Persistent Malicious Popup: The Unrelenting Microsoft Defender Subscription Fraud

Tackling the Microsoft Defender Subscription Scam Pop-up: Your Comprehensive Guide

If you’ve recently encountered a persistent pop-up claiming your Windows Defender antivirus has upgraded to a Pro plan, you’re not alone. Many users report seeing these misleading notifications, which often suggest a hefty charge will be processed shortly. In this post, we’ll explore the issue and provide actionable steps to help you regain control of your computer.

Identifying the Scam

The pop-up message may read something ominous, such as:

“Your Windows Defender antivirus is upgraded to a Pro plan of $299.00. The payment will be charged to your credit card on August 26, 2024.”

While it’s clear that this message is a ruse, it can be concerning to see it repeatedly invade your computer’s space. This type of scam is typically designed to trigger fear and prompt users into providing personal information or credit card details. However, the real question is whether your computer has been compromised and how to eliminate the unwanted pop-up.

Assessing Your Computer’s Security

You’ve already taken significant steps by performing various scans with Microsoft Defender, including a quick scan, a full scan, and an offline scan. Yet, the pop-up persists, indicating there may be deeper issues at play. Here are several strategies to consider:

1. Review Running Processes: Navigate to Task Manager to take a closer look at running applications. You mentioned noticing conhost.exe in your system32 folder, which is generally a legitimate Windows process, but its activity alongside the pop-up is suspicious. Pay attention to its behavior and usage during these occurrences.

2. Check Startup Programs: Some malware installs itself to launch during startup. Access the Task Manager and head to the ‘Startup’ tab to disable any unfamiliar applications from running automatically.

3. Clear Browsing Data: Although you’ve already deleted all browsers, if they’re reinstalled and the problem persists, clear all browsing data, including cookies and cache. This can help eliminate remnants of the scam website possibly stored in your system.

4. Update Your Software: Ensure your operating system and all applications are updated to the latest versions. Security patches can help close vulnerabilities.

5. Use Alternative Security Tools: While Microsoft Defender is a solid tool, supplement it with a reputable third-party antivirus for a second opinion. Tools like Malwarebytes can catch threats that may slip through other security measures.

6. Boot in Safe Mode: Restart your computer