Remove Security Patch Life Pop-Up Virus (Scam)

The “Security Patch Life” virus is a type of online scam that tricks people by showing fake virus warnings on their computers. These fake alerts pretend to be from a well-known antivirus program (McAfee, Malwarebytes), and tell users that their computers are infected with 5 viruses. The scam aims to make people believe that their antivirus subscription has expired and that they need to renew it immediately to protect their computers from viruses and malware.

In this article, we’ll delve into the details of this scam and provide steps to protect yourself from its deceptive tactics.

🚨 Is the Security Patch Life Virus a Scam?

YES, the Security Patch Life virus is a scam. It deceives users with fake warnings about virus infections on their PCs, falsely claiming to be associated with a well-known antivirus. This scam cleverly mimics legitimate security alerts, leading victims through a series of deceptive pages designed to convince them to purchase unnecessary antivirus subscriptions.

The ‘Security Patch Life’ scam claims:

Your PC is infected with 5 viruses!
ACTION REQUIRED!
Your McAfee Subscription Has Expired!
Renew now to keep your PC protected.
If your PC is unprotected, it is at risk for viruses and other malware.

🚩 Warning Signs of a Scam

• Misleading Alerts: Uses fake virus detection alerts to cause alarm.
• Fake Virus Scans: Displays a fraudulent scan of your computer, falsely reporting infections.
• Pressure to Act Quickly: Creates a sense of urgency with warnings about immediate risks to your data and privacy.
• Lack of Real Verification: Fails to offer a legitimate way to confirm the claims or contact genuine customer support.
• Impersonation of Trusted Brands: Illegally uses names like McAfee, Malwarebytes, etc to appear credible without authorization.

In summary, the Security Patch Life virus is a scam aimed at tricking internet users into buying unnecessary antivirus subscriptions. It leverages the guise of a reputable security service with fraudulent practices to extract money under the pretense of computer security. Characterized by misleading alerts, pressure tactics, brand impersonation, and hidden agendas, this scam highlights the need for caution and critical assessment of online security warnings.

How the Security Patch Life Scam Operates

🛑 Step 1: Malicious Pop-Ups

The scammers behind Security Patch Life deploy malicious pop-ups and ads across various websites. These pop-ups falsely alert users that their computer is severely infected with viruses, using fear to grab their attention.

Examples of such alerts include:

• “URGENT: Your PC is at risk! Detected 5 viruses – Immediate action required!” via Security Patch Life
• “Warning! Your computer is infected – Click here to perform an immediate scan!” suggesting a critical threat to your system’s security.
• “Alert: McAfee Protection Expired – Renew now to secure your PC from emerging threats!” hosted on deceptive domains that mimic legitimate antivirus warnings.
• “Your personal data is at risk – Immediate virus removal needed to prevent data loss!” implying urgent need for action to protect sensitive information.
• “Act Now: Your PC is 93% more vulnerable to malware – Secure it with a click!” suggesting a dire need for immediate protection measures.
• “Security Alert: Internet activity tracked – Renew McAfee to stop hackers!” on misleading pop-up ads that feign legitimacy.

These alerts exploit users’ trust in familiar antivirus brands like McAfee, featuring messages that pressure users into taking immediate action to resolve non-existent security threats.

🛑 Step 2: Fake Antivirus Scans

Upon interacting with the initial pop-up, users are redirected to a fraudulent website (‘Security Patch Life’) that simulates an antivirus scan. This site, masquerading as a legitimate security tool, falsely claims to identify multiple viruses on the user’s computer to instill fear and urgency.

🛑 Step 3: Fictitious Threat Reports

Post-scan, the scam website presents a fabricated report alleging the discovery of several viruses. This report is designed to look convincing, often using technical jargon and fake virus names to deceive users into believing their system is compromised.

🛑 Step 4: False Expiration Alerts

The scam intensifies by falsely informing users that their antivirus subscription, particularly McAfee, has expired. This step leverages the urgency created by the fake threat report, suggesting that renewing the subscription is the only way to eliminate the supposed viruses and protect the PC.

🛑 Step 5: Misuse of Legitimate McAfee Affiliate Program

Instead of directly phishing for payment information, the scam cleverly redirects users to a legitimate McAfee antivirus purchase page through an affiliate link. By convincing users to buy or renew their McAfee subscription through this link, scammers earn commissions from the legitimate affiliate program, exploiting the trust in the McAfee brand while avoiding direct financial theft.

🛑 Step 6: Encouraging Subscription Renewals

Victims, believing they are responding to an urgent security threat, may proceed to renew or purchase a McAfee subscription. While the transaction occurs on the legitimate McAfee platform, ensuring the user’s financial information remains secure, the scammers profit from the affiliate commission. This step cleverly masks the scam, as users receive a genuine product, but the scammers benefit financially by exploiting the fabricated virus threat.

Similar Scams

Security Patch Life runs a scam similar to well-known antivirus brands, such as “Norton Security”, “McAfee Total Protection”, “Kaspersky”, and others. By mimicking reputable brands, the scam website attempts to gain trust and credibility from users, making it more likely for them to fall for the deception.

Here are some links to examples of similar scams: McAfee SECURITY ALERT, Virus Has Been Detected On Your Device, Abnormal Network Traffic On This Device Pop-Up, and McAfee – A Virus Has Been Found On Your PC.

Threat Summary

Name	Security Patch Life Virus, ‘Security Patch Life’ Scam
Associated website	Securitypatch.life
Example URLs	securitypatch.life/avs/en/dt/mcafee-4.php securitypatch.life/avs/en/mob/malwarebytes
Type	Tech Support Scam
Fake claims	Claims user’s PC is infected with 5 viruses and data may be deleted
Distribution	Adware, malicious websites, push notifications, social engineering
Damage	Misleads users to purchase fake or unnecessary antivirus software, can lead to financial loss and installation of malicious software
Symptoms	Pop-up messages and fake scans claiming viruses are detected on the user’s PC
Removal	Close pop-up windows, use ad-blockers and anti-malware software, never give out personal or financial information

How to remove Security Patch Life pop-ups

If you have encountered Security Patch Life Virus pop-ups, you should not trust the message and refrain from clicking any buttons or links that appear on the page. Instead, follow the steps below to remove the pop-up and any potential malware from your computer:

To remove Security Patch Life pop ups, complete the steps below:

1. Close the pop-up
2. Clear your browsing history
3. Disable push notifications
4. Scan your computer for malware
5. Reset your browser settings

Close the pop-up

Closing the pop-up is the first step you should take when dealing with the Security Patch Life scam. Although it may seem like a simple task, some users may find it challenging, especially if the pop-up is designed to be persistent and difficult to close. This step is crucial because it prevents the user from falling into the trap set by the scammers and clicking on any of the buttons or links that can lead to further harm. In this section, we will provide a detailed guide on how to close the Security Patch Life pop-up safely and effectively.

1. Don’t click on anything within the pop-up as it could lead to further harm.
2. Look for a small “X” or “Close” button within the pop-up window. Click on it to close the window.
3. If there is no “X” or “Close” button, try pressing the “Esc” key on your keyboard to close the pop-up.
4. If the pop-up still won’t close, try opening your computer’s Task Manager by pressing “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” on your keyboard (or “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” and then select “Task Manager”). Find the browser window that the pop-up is in, right-click on it, and select “End Task” to force close the window.

Clear your browsing history

Clearing your browsing history is an important step in removing Security Patch Life pop-ups. These pop-ups often come from malicious websites that can be stored in your browsing history.

By clearing your browsing history, you can get rid of any traces of these websites and prevent the pop-ups from reappearing. In this step, we will walk you through how to clear your browsing history on different browsers.

1. Open your browser’s settings or options menu. This can usually be accessed by clicking on the three dots or lines in the top right or left corner of the browser window.
2. Scroll down to the “Privacy & Security” or “History” section of the settings menu.
3. Click on “Clear Browsing Data” or “Clear History” (the wording may vary depending on the browser you are using).
4. In the pop-up window that appears, choose the time range for which you want to clear your browsing history (e.g. “Last hour,” “Last 24 hours,” “All time,” etc.).
5. Make sure that “Browsing history” or “History” is selected as one of the types of data to be cleared.
6. Click on the “Clear Data” or “Clear History” button (the wording may vary depending on the browser you are using).
7. Wait for the browser to finish clearing your browsing history. This may take a few moments, especially if you have a lot of browsing data stored on your computer.
8. Close and restart your browser to ensure that the changes take effect.

Disable push notifications

If you’re experiencing persistent push notifications from websites that are showing Security Patch Life scams, the best course of action is to disable push notifications altogether. Disabling push notifications prevents malicious websites from showing you unwanted pop-ups and alerts, which can help protect your computer from further harm. In this step, we’ll walk you through the process of disabling push notifications in your web browser.

Google Chrome:

• Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top-right corner of the Google Chrome window.
• Select ‘Settings’, scroll down to the bottom and click ‘Advanced’.
• At the ‘Privacy and Security’ section click ‘Site settings’.
• Click on ‘Notifications’.
• Locate the Security Patch Life site and click the three vertical dots button next to it, then click on ‘Remove’.

Android:

• Open Chrome.
• Tap on the Menu button (three dots) on the top right corner of the screen.
• In the menu tap ‘Settings’, scroll down to ‘Advanced’.
• In the ‘Site Settings’, tap on ‘Notifications’, locate the Security Patch Life URL and tap on it.
• Tap the ‘Clean & Reset’ button and confirm.

Mozilla Firefox:

• In the top right corner, click the Firefox menu (three bars).
• In the drop-down menu select ‘Options’. In the left side select ‘Privacy & Security’.
• Scroll down to ‘Permissions’ section and click ‘Settings…’ button next to ‘Notifications’.
• Find Security Patch Life, other suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select ‘Block’.
• Click ‘Save Changes’ button.

Edge:

• Click the More button (three dots) in the top-right corner of the window.
• Scroll down, locate and click ‘Settings’. In the left side select ‘Advanced’.
• In the ‘Website permissions’ section click ‘Manage permissions’.
• Disable the on switch for the Security Patch Life domain.

Internet Explorer:

• Click the Gear button on the top-right corner of the browser.
• Select ‘Internet options’.
• Click on the ‘Privacy’ tab and select ‘Settings’ in the pop-up blockers section.
• Locate the Security Patch Life site and click the ‘Remove’ button to delete the site.

Safari:

• Go to ‘Preferences’ in the Safari menu.
• Select the ‘Websites’ tab and then select ‘Notifications’ section on the left panel.
• Find the Security Patch Life site and select it, click the ‘Deny’ button.

Scan computer for malware

If you have encountered the Security Patch Life scam, it is possible that your computer has been infected with malware. In order to ensure that your system is completely clean, it is important to perform a thorough scan for malware. This will help to identify any malicious files or programs that may be hiding on your computer and remove them to prevent further damage. In this step, we will guide you through the process of scanning your computer for malware using trusted antivirus software.

Malwarebytes is a reputable anti-malware program that can effectively detect and remove adware, potentially unwanted programs and malware. It has a user-friendly interface and offers both free and paid versions, with the paid version offering real-time protection and other advanced features. To use Malwarebytes to remove malicious software, you can download and install the program, perform a scan of your system, and follow the prompts to remove any detected threats.

Visit the following link and download the latest version of Malwarebytes. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the instructions to install the program on your computer.

Open Malwarebytes and click on the “Scan” button. The program will start scanning your computer for any malware or potentially unwanted programs. Depending on the size of your hard drive, this may take a few minutes to complete.

Once the scan is complete, Malwarebytes will display a list of any threats it has found. Review the list carefully and make sure that all the items are checked for removal. Then, click on the “Quarantine” button to remove the threats from your computer. After the removal process is complete, you may be prompted to restart your computer to complete the process.

Please follow this step-by-step video tutorial to learn how to use Malwarebytes to scan and remove any potential threats from your computer. The video will guide you through the entire process, from downloading and installing Malwarebytes to running a scan and removing any identified threats.

Reset your browser settings

If the Security Patch Life pop-ups persist even after clearing your browsing history, disabling push notifications, and scanning your computer for malware, resetting your browser settings might be the next step to take. Resetting your browser settings can remove any unwanted extensions or changes made to your browser that may be causing the pop-ups to appear. In this step, we will guide you through the process of resetting your browser settings in different popular browsers.

To reset your browser settings in Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome and click on the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Advanced.”
4. Scroll down to the “Reset and cleanup” section and click on “Restore settings to their original defaults.”
5. Click “Reset settings” to confirm.

To reset your browser settings in Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and click on the three-line icon in the top-right corner.
2. Select “Help” from the drop-down menu and then click on “Troubleshooting Information.”
3. Click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the top-right corner.
4. Click “Refresh Firefox” again to confirm.

To reset your browser settings in Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Edge and click on the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
2. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down and click on “Reset settings.”
4. Click “Restore settings to their default values.”
5. Click “Reset” to confirm.

After resetting your browser settings, be sure to check for any remaining suspicious extensions and remove them if necessary.

Protecting Yourself from the Security Patch Life Scam

Now that you know how the Security Patch Life scam works, how to identify similar scams, and how to remove the pop-ups, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from falling victim to this or similar scams in the future.

Here are some additional steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Install reputable antivirus software. By installing antivirus software, you can help prevent these types of scams from infecting your computer in the first place. Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date and run regular scans to ensure your computer remains protected.
• Be wary of emails or links that claim to be from legitimate companies, such as McAfee, especially if you didn’t request any information. Don’t click on links in emails from unknown sources or download attachments from them.
• Keeping your software up to date is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent security breaches. Software updates often contain security patches that fix vulnerabilities, so make sure to install them as soon as they become available.
• Educate yourself on common scams. Knowledge is power, and being aware of common scams and tactics used by cybercriminals can help you recognize and avoid them. Stay informed by reading up on the latest scams and how to protect yourself against them.

By taking these steps, you can help protect yourself from falling victim to the Security Patch Life scam or similar scams in the future. Remember, being cautious and aware is key to staying safe online.

Conclusion:

‘Security Patch Life’ virus is a scam that employs fake AntiVirus scans and misleading alerts to trick users into renewing their protection and enabling browser notifications. Stay vigilant, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and be cautious of unexpected pop-ups. By taking preventive measures and blocking notifications from suspicious sources, you can protect yourself from falling victim to such scams.