“McAfee Online Scan Completed” Pop‑Up Scam

Warning: “McAfee Online Scan Completed” pop‑ups are fake system scans designed to scare you into downloading or buying unwanted or malicious software.

What Is the McAfee Online Scan Completed Scam?

How Did I Get Into the McAfee Online Scan Completed Scam?

• You browsed a website that shows rogue advertisements or uses ad networks that serve malicious pop‑ups.
• You might have clicked on a link from an email, social media, or via search engines that took you to a site that auto‑redirects you or triggers malicious pop‑ups.
• Possibly adware or unwanted software is on your system that’s causing repeated pop‑ups.
• Browser notifications may have been allowed accidentally for suspicious sites, enabling persistent alerts.

What the McAfee Online Scan Completed Scam Actually Does

• It displays a fraudulent scan message, often saying something like:“We finished checking X files for threats. 1 malware threat was detected.”
• Then urges you to click “REMOVE THREAT NOW” (first pop‑up)
• Followed by a second pop‑up:“Your device is still at risk… your protection is inactive… activate your subscription now with a discount.”
• Uses the McAfee logo and layout to look legitimate.
• Clicking the call to action may redirect you to the real McAfee site or to affiliate links. In many cases, the end‑point is trying to sell a license or get affiliate revenue. PCRisk found that in their test the redirection was to McAfee’s official site via affiliate channels. PCRisk
• However: that affiliation does not equal legitimacy in the context of scare tactics; there is no valid scan, threat detection, or any genuine security service being offered in that pop‑up.

Should You Be Worried About the McAfee Online Scan Completed Scam?

Yes — because:

• It manipulates fear to try and extract money, personal or financial data.
• It may expose you to additional threats (fake antivirus, unwanted software, malware) especially if you click through.
• Even if it redirects to legitimate products, you’re being manipulated, and your system could already be compromised (adware, trackers, etc.).
• Trusting these pop‑ups can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and long‑term risk to privacy.

But also: the scam itself doesn’t always infect your computer by itself — often just deceit. The danger largely comes from ensuing actions taken by the user.

Removal Steps for the McAfee Online Scan Completed Pop‑Up Scam

1. Close the Pop‑Up
   • Do not click any buttons inside the pop‑up that say “REMOVE THREAT NOW” or “ACTIVATE PROTECTION”.
   • Try closing the tab/window. If that doesn’t work, force‑close your browser.
2. Clear Browser Data / Reset Browser Settings
   • Clear cache, cookies, site data for affected browser.
   • In settings, reset browser to default. This removes unwanted site permissions (like notifications).
3. Check Browser Notifications & Permissions
   • Go to settings → Site Permissions → Notifications. Revoke permissions for suspicious sites.
4. Run a Full System Scan with Legit Antivirus / Anti‑Malware
   • Use trusted software (like Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, etc.).
   • Look for adware, PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications), possibly fake tools or malicious software that might have installed alongside the pop‑up.
5. Uninstall Suspicious Software
   • Check your installed applications list. If you recently (or accidentally) installed anything you don’t recognize, uninstall it.
6. Update Software (OS, Browser, Extensions)
   • Make sure browser, OS, plugins/extension are up to date so you have latest security patches.
7. Change Passwords & Monitor Financial/Personal Accounts(if you entered any data)
   • If you gave credit card numbers or login data, change passwords, enable two‑factor authentication.
   • Monitor bank/card statements for fraud.

Prevention: How to Avoid Falling for Scams Like McAfee Online Scan Completed

• Only trust alerts from your installed antivirus product, not from random websites.
• Avoid clicking pop‑ups that claim your system is infected without initiating a scan yourself.
• Be cautious about sites prompting fake software downloads or trial licenses via pop‑ups.
• Install an ad‑blocker / pop‑up blocker.
• Keep browser, OS, and security software updated.
• Don’t allow notifications from untrusted websites.

What to Do If You Already Fell for the Scam

• If you purchased software: Contact customer support of your bank/credit card, ask for a refund, report the transaction as fraud if needed.
• If you provided personal info: Change those passwords, notify affected services, consider credit monitoring.
• If you allowed remote access or installed something: Run scans with multiple security tools, possibly get professional help.

Conclusion

The “McAfee Online Scan Completed” pop‑up is a scare tactic. There is no real system scan done by McAfee or by your browser when one of these pop‑ups shows up. Staying calm, not clicking anything, and using trusted security tools are your best defenses. Keeping your system clean and practicing safe browsing will greatly reduce the chance of these pop‑ups appearing.