The Important Security Alert from Windows is a fake warning, already at the first sight of which there are various doubts. This web-site is created only for one purpose – scare you into thinking that your computer have a lot of heavy problems with security, drivers, malware, Internet connection, etc and thus force you to call a remote tech support service. The appearance of the fake alerts in your web-browser could mean that your machine is infected with ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware). This type of malicious software does not delete files or infect them, but such as a virus can modify PC settings such as the homepage and search engine by default and download and install malicious extensions that generates a lot of popup ads. All the time, while the ad-supported software is running, your web browser will be fill with unwanted ads. Moreover, this adware will be able to collect a huge number of information about you, everything related to what are you doing on the Net. Thus, it’s clear that the presence of adware on your computer is not desirable, and you need to clean up your machine in order to remove “Important Security Alert from Windows” as quickly as possible.
The ad-supported software can change the settings of the Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and MS Edge, but often that a malicious software like this can also infect all types of internet browsers by changing their desktop shortcuts. Thus forcing the user each time launch the web browser to see “Important Security Alert from Windows” fake warning.
Technically, the ‘ad supported’ software is not a virus, but it does bad things, it generates tons of pop-ups, hindering or completely blocking the work in the browser. It may install other unknown and unwanted programs without your permission, force you to visit malicious web sites. Moreover, the ad supported software can download and install browser hijacker. Once installed, it will rewrite your homepage with an unwanted web-page.
Instructions, which is shown below, will allow you to clean your machine from the ad-supported software as well as get rid of Important Security Alert from Windows annoying popup from the Google Chrome, IE, Mozilla Firefox and MS Edge and other web-browsers.
How can you protect your system from Important Security Alert from Windows popup ads
Just as the beginning of this article, if you have ever seen the “Important Security Alert from Windows” popup appear in your web-browser, it could mean your PC has been infected with the adware. Most often ‘ad supported’ software is bundled with freeware. So, think back, have you ever download and launch any free programs? Because most users, in the Setup Wizard, simply click the Next button and don’t read any information such as ‘Terms of use’ and ‘Software license’. This leads to the fact that the PC system is infected, the web-browser’s configured to show a lot of the Important Security Alert from Windows unwanted ads. Even removing the freeware that contains this adware, the unwanted ads does not disappear. Therefore, you must follow the step-by-step guide below to clean your PC system from the ‘ad supported’ software and thereby remove fake alerts.
How to manually remove Important Security Alert from Windows pop-ups
Without a doubt, the ‘ad supported’ software is harmful to your PC system. So you need to quickly and completely delete this malicious software. To delete this adware, you can use the manual removal which are given below, or use an anti-malware tool for removing harmful applications, such as Malwarebytes Anti-malware and AdwCleaner (both are free). I note that we recommend that you use automatic removal, that will help you to remove Important Security Alert from Windows advertisements easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you are well versed in personal computer or in the case where adware is not removed automatically.
- Remove suspicious and unknown programs by using Windows Control Panel
- Remove Important Security Alert from Windows redirect from Mozilla Firefox
- Remove Important Security Alert from Windows advertisements from Google Chrome
- Delete Important Security Alert from Windows ads from Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
- Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Remove suspicious and unknown programs by using Windows Control Panel
First, you should try to identify and remove the program that causes the appearance of unwanted ads and web browser redirect to unwanted sites, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
Press Windows key
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown in the figure below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ under Programs category as shown in the figure below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of installed applications. Most likely, one or more of them are responsible for the internet browser redirect to unwanted Important Security Alert from Windows ads. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious software by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and press ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, press ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown on the image below.
When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to click ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as shown below.
You will see a list of applications installed on your computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the software that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of annoying popup ads and web browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the program, you need to delete, is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as on the image below.
Remove Important Security Alert from Windows redirect from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox settings have been modified by the adware, then resetting it to the default state can help you to delete the redirect onto Important Security Alert from Windows web page.
First, start the Firefox and press 
button. It will display the drop-down menu on the right-part of the internet browser. Next, click the Help button (
) as shown in the figure below.
In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the internet browser address bar and press Enter. It will display the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the screen below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, press the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will show the confirmation dialog box, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will begin a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the ad supported software. When it’s complete, click the “Finish” button
Remove Important Security Alert from Windows advertisements from Google Chrome
Open the Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It opens the drop-down menu. Next, click the “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, like below and click the “Reset settings” button.
Confirm your action, click the “Reset” button.
Delete Important Security Alert from Windows ads from Microsoft Internet Explorer
First, run the Microsoft Internet Explorer, then click the button in the form of gear (
). It will display the Tools drop-down menu like below. Next, press the “Internet Options”.
In the Internet Options window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown in the figure below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts
When the ad supported software is started, it can also change the web browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument like “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you open the web browser, it will be rerouted to an unwanted advertisements.
To clear the internet browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text which begins with “http://” which has been added here. You need to remove it.
When the argument is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your internet browsers, as they may be infected too.
Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks
Once installed, the adware can add a task in to the Windows Task Scheduler Library. Due to this, every time when you open your computer, it will show Important Security Alert from Windows unwanted page. So, you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and remove all tasks that have been created by malicious program.
Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard simultaneously. It will open a prompt that titled as Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and press OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, press “Task Scheduler Library”, as shown in the figure below.
Task scheduler, list of tasks
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be open just below automatically. Next, press the Actions tab. Necessary to look at the text which is written under Details. Found something such as “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address” or “firefox.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it’s a component of the ‘ad-supported’ application, then this task also should be removed.
Further click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as shown on the screen below.
Task scheduler, delete a task
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by malicious applications. Once is finished, close the Task Scheduler window.
How to remove Important Security Alert from Windows automatically
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely delete Important Security Alert from Windows pop-up ads from the infected PC. This is because the adware can hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and remove completely. This may lead to the fact that after some time, the adware again infect your computer and it will begin to display “Important Security Alert from Windows” advertisements. Moreover, I want to note that it is not always safe to remove adware manually, if you do not have much experience in setting up and configuring the computer.
I suggest using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your computer. It’s an advanced malware removal program developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It is able to help you delete browser hijackers, malware, ad supported software, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your personal computer for free.
Now, press the link below to download Malwarebytes Free on your computer. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
326466 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
After downloading is complete, close all software on your computer. Next, run the setup file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown below, click the Yes button.
It will show the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Malwarebytes on your system. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is finished successfully, click Finish button. Then Malwarebytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the image below.
Now press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the ad-supported software that displays “Important Security Alert from Windows” fake warnings. Once the ad-supported software or malware is found, the number of the detected objects will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is finished. Please be patient.
When it has finished scanning, you can check all threats detected on your system. Make sure all entries have “checkmark” and press “Quarantine Selected” button. The Malwarebytes will begin removing malware and adware which cause “Important Security Alert from Windows” pop-ups. Once disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot your system.
I suggest you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the Malwarebytes program to remove ‘ad supported’ software and other malware.
Stop Important Security Alert from Windows pop-up and other annoying web-sites
To increase your security and protect your system against new unwanted ads and malicious sites, you need to use application that stops access to harmful advertisements and web-sites. Moreover, the program can stop the open of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of web-sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
Download AdGuard program from the following link.
26660 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After the download is done, run the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the screen below.
Follow the prompts. Once the installation is done, you will see a window like below.
You can press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop pop-ups, annoying ads, as well as other harmful or misleading web-sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your Windows desktop.
Delete Important Security Alert from Windows ads and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner.
If MalwareBytes cannot remove the annoying Important Security Alert from Windows pop-ups from the Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge and Internet Explorer, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for adware, browser hijackers, PUPs and toolbars.
Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the link below.
225301 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Once the download is done, open the file location. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this tool is started, you will see a screen such as below.
Now, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the malicious extensions and adware which shows the Important Security Alert from Windows ads. Once the system scan is finished, it will show a scan report as shown below.
Review the report and then press “Clean” button. It will open a prompt. Click “OK”. Once the cleaning procedure is complete, AdwCleaner may ask you to reboot your personal computer.
Look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the AdwCleaner to remove adware, browser hijackers and other dangerous software.
Finish words
Now your computer should be free of the Important Security Alert from Windows pop-ups. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and unwanted malicious web-pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malware and ‘ad supported’ software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove Important Security Alert from Windows fake warnings from your system, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
