Q: Are Windows Defender warnings that pop up with a phone number legit? A: Microsoft’s built-in security tool has improved over the years, and it still blocks plenty of everyday threats. But the ...

Scammers are using fake Windows Defender pop-ups with real looking phone numbers to trick users. These fraudulent warnings are not from Microsoft and aim to gain remote access to your computer. A ...

Update, March 31, 2025: This story, originally published March 29, has been updated with an explanation of LOLBINS as well as further technical information regarding the Windows Defender Application ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. There are a number of antivirus, anti-malware, and internet ...

In an email we received from Janet D., she shared her recent unsettling experience. Here’s what she described: "I received a pop-up that froze my computer and read, ‘Access to this system is blocked ...

A new tool called 'Defendnot' can disable Microsoft Defender on Windows devices by registering a fake antivirus product, even when no real AV is installed. The trick utilizes an undocumented Windows ...

Q: Are Windows Defender warnings that pop up with a phone number legit? A: Microsoft’s built-in security tool has improved over the years, and it still blocks plenty of everyday threats. But the ...

Most modern Windows PCs rely on Microsoft Defender as their first line of defense against malware. Over the years, it has evolved into a capable and often underrated antivirus that blocks a wide range ...