“Windows protected your PC” is a common windows protection service popup that users encounter all the time. When running a program in Windows 10, the message appears. Also, it may display on the browser. The first case is normal while the second is a tech support scam. The following is how to disable or remove the popup based on these two cases.
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Case 1: Windows Protected Your PC in Windows 10
In Windows 8 and 10, there is a security feature called Windows SmartScreen that is used to monitor the execution of apps and the opening of sites. If they are not recognized by the Windows software database, this feature blocks them.
Besides, if the app or site is identified as malicious, Windows SmartScreen will intervene in it. By default, this feature is enabled and it is a background service. That is, it runs in the background.
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When we run a program but Microsoft doesn’t know anything about it, Windows SmartScreen also intervenes in it. On our screen, we will receive an error message saying “Windows protected your PC. Windows SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting…”
This SmartScreen protection popup seems to be annoying if the app is secure and comes from a legal source. If we don’t want to receive the message, we can follow these methods to disable Windows SmartScreen.
Allow Apps to Bypass the Windows SmartScreen Protection Popup
Remember to make sure the app is from a correct source. Then, you can choose to bypass the “Windows protected your PC” message. Just click More info and then click Run anyway to continue using this app.
Disable Windows SmartScreen
According to some reports, SmartScreen may slow down the system and cannot offer any additional security functions when running an antivirus software. Even, it collects our private data.
In this case, we can choose to disable Windows SmartScreen by using the Registry Editor.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor interface by searching for regedit to the search box in Windows 10.
Step 2: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System.
Step 3: Double-click the key of EnableSmartScreen and set its value data to 0.
Step 4: Restart the computer and see if the message disappears.
Case 2: Windows Protected Your PC Virus Scam
Also, we may get the message “Windows protected your PC” when we use a browser. In fact, it is a virus and a tech support scam. windows protection…
If we call the offered phone number, things get worse since the scammers ask for payment to get a purported support service. Remember that Microsoft never sends emails offering a phone call to require personal information. Also, a phone number is never included in the errors from Microsoft.
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How can we remove the scam from our computer? Four essential steps are required.
Operation 1: Close the Browser Tabs
This is the first thing we should do. To close the browser tabs, we can right-click the taskbar to open Task Manager. Then, under the Processes tab, choose the browser and click End task.
Operation 2: Uninstall Malicious Programs from Windows 10
In our computes, there are always some apps installed without consent, or some apps are added to the add-ons of the browser or hidden in some other installers. Malicious viruses are likely to be included.
So, we should remove these programs. Just open Control Panel, click Uninstall a program, choose the malicious app, and select Uninstall.
Operation 3: Run Anti-Malware
The third step we can do is to run an anti-malware to scan the entire system for malicious software and viruses. Here, we recommend using Malwarebytes. Also, some other apps like HitmanPro, AdwCleaner, etc. can be good choices.
Operation 4: Reset Browser Settings to Default
This is the final step we should do. In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up and then click Restore settings to their original defaults.
These are all the steps to remove the “Windows protected your PC” virus scam. After finishing the operations, we had better create a backup for our PC with professional PC backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker since viruses are ubiquitous, leading to data loss.
Conclusion On Windows protected your PC
Two cases on “Windows protected your PC” are described here. Just try these methods to easily disable it based on different situations.
