Remove “Norton – Scan Your Windows PC For Viruses In Seconds” scam

The “Norton – Scan Your Windows PC For Viruses In Seconds” scam refers to a fake virus alert that claims your computer is infected with several serious infections after offering a free virus scan. The scam is disguised to look like it’s shown by Norton anti-virus. However, the program has nothing to do with this. Malicious actors are merely misusing Norton’s affiliate program by showing users fake malware detections and directing them to Norton’s official purchase page. If users make a purchase, the malicious actors get paid.

 

 

“Norton – Scan Your Windows PC For Viruses In Seconds” is just one variation of a common scam designed to mislead users into believing their computers are infected. This specific scam falsely claims the notification comes from Norton anti-virus, but similar versions exist involving other anti-virus programs like McAfee and Windows Defender. It’s important to note that these programs are not involved in the scams; their names and affiliate programs are merely exploited by malicious actors.

This scam typically redirects you to a fake Norton website that offers a free virus scan. If you initiate the scan, the site will show a fake scan and claim that your device has several serious infections. If you click “Remove threats”, you will be redirected to Norton’s official site and offered to buy a subscription. If you were to buy a subscription, you would be able to use Norton, as it is the legitimate site. However, the malicious actors operating the fake virus alerts would get an affiliate’s payment as you would purchase a subscription using their link.

Keep in mind that real virus alerts will never appear in your browser. Your browser itself cannot detect viruses, so any genuine alerts will come directly from your anti-virus software and will be displayed within the program. Generally, any notifications about issues with your computer that show up in your browser are likely scams. If you avoid interacting with these pop-ups, they won’t harm your computer.

We recommend scanning your computer with anti-virus software WiperSoft to check for any adware that might be causing the redirects to these scams. If adware is the culprit, the only way to permanently remove “Norton – Scan Your Windows PC For Viruses In Seconds” redirects is by removing the adware. Additionally, consider installing an ad blocker to help prevent disruptive pop-ups and redirects when browsing ad-heavy sites.

Random redirects can be caused by adware

In most instances, users who browse ad-heavy sites are the most likely to be redirected to fake virus alerts. These sites tend to spam users with non-stop ads. Browsing ad-heavy sites without an ad blocker program can expose users to various harmful content. For example, websites that have pornographic or pirated content frequently bombard users with ads. Installing an ad blocker can easily fix this issue, as all ads would be blocked.

In less common cases, redirects and fake pop-ups can be the result of an adware infection. While adware is a relatively minor issue compared to other threats, it can be quite troublesome due to the constant stream of ads it generates. Adware infections typically sneak onto users’ devices via software bundling. They come bundled with popular free programs as additional offers, which are set to install without explicit consent alongside their primary program.

Although additional offers are technically optional, they have to be manually deselected to prevent their installation. However, because the offers are hidden, users often do not notice them, thus allowing them to install. To avoid these unwanted installations, select Advanced or Custom settings when installing free programs. Installation windows usually suggest using Default settings, which conceal these offers and allow their automatic installations. By choosing Advanced settings, you’ll see the offers and be able to uncheck them. It’s important to deselect all offers, as software bundling is a dubious method. Programs that try to deceive you into permitting their installation should not be on your device. While some offers may initially appear beneficial, allowing their installation can quickly clutter your computer with unnecessary programs.

How to remove “Norton – Scan Your Windows PC For Viruses In Seconds” scam

If you come across this type of pop-up while browsing, you can just close the window without giving it any attention. Don’t be misled by the false claims of the fake virus alert, as the information it provides is not true. Keep in mind that legitimate virus alerts will never appear in your browser because it can’t actually detect viruses. And any alerts from your anti-virus software will show up directly within the program itself.