New Unwanted Popup keeps appearing

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
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I have Norton 360 Deluxe, Norton Anti-Tracking, Norton Utilities Ultimate, and VPN installed on my PC.

For the last week, a McAfee Security window pops up constantly with the notification that my PC performance is poor. I have never installed this program, and when I try to uninstall it, I get an error message. My Norton scans all indicate my PC and Laptop are in good shape. Where did this program come from and how do I get rid of it? Thanks

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Hi @El999 ,

Two hypotheses about your situation:

  • either it is a new computer delivered with a demo version of Mcafee,
  • or it is an attempt at a social scam using fake antivirus aimed at tricking you into installing malware on your device yourself.

Concerning this second case, I invite you to consult and implement the advice given by the Norton support page relating to “Removing scam messages that state your computer is infected”.

Do not hesitate to come back to the community to confirm that your problem is resolved or to have more information.
Have a good day.

Guillaume

2 Likes
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Fake McAfee popup notifications are deceptive ads that mimic legitimate alerts from McAfee, often tricking users into clicking on them to pay for unnecessary products or services, or to provide personal information. They can appear on your browser or Windows system and use the McAfee logo and colors to look legitimate.

How to identify and avoid fake McAfee pop-ups:

  • Poor grammar and spelling: Genuine McAfee notifications have professional language and formatting.
  • Unsolicited requests for passwords or personal information: Legitimate notifications will never ask for sensitive information.
  • Scare tactics: Fake pop-ups often create a sense of urgency or panic to induce users to take immediate action.
  • Links to unofficial websites: Be wary of links that don’t lead to the official McAfee website or have suspicious domain names.
  • Suspicious claims about your computer being infected: Genuine alerts will only inform you about actual threats.
  • Notifications from unfamiliar or suspicious sources: Make sure the source of the notification is a legitimate McAfee account.
  • Unsolicited offers to extend protection: Genuine McAfee notifications will only be sent by McAfee to those with active subscriptions.

What to do if you encounter a fake McAfee pop-up:

  1. Close the pop-up: Don’t interact with the pop-up in any way.
  2. Clear your browser cache and history: This can help remove any lingering traces of the fake pop-up.
  3. Block notifications from the website where the pop-up appeared: You can usually block notifications for specific websites in your browser settings.
  4. Scan your computer for malware: Use a reputable antivirus program to ensure your computer is not infected.
  5. Disable pop-ups in your browser settings: Many browsers allow you to disable all pop-ups or block them from specific websites.

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  • Did you clear browser cookies n’ cache?
  • Do you run browser sync?
  • Did you recently install any program / browser extension?
  • Did you recently allow push notifications?
  • Did you recently change site permissions?
  • Did you reset browser?
  • Did you run Norton Full Scan?
  • Did you run Malwarebytes Scan?

Malwarebytes: How to install Malwarebytes & run a scan

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Malwarebytes scan is a straightforward process whether you are using the free or premium version. Follow these steps to get your system protected:

  1. How to Install Malwarebytes
  • Download the Installer: Visit the official Malwarebytes website and click the Free Download button to get the latest setup file (usually named MBSetup.exe).
  • Run the Setup: Locate the file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. If Windows asks for permission (User Account Control), click Yes.
  • Follow the Wizard:
    • Click Install.
    • Choose your device type: Personal (Me or my family) or Business.
    • You may see an offer for “Browser Guard”—you can choose to Skip or install it based on your preference.
  • Complete Setup: Once finished, click Open Malwarebytes. You will be asked to “Get Started,” where you can sign in to an existing account, start a 14-day premium trial, or just click Maybe Later to use the free version.
  1. How to Run a Scan
  • Open the App: Launch Malwarebytes from your desktop or Start menu.
  • Start the Scan: On the main dashboard, click the large Scan button. This initiates a Threat Scan, which is the recommended mode for checking common malware hiding spots.
  • Wait for Completion: The scan typically takes between 5 and 20 minutes. You can continue using your computer, but it may run slightly slower during this time.
  • Review & Clean:
    • No Threats Found: Click Done.
    • Threats Detected: A list of suspicious items will appear. Ensure the items you want to remove are checked and click Quarantine.
    • Restart: If prompted, restart your computer to fully remove the detected threats.

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Malwarebytes AdwCleaner is a free, portable tool that removes adware, browser hijackers, and PUPs. Download it from the official Malwarebytes site, save the .exe file to your desktop, and run it as an administrator. Click “Scan Now,” review findings, and select “Clean & Repair” to remove threats.

Step-by-Step Installation & Scan Guide

  1. Download: Navigate to the official AdwCleaner page and click “Free Download” to save the executable file.
  2. Run: Locate the file (usually in your Downloads folder) and double-click it to run, as it does not require a traditional installation process.
  3. Permissions: Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control (UAC) to allow changes.
  4. Accept Terms: Click “Agree” to the license agreement.
  5. Scan: Click the Scan Now button on the dashboard.
  6. Review and Clean: Once the scan finishes, review the list of detected threats, then click Clean & Repair.
  7. Restart: AdwCleaner will prompt you to close all programs and restart your computer to finalize the removal process.

Important Tips

  • Close Programs: Ensure all browsers and applications are closed before running the scan.
  • Pre-installed Apps: If you wish to keep pre-installed manufacturer applications, uncheck them in the scan results before clicking “Clean”.
  • Log Files: A log file is generated after the scan, which can be reviewed to see exactly what was removed.

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AI sourced content may make mistakes

4

Hello @El999
Are you asking “where did this McAfee program come from”?
Are you trying to uninstall McAfee?..since you wrote “never installed this program”.
What “error message” (PC performance is poor?)…from Norton? or from McAfee?

How to uninstall or remove McAfee software from a Windows PC

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It sounds like you’re dealing with scareware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that likely hitched a ride on a recent download or came pre-installed on your system. Since your Norton scans are clean, these “poor performance” alerts are almost certainly fake warnings designed to trick you into clicking links or buying unnecessary software.

Where did it come from?

  • Bundled Software: It often arrives as an “optional offer” during the installation of another program (like a PDF converter or a game) that you might have missed.
  • Browser Notifications: If the popup looks like it’s coming from your browser or the Windows notification center (bottom-right corner), a website you visited might have tricked you into “allowing notifications”.
  • Pre-installed Bloatware: Some PC brands (like Dell, HP, or Lenovo) pre-install trial versions of McAfee that can “wake up” after a system update.

How to get rid of it

Since the standard uninstaller is giving you errors, follow these steps in order to clear it out:

  1. Use the Official McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR)

This is the most effective way to bypass uninstallation errors.

  • Download the official McAfee Consumer Product Removal (MCPR) tool.
  • Right-click MCPR.exe and select Run as Administrator.
  • Follow the prompts, enter the security CAPTCHA, and let it run (it may take up to 20 minutes).
  • Restart your computer immediately after it finishes.
  1. Clean Up Browser Notifications

If the popups continue after using the removal tool, they are likely coming from your browser:

  • Google Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Find any suspicious sites (e.g., “xyz-alerts.com”) under Allowed to send notifications and select Remove or Block.
  • Microsoft Edge: Go to Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications and remove unfamiliar sites.
  1. Run a Norton “Startup Scan”

Since you already have Norton, use its specialized tool to catch anything trying to load before the OS:

  • Open your Norton app and go to Security > Scans.
  • Select Startup Scan and click Set Up. Follow the prompts to restart your PC.

Was this a new PC, or did you recently download any new apps before this started happening?

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AI sourced content may make mistakes

5

Hello @El999

Please clarify…Do you have Norton 360 with VPN feature & Norton standalone VPN installed on the same PC?

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Hello @El999
Care to share your progress

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Hi bjm,

As was suggested its a new computer, therefore I returned to the store. The salesperson/tech confirmed that there is a “free” version of McFee. He gave me the full sales pitch that it was free for 3 months, and it was, in his opinion, a superior product (to Norton). He was actually really patronising. I used the Official McFee Removal Tool, and fingers crossed, it appears to be successful. Many thanks for the assistance.

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8

Hello @El999
Thanks for sharing your progress

1 Like