Search for program related to “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up.
6. Select the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Push Shift + Ctrl + A.
3. Select program related to “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up.
4. Choose Disable or Remove option.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open IE.
2. Push Alt + T.
3. Choose Manage Add-ons option.
4. Click Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Next select program related to Disable “Windows Defender Security Center” pop-up.
6. Choose More information link in the left-bottom corner.
7. Click Remove button.
8. If this button is grayed out – perform alternative steps.

Step 3: Removing malicious link from your browser shortcuts

Sometimes even removing of malicious program from your computer and web browser can’t help. If you are still facing unknown webpage when you open your web browser, then you might have your browser shortcut changed. It’s pretty common trick that performs most of browser hijackers. They change your browser shortcut so that every time you open it you’ll see not your homepage, but some advertisement webpage. But this issue is quite simple to fix. The instruction stated below matches most of the browsers.

1. Right-click on your browser shortcut, choose Properties.
2. If you see a link to some website after .exe in the Target field, read on.
3. Usually you are not able to delete a link from Target field, that’s why you need to click on the Open File Location button in this window.
4. Once you’ve opened file location, select chrome.exe/firefox.exe/iexplore.exe.
5. Right-click on this file and choose Sent to option, then Desktop (create shortcut).
6. New shortcut will have no additional redirection links.
7. Delete old infected shortcut. If you got one in your taskbar, delete it from there too.
8. Now you have new and clear shortcut without redirection to unknown websites.

Step 4: Resetting your browser search and homepage settings

To be sure that there is nothing left behind, we recommend you to reset your browser. It will restore your browser settings to default.

Reset browser settings in Google Chrome:

1. Click the Chrome menu (3 bar button) in the top right corner.
2. Choose Settings.
3. Click Show advanced settings.
4. Go to Reset browser settings section.
5. Click Reset browser settings.
6. In the dialog that appears, click Reset.

Reset browser settings in Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Go to Help.
3. Go to Troubleshooting information.
4. Click Reset Firefox… button.

Reset browser settings in Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on the cogwheel in the right upper corner.
3. Click Internet options.
4. Got to Advanced tab.
5. Click Reset button.
6. Put a tick near Delete personal settings checkbox.
7. Click Reset button.