antivirus popups

[jack-daddy]

Please help with my HP laptop. I tried using it, but I keep getting anti-virus pop-up ads from Norton or McAfee. I cannot remove. I tried using the removal tool from both sites; however, nothing worked. They constantly pop up. I ran a virus scan and performed HP diagnostics, but it indicates that I have no viruses. I used Malwarebytes, and no issues were detected. They keep saying I have five viruses detected. I am not sure what this issue is. My laptop works, but I'm unable to run a virus scan. 

I don't know where to turn in this situation. Has someone else encountered this issue before and knows how to resolve it in simple terms?   Begging for help without throwing in the towel here. Thanks for listening

[Max3Aj]

@jack-daddy, Welcome to the HP Support Community – it’s great to have you here!

I appreciate you taking the time to share your question. I'm more than happy to assist with this and provide a solution that works for you.

I completely understand how frustrating these persistent antivirus pop-ups can be. Especially with pre-installed trial versions of Norton or McAfee that continue to show alerts even after removal attempts.

Let’s walk through a few simple steps to clean up your system and stop these pop-ups for good:

Check for Pre-installed Antivirus Software

HP laptops often come with trial versions of Norton or McAfee. Even after uninstalling, remnants may remain.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
2. Search for Norton, McAfee, or LiveSafe.
3. If found, click the three dots next to it and select Uninstall.
4. Restart your laptop.

Use Official Removal Tools

Even if you've tried these before, please ensure you follow the latest instructions:

McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR):
https://www.mcafee.com/support/?articleId=TS101331

Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool:
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v60392881

After running these tools, restart your system again.

Check for Browser Extensions or Notifications

Sometimes, pop-ups come from browser extensions or notification permissions.

For Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Edge > Click the three dots > Settings.
2. Go to Cookies and site permissions > Notifications.
3. Remove any suspicious or unwanted sites.

For Chrome:

1. Open Chrome > Click the three dots > Settings.
2. Go to Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications.
3. Block or remove any sites you don’t recognize.

Disable Startup Entries

Some leftover antivirus components may still run at startup.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Disable any entries related to Norton, McAfee, or unknown apps.

Run HP Support Assistant

Let’s ensure your system is clean and updated.

Download or open HP Support Assistant: HP Support Assistant | HP® Support

Run System Diagnostics and Windows Updates from within the app.
 

Optional – Use Windows Security Only

Windows 11 comes with built-in antivirus protection (Microsoft Defender) which is sufficient for most users.

To check it's active:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
2. Ensure Microsoft Defender Antivirus is turned on.

Final Tip:

If the pop-ups still persist, consider resetting your browser or creating a new Windows user profile to isolate the issue.

I hope your issue is now resolved. If not, feel free to reply and we’ll continue helping until everything’s sorted!

If the post helped, please click “Accepted Solution” to help other users easily find it. And if you’d like to say thanks, just tap the “Yes” button!

Cheers,

Max3Aj

HP Support