Remove “Microsoft Defender” fake extension

The “Microsoft Defender” extension is classified as an adware infection. The fake extension is disguised as an additional security tool for Microsoft Defender. It claims to be able to elevate your security beyond the traditional anti-virus but it doesn’t actually have anything to do with Microsoft Defender, nor has it been developed by Microsoft. It merely impersonates a Microsoft security tool to trick users into trusting it. The fake extension is very intrusive and requests several permissions that put your privacy at risk. If it is granted the permissions it asks for, it could steal a lot of highly sensitive information, including browsing history and saved login credentials.

 

 

The “Microsoft Defender” fake extension is often promoted on questionable sites, to which you may be redirected when browsing ad-heavy sites. It may also be promoted via questionable ads and fake virus alerts. Because it impersonates a Microsoft Defender extension, users may not even question it and install it without checking anything.

Once users add the extension, it requests several permissions, including the ability to read and change your browsing history, display notifications, block content on pages, and manage apps/extensions. If the extension gets these permissions, it will be able to collect highly sensitive information, including visited sites, search queries, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, saved credit card details, etc. You would also likely start getting browser notifications, which in this case would be ads. You may be shown fake virus alerts that ask you to download/install questionable programs or call fake tech support numbers. Because these browser notifications appear on the desktop, it’s not difficult to confuse them with legitimate system notifications, especially if users believe this fake Microsoft Defender extension to be a legitimate security tool.

Infections like “Microsoft Defender” fake extension may also interrupt your browsing and redirect you to highly questionable sites, as well as make changes to your browser’s settings. This disrupts your normal browsing and makes it frustrating. These are no reasons why you should put up with an infection like “Microsoft Defender” adware. The sooner you remove “Microsoft Defender” fake extension, the quicker you can go back to regular browsing.

We strongly recommend using an anti-virus program to delete “Microsoft Defender” fake extension because while it’s not a complex infection, such threats can be quite persistent and difficult to get rid of manually. Once you fully remove “Microsoft Defender” fake extension, we recommend you change your passwords to prevent accounts from being hijacked.

How does adware install?

There are several ways adware can be installed on your computer. Many users inadvertently install adware through a method known as software bundling. The way it works is adware is bundled together with popular free programs as an additional offer. These offers are often set to install automatically unless users specifically opt out when installing programs. However, they are hidden in certain settings, making them easy to miss. As a result, software bundling has developed a negative reputation. Programs using this method are frequently flagged as potential threats by anti-virus software.

To keep your device free from unwanted junk, it’s important to decline these bundled offers when installing free applications. The installation process usually suggests Default settings, which enable all bundled offers to be installed without your direct approval. In contrast, selecting Advanced (Custom) settings will display all offers and allow you to deselect any you don’t want. Generally, legitimate programs avoid using the bundling method, so it’s a good idea to refuse all such offers, even if they initially appear appealing.

As we mentioned already, the “Microsoft Defender” fake extension may have been advertised as a security tool on various shady sites. This is why it’s so important to always research programs/extensions before installing them. A simple search with a search engine like Google is often enough. If results show that the extension/program is untrustworthy, you should not install it.

Remove “Microsoft Defender” fake extension

While adware and potentially unwanted program infections are not particularly sophisticated, it’s strongly recommended to use an anti-malware program like WiperSoft to remove “Microsoft Defender” fake extension. Because the extension could have stolen your login information, you need to change your passwords immediately after you remove “Microsoft Defender” fake extension from your computer.