"Harmful software detected" Popup - How to remove

“Harmful software detected” popup is a fake security alert produced by rogue anti-spyware program called System Security. Basically, this fake alert states that your computer has been infected with malicious software and that you should use System Security program to remove harmful software form your computer. The message reads as follows:

System Security
Harmful software detected
System Security has detected harmful software that can lead to your PC crash. Remove them now by clicking Remove All button below.

System Security provides numerous fake security threats, for example: Spyware.IEMonster.d, Spyware.KnownBadSites and others. “Harmful software detected” popup is one of them. The main goal of this particular scam popup is to make you think that your computer is infected and that you should purchase System Security in order to protect your PC by removing the accumulations of malware.

However, if you are constantly popped this type of alerts on your computer up, there is one thing you need to do. You ought to remove “Harmful software detected” popup in the two different ways possible. You can apply automatic malware removal utilities such as Spyhunter or Malwarebytes. Or you can use the free removal guide below to remove System Security and related malware. Automatic removal provides you the better chances that you will get rid of “Harmful software detected” app permanently versus manual removal, since this method is more comprehensive in comparison with the manual approach.

“Harmful software detected” is rogue advertising software or, simply, malvertising software, as it advertises malicious software in a devious manner. The most worrying fact about this adware is that the purchase offer for System Security rogue anti-spyware application includes the request to give your credit card number. This kind of request alone is a clear indication that you are dealing with online frauds. Once you receive such suggestions, you have to decline any purchase orders and restrain from any software downloads.

Another point worth mentioning is that “Harmful software detected” bogus application can prevent you from installing legitimate security software. To solve this issue you have to reboot your computer into the Safe Mode with networking and only then perform the installation of your chosen antivirus utility. Once you have this done, you can get your wind and scan your computer’s system with one of the security scanners indicated above. If any of the issues related with “Harmful software detected” pop-up persists, you can contact us by writing a comment below.

How to remove "Harmful software detected" Popup using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like "Harmful software detected" Popup install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to "Harmful software detected" Popup . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make "Harmful software detected" Popup easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove "Harmful software detected" Popup from macOS

Delete "Harmful software detected" Popup from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the "Harmful software detected" Popup app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to "Harmful software detected" Popup and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to "Harmful software detected" Popup, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving "Harmful software detected" Popup from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to "Harmful software detected" Popup. Click on the trash bin icon next to "Harmful software detected" Popup or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to "Harmful software detected" Popup, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving "Harmful software detected" Popup from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything "Harmful software detected" Popup related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to "Harmful software detected" Popup, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove "Harmful software detected" Popup from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to "Harmful software detected" Popup. Click on the "Remove" icon next to "Harmful software detected" Popup or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving "Harmful software detected" Popup from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the "Harmful software detected" Popup. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to "Harmful software detected" Popup, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

Manual removal