Tackling the Microsoft Defender Subscription Scam Popup: A Guide to Resolution

Recently, a troubling issue has emerged regarding a persistent pop-up message related to Microsoft Defender. Many users have reported encountering a deceptive notification claiming that their Windows Defender antivirus has been upgraded to a premium plan costing $299.00, with a payment supposedly set to be charged on August 26, 2024.

If you find yourself dealing with a similar scam, you’re not alone. This pop-up can be quite alarming, particularly with its activation of PowerShell whenever it appears. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to assess and potentially resolve the situation.

Assessing the Situation

First and foremost, you’re right to be skeptical. Scams like this often employ urgent messages to intimidate users into providing personal information or making unwanted payments. Given that you’ve already performed a quick scan, a full scan, and even an offline scan with Microsoft Defender, it’s important to consider other avenues of investigation.

Key Steps to Take

1. Check for Unfamiliar Processes: You mentioned noticing conhost.exe in your system32 folder. While this process is a legitimate part of the Windows operating system, it’s wise to monitor its behavior, especially since you saw it launching under PowerShell in conjunction with the pop-up.

2. Review Installed Programs: Take a moment to check your list of installed applications through the Control Panel or Settings. Look for any software that seems unfamiliar or suspicious. If you find anything that doesn’t belong, uninstall it.

3. Explore Safe Mode: Restart your computer in Safe Mode. This mode allows your system to run with minimal drivers and applications, making it easier to identify any rogue programs. While in Safe Mode, run another scan with Microsoft Defender.

4. Consider Additional Anti-Malware Tools: If issues persist, consider utilizing a second opinion from reputable anti-malware programs. Tools like Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner can provide additional protection and detection capabilities.

5. Clear Browser Data: Since you’ve deleted your browsers, ensure any remnants or cached data have been completely eradicated. Before reinstalling, remember to clear all associated files and cookies.

6. Reinstall Browsers: If you have yet to do so, you can reinstall your preferred browsers from trusted sources and ensure they are updated to the latest versions.

7. Stay Vigilant: If the pop-up reoccurs,