Avoiding scams on windows-secureit.com and removing its notifications/ads

What kind of page is windows-secureit[.]com?

During a routine exploration of questionable websites, our researchers detected windows-secureit[.]com - a page that promotes the "McAfee - Your PC is infected with 5 viruses!" scam. This site also pushes its browser notifications and can redirect visitors to other unreliable/malicious webpages.

Typically, websites like windows-secureit[.]com are accessed through redirects caused by other pages that use rogue advertising networks.

Windows-secureit[.]com overview

It is noteworthy that the behavior of rogue pages, i.e., what they display/endorse, often depends on the visitor's IP address/geolocation. At the time of research, we observed windows-secureit[.]com pushing the "McAfee - Your PC is infected with 5 viruses!" scam.

When the site was accessed, our researchers were presented with multiple pop-up windows disguised as McAfee anti-virus alerts. Some of these pop-ups included a fake system scan (notable, as sites cannot perform such), an image of what is supposedly McAfee's interface (the picture is based on the Norton anti-virus), and one mimicking a Windows 10 alert that warned against closing the site.

Scheme of this type are primarily used to promote unreliable and untrustworthy software; more information can be found in our article on this scam.

Windows-secureit[.]com also requests users to permit it to display its browser notifications. It does not use any deceit to specifically trick visitors into doing so, which is typical for rogue webpages.

If the notifications are allowed, windows-secureit[.]com will begin running intrusive advertisement campaigns. We have noted that these notifications/ads are usually employed to endorse various scams, dubious and harmful sites/apps, and in some cases - even malware.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by windows-secureit.com
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads
Detection Names	N/A (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution Methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, false claims within visited websites, potentially unwanted applications (adware)
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Browser notification spam in general

Security-defender.xyz, topraw.net, gloonseetaih.com, and bestsystemav.xyz are just a few examples of the rogue websites we have researched. These pages operate by loading dubious material, promoting their browser notifications, and/or redirecting visitors to various untrustworthy sites.

Most of them request users to allow their browsers notifications, and many use clickbait to obtain permission. The advertisements (notifications) delivered by such webpages are typically misleading, deceptive, and even malicious.

It is worth mentioning that any legitimate content encountered through these adverts is highly unlikely to be promoted in this manner by its actual creators. This promotion is usually done by scammers using affiliate programs to acquire illegitimate commissions.

How did windows-secureit[.]com gain permission to deliver spam notifications?

Websites deliver browser notifications when users permit them to do so. In other words, sites can only display these ads if visitors click the "Allow", "Allow Notifications", or similar options presented within these pages. While we have not observed windows-secureit[.]com using clickbait, fake CAPTCHA verification, or similar deceptive content to trick users into giving it permission - these tactics are common for webpages of this type.

How to prevent deceptive sites from delivering spam notifications?

To avoid receiving unwanted browser notifications, do not click any notification consent options (e.g., "Allow", "Allow Notifications", etc.). Instead, ignore these requests or decline them (e.g., "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.).

It is pertinent to mention that browsers can force-open rogue/malicious websites (e.g., windows-secureit[.]com), when adware is present on the system. This software can infiltrate devices without user knowledge. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of the windows-secureit[.]com website (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Ads by windows-secureit.com?
• STEP 1. Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome
• STEP 2. Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome (Android)
• STEP 3. Remove spam notifications from Mozilla Firefox
• STEP 4. Remove spam notifications from Microsoft Edge
• STEP 5. Remove spam notifications from Safari (macOS)

Disable unwanted browser notifications:

Video showing how to disable web browser notifications:

Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome:

Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings". In the opened window select "Privacy and security", then click on "Site Settings" and choose "Notifications".

In the "Allowed to send notifications" list search for websites that you want to stop receiving notifications from. Click on the three dots icon near the website URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Google Chrome (Android):

Tap the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings". Scroll down, tap on "Site settings" and then "Notifications".

In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and tap on them one-by-one. Once the pop-up shows up, select either "Block" or "Remove" (if you tap "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen. Select "Settings" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen. Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications".

In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and block them using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove Website" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove Website" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Microsoft Edge:

Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window and select "Settings". Click on "Cookies and site permissions" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen and select "Notifications".

Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL under "Allow" section and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again).

Remove spam notifications from Safari (macOS):

Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences...". Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane.

Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

How to avoid browser notification spam?

Internet users should be very skeptical when being asked to allow notifications. While this is a useful feature that allows you to receive timely news from websites you like, deceptive marketers frequently abuse it.

Only allow notifications from websites that you fully trust. For added security - use an anti-malware application with a real-time web browsing monitor to block shady websites that tries to trick you into allowing spam notifications. We recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why am I seeing ads (browser notifications) delivered by windows-secureit[.]com in the right lower corner of my desktop?

Displaying browser notifications necessitates user permission. Therefore, it is likely that you have visited windows-secureit[.]com and allowed it to deliver these advertisements. Note that such sites are typically accessed inadvertently through redirects caused by webpages using rogue advertising networks.

I have clicked on notification ads, is my computer infected?

No, clicking on browser notifications is harmless since they are not used in malvertising. However, the websites and apps promoted through these ads can be malicious and cause severe issues (including system infections).

Is windows-secureit[.]com a virus?

While windows-secureit[.]com is not categorized as a virus, it may endorse virulent content. Websites of this kind are frequently used to promote various scams, unreliable/harmful applications, and even malware.

Will Combo Cleaner remove windows-secureit[.]com ads automatically or manual steps are still required?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and undo the permissions granted to the windows-secureit[.]com site. It is also capable of blocking all further access to this and other rogue/malicious pages. Hence, no additional steps will be necessary.

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