New notification: HP Featured Offer Multiple System Issues Detected

[CatJan98]

I've gotten a system notification twice in the last week from HP stating: system health impacted by multiple issues, resolve registry issues, etc.  It's part of an HP featured offer to get iolo system mechanic.  I'm not having any issues with my PC.  Is this a legitimate notification or a scam?  I've tried searching for an answer on Google and haven't found one.  Thanks if someone knows about this and can help. 

[Nal_NR · Accepted solution]

Hi @CatJan98,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

I can understand your concern, as notifications like this can sometimes be a bit alarming, especially when you haven't noticed any issues with your PC. Let's take a closer look to help you clarify whether this is legitimate or potentially a scam.

• Did the notification appear while using specific software or just randomly?
• Have you recently installed any new software or updates that could be related to this notification?
• Is there any link or contact information in the notification that you can identify, or does it direct you to an external website?

Steps to Determine if the Notification is Legitimate:

Check the Source of the Notification:

• Verify if the notification comes from HP Support Assistant or Windows Security rather than a third-party app.
• HP typically uses HP Support Assistant for official notifications regarding system health or software updates. If the message is not from a known HP source, it could be a scam.

Avoid Clicking Links or Attachments:

• If the notification contains any clickable links or attachments, avoid clicking them for now. Scams often try to redirect you to a fake website or prompt you to download malicious software.

Use HP Support Assistant to Check System Health:

• Open HP Support Assistant (you can find it in the Start Menu or by searching for it in Windows).
• Check your system's health directly within the application, as it will show any issues detected with your system’s performance or registry.

Verify the Offer on HP's Official Website:

• Visit the official HP website and check for any information regarding the "HP Featured Offer" or promotions related to iolo System Mechanic.
• If HP is legitimately promoting such software, it should be listed as a part of their software or promotional offerings.

Run Malware and Adware Scans:

• Run a full scan with Windows Defender or another trusted antivirus tool (e.g., Malwarebytes) to rule out any potential malware or adware that could be generating false notifications.

Search for "HP Featured Offer Multiple System Issues Detected" Online:

• Since you’ve already searched, try searching for this exact message again but with terms like "HP Support Assistant" or "iolo" alongside it.

I should clarify that the offer/pop-up is not from HPSA, It looks like it's leveraging the HP Notification software installed on PCs from the factory, you may want to identify if you've got the notification from an allowed notification from one of your browsers and block the same, to avoid such issues in the future.”

Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[StarryDayz]

I think it is a scam. I checked several sites and people are reporting being billed and unable to turn the payments off. It shows up on Reddit posts and others as a scam. I just got the same message twice and clicked on it and was taken to a 3rd party IOLO where they tried to sell me a support package. This is the website: https://www.iolo.com/landing/partner/hp/issues-detected-on-your-pc%20/?isc=sm_hp_us_toaster_002&amp;...</p>

[avc2206ac]

This is what I keep receiving is this a scam? I have not clicked on any links to check. 

[CatJan98]

Thank your for your help with this question.  I apologize for not replying sooner.

[courtel]

I just helped resolve this same issue on a different computer, yes, this is a potentially unwanted program (which in this case is classified as adware.) For anyone else who might view this forum with the same problem, run MalwareBytes (or another trusted anti-malware program) to scan your computer. The file on my customer's computer was "PDFViewer.msi" (there might be numbers or other letters in the file name but 'PDFViewer.msi' was the main file causing the problem) so that might be the file you'll need to quarantine. A similar file that has been reported for malicious activity is 'smartviewpdf.msi.' I've also included a screenshot of a report from any.run on the "PDFViewer.msi" file.

Once you quarantine the file, it shouldn't be a threat anymore. It's just adware leading to a scam site trying to get you to put your information in. If you get a message urging you to fix something on your computer, take it to an official servicer and/or research the company 'associated' with hp. 

If any msi files are on your device that you did not install yourself, search them up to see if they have been reported as malicious.