What Is Protectusonline.xyz?
Protectusonline.xyz is a suspicious website associated with tech support scammers. The website generates fake virus warnings and uses the name of a legitimate security program – McAfee. There are multiple tech support scams currently circling the web and using McAfee’s name, and the now-scan.com website is just one example of a domain used by the scammers.
Such websites often trigger messages related to an expired subscription to an anti-virus program. In most cases, scammers use the names of legitimate companies to create the feeling of trustworthiness. Besides McAfee, Avira or Norton are also featured in such scamming attempts.
Continue reading to learn more about Protectusonline.xyz, how it could affect your computer and browsing, and how to get rid of it, respectively.
Protectusonline.xyz Details
| Name | Protectusonline.xyz |
| Type | Tech Support Scam, Adware, PUP |
| Short Description | Each browser you have could get affected. You will witness intrusive fake warnings about viruses detected on your system. |
| Symptoms | Fake warnings about viruses in the form of pop-ups, browser lock screens, push notifications are also possible. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Suspicious Pages |
| Detection Tool |
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How Is Protectusonline.xyz Being Distributed?
Browsing the web hides its potential risks, especially if you’re visiting suspicious websites and your computer lacks specific protection. Websites can be hijacked with advertisements and redirect links, and you can be redirected to Now-scan.com which could trigger various fake warnings.
Freeware applications, regarded as PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) could also distribute tech-support scams, and could cause the scareware message to appear in your browsers. Free download websites usually feature tons of third-party installations and bundled installers – a practice which is done with monetizaton in mind.
Protectusonline.xyz is just one example of tons of fake pop-ups triggered by tech support scams. Note that different phone numbers may be promoted, and the message itself may be different. Of course, the purpose of every such message remains the same – to trick you into performing an action which directly puts your computer at risk. Both Windows and macOS users are affected by similar tech support scams, as well as iPhone and Android users.
What Is the Purpose of Protectusonline.xyz?
Scammers are using fake virus detections and warning related to pages such as Protectusonline.xyz to create the sense of urgency and to make you dial the specific phone number or perform another action that compromises your security. There’s no telling what could happen next, especially if you permit remote assistance or reveal sensitive information, i.e. payment data.
To make their scams more believable, scammers tend to feature the logos of trustworthy companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple, or anti-virus software companies such as McAfee and Avira. However, seeing the logo of a popular company shouldn’t trick you in any way, since these companies do not deploy such methods to alert their users of issues. This is what tech support scammers do in their desperate attempts to fool users.
Note that you may even get a phone call from tech support scammers. Scammers that are on the other end of fake tech support telephone lines will try to trick you into believing that they are part of some sort of an official tech support team of Microsoft or Apple. Of course, that’s a lie. The only truth here is that scammers are professional in what they do. There are whole call centers that recruit people for the role of a bogus tech support representative. It is a lucrative business, and users should be smart enough not to fall into the trap.
Is Protectusonline.xyz a Computer Virus?
Protectusonline.xyz is not considered to be a computer virus. It is classified as a potentially unwanted program, or PUP, and is a type of adware. Adware is software that displays advertisements on your computer without your permission. It can be installed inadvertently when you download and install a software program or visit a website. Protectusonline.xyz can cause pop-up ads to appear on your computer, or it may cause your browser to open unwanted websites.
While Protectusonline.xyz is not a virus, it can be annoying and should be removed from your computer to prevent any further issues.
Is Protectusonline.xyz Dangerous?
This website is potentially dangerous. Such sites are often used by scammers to redirect users to malicious websites that contain malware, fake software downloads, and other malicious code.
How to Protect My Computer from Protectusonline.xyz?
- Enable firewalls on your network to prevent malicious software from gaining access to your computer.
- Be aware of phishing scams and be wary of clicking on links from unknown sources.
- Avoid downloading software from untrusted websites and always make sure to read the End User License Agreement (EULA) before installing any software.
- Use a reputable browser and keep it up to date with the latest security patches.
- Regularly scan your computer with an anti-malware program to detect any malicious software.
Remove Protectusonline.xyz
In order to remove the Protectusonline.xyz pop-ups and fake warnings scam along with all associated files that enable its appearance in the browser, you should complete several removal steps. The removal guide below you will show you all necessary steps in their precise order. You can choose between manual and automatic removal approaches. In order to get rid of any PUPs and rogue programs causing the “The system is badly damaged” pop-ups, you can combine the steps.
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- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Protectusonline.xyz from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Protectusonline.xyz with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Protectusonline.xyz and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Protectusonline.xyz on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Protectusonline.xyz there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for Protectusonline.xyz (Windows).
Get rid of Protectusonline.xyz from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Protectusonline.xyz and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Protectusonline.xyz. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Protectusonline.xyz via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Protectusonline.xyz files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Protectusonline.xyz, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Protectusonline.xyz (Mac)
Remove Protectusonline.xyz from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase Protectusonline.xyz from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall Protectusonline.xyz from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove Protectusonline.xyz from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Protectusonline.xyz will be removed.
Eliminate Protectusonline.xyz from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Protectusonline.xyz-FAQ
What Is Protectusonline.xyz?
The Protectusonline.xyz threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Protectusonline.xyz?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Protectusonline.xyz?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Protectusonline.xyz Work?
Once installed, Protectusonline.xyz can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Protectusonline.xyz can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Protectusonline.xyz Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Protectusonline.xyz Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Protectusonline.xyz how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Protectusonline.xyz?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Protectusonline.xyz threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.