# Fake antivirus popup problem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137 "2026-05-17T04:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/1 "2026-05-17T04:32:14Z")
This has happened to me in the past, where fake antivirus ads purporting to be from different companies fill my screen and can’t be stopped. They insist that I click on them to get rid of the hundreds of viruses that supposedly inhabit my computer. The last time this happened I installed Malwarebites it it took care of the problem. This time around Malwarebites not only says I do not have hundreds of viruses that must be eliminated…it can’t find the virus that is causing all the popups. By the way, although the ads claim to be coming from different antivirus companies (and sometimes even my own computer!), they all have a certain email address that contains “nexstackrentix” among other letters and numbers. Any help/advice? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/2 "2026-05-17T04:36:38Z")
This happened to me for the first time decades. I really thought Microsoft and the browser companies had consigned this kind of thing to the dustbin of history. But no, it still happens and nothing fixed it except uninstalling Chrome ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/3 "2026-05-17T04:41:58Z")
It is popping up in every browser, and even as soon as I turn my computer on, before any browsers are opened. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/4 "2026-05-17T05:16:08Z")
Are you using Windows 11? This thread discusses problem that sound similar to what you’re describing: [The annoyance that is Windows 11 - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-annoyance-that-is-windows-11/1029530) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/5 "2026-05-17T05:20:41Z")
No, as one of the active posters in that thread, what @Czarcasm describes is not being caused by Windows 11. That’s some kind of virus. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/6 "2026-05-17T05:21:11Z")
Try Bitdefender. It’s highly rated, and I’ve found that it handles infections that weren’t found by MalwareBytes. > **[Bitdefender Free Antivirus Software](https://www.bitdefender.com/en-us/consumer/free-antivirus)** > > Bitdefender Antivirus Free offers powerful antivirus protection that is light on any device's resources. The only free antivirus that you'll ever need! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/7 "2026-05-17T06:02:32Z")
This is embarrassing. It is Bitdefender that I put on my computer that stopped it previously, not Malwarebites, and it doesn’t even see this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/8 "2026-05-17T06:04:43Z")
Nothing in that thread is similar to the problem I have. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/9 "2026-05-17T06:10:52Z")
Try running Hitman Pro ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/10 "2026-05-17T06:13:43Z")
Is it free, and can it fix the particular problem I have? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/11 "2026-05-17T06:19:22Z")
It is free trial-ware (you can always reset the trial, though), that can _probably_ fix your problem. You can download it here: > **[Download HitmanPro and HitmanPro.Alert Malware Removal and Protection Tools.](https://www.hitmanpro.com/en-us/downloads)** > > Download HitmanPro to remove ransomware, malware, ad trackers and spyware from your windows machines. Get HitmanPro.Alert to provide continuous scanning in real time. > **[Download HitmanPro](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/hitmanpro/)** > > HitmanPro is an anti-virus program that describes itself as a second opinion scanner that should be used in conjunction with another anti-virus program that you may already have installed.  If malware slips past your anti-virus software, HitmanPro... ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/12 "2026-05-17T06:22:04Z")
Try running a One-Time Scan, and see if it finds anything. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/13 "2026-05-17T06:25:04Z")
Historically - if this sort of issue popped up on a device but didn’t pop any virus notifications, it was often a browser hijack. You can fix this by cleaning browser caches and cookies. It _often_ works, but lots of stuff you have saved to the browser (passwords, authentications, etc.) can be lost, and thinks will often load slower for some time. So, do so at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/14 "2026-05-17T06:39:50Z")
I just did that with your recommended program . It didn’t find any malware or viruses…and the instant it finished and closed another popup supposedly from Mcafee (which I have never had on this computer, btw) appeared telling me I have to install their program. And another one with a skull and crossbones in the upper left corner just now appeared right above it. No browsers are ruining. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/15 "2026-05-17T06:55:13Z")
I am doing a system restore to back around a month ago. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/16 "2026-05-17T07:14:13Z")
I am also thinking some sort of browser notification hijack. Do you ever use Microsoft Edge? Check that nothing suspicious is enabled: [Manage website notifications in Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/manage-website-notifications-in-microsoft-edge) @ParallelLines 's advice of clearing the cache and so forth is sound. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I am doing a system restore to back around a month ago. You could, but if it is just a matter of cleaning up one single app… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/17 "2026-05-17T07:38:26Z")
Edge browser just cleansed and machine rebooted. Let’s see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/18 "2026-05-17T07:43:35Z")
And the first (of many) popups just appeared in the bottom right corner. I just blocked that previously mentioned “nexstackrentix.co.in” (this is not the whole address, of course) on Edge…and the popup disappeared. Waiting and seeing. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/19 "2026-05-17T08:19:36Z")
Also, put Ublock Origin on that Edge… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137/20 "2026-05-17T08:37:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I am doing a system restore to back around a month ago. That sounds like a solid plan. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-antivirus-popup-problem/1030137.md?page=2)