How to avoid getting scammed by "Security Checkup In Progress" websites

What kind of scam is "Security Checkup In Progress"?

Our research team found the "Security Checkup In Progress" scam during a routine inspection of dubious websites. It claims that the user's device is infected and urges them to address the detected issues. Typically, scams of this kind are used to promote software.

"Security Checkup In Progress" scam overview

Upon accessing a site running this scam, the visitor is presented with a pop-up that performs a supposed security check. It claims to detect several problems – a virus and that the device system protection is inactive. The user is asked whether they would like to resolve these issues. It must be emphasized that this information is false, and this scam is not associated with any legitimate service providers or entities.

At the time of research, "Security Checkup In Progress" operated as an affiliate scam. These scams seek to generate illegitimate commissions by abusing the affiliate programs of genuine products/services. During our research, "Security Checkup In Progress" redirected to the official McAfee Antivirus website. Keep in mind that this scam is in no way associated with McAfee Corp.

However, it is pertinent to mention that affiliate scams do not continuously operate in this manner. Instead of leading users to official sites, they may redirect to imitators or fake promotional pages. These websites can distribute fake antivirus tools, PUAs, adware, browser hijackers, trojans, ransomware, and other malicious software.

To summarize, by trusting a scam like "Security Checkup In Progress" – users can experience system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Similar scam examples

We have examined numerous online scams; "Your Device Could Infected With Viruses!", "McAfee Online Scan Completed", "WARNING: SYSTEM RESOURCE LEAK", "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT", and "McAfee - Built-in Antivirus Has Detected A Threat" are just some of our articles on ones similar to "Security Checkup In Progress".

The Internet is rife with deceptive and dangerous content. Online scams aim to deceive users into performing specific actions, using various lures to achieve this goal. Widespread lures include false claims concerning: system infections, outdated software, parcel shipping issues, online account problems, lotteries, product/service promotions, giveaways, and so forth. The end goal of all scams is the same – to generate revenue for scammers.

How did I open a scam website?

The most widespread online scam endorsement methods include: webpages that use rogue advertising networks (redirects), malvertising (intrusive advertisements), spam (e.g., browser notifications, emails, PMs/DMs, social media/ forum posts, cold calls/ robocalls, SMSes, etc.), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware (ads/redirects).

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is essential to online safety. Therefore, be wary of sites, adverts, and messages that urge you to take action against imminent threats or make unbelievable promises. Do not use websites offering questionable services or pirated content (e.g., Torrenting, illegal streaming/downloading, etc.), as these webpages usually employ rogue advertising networks.

Take note of URLs and enter them carefully. Do not permit suspect webpages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or deny their requests (i.e., press "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Do not open attachments or links found in suspicious/irrelevant emails and other messages.

Download from official/trustworthy channels and be attentive during installation (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of supplementary apps, extensions, tools, etc.) – to prevent bundled/dangerous software (like adware) from infiltrating the system.

If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate all threats.

Text presented in the "Security Checkup In Progress" scam pop-up:

Security Warning

Security checkup in progress.

Scanning...

Several issues have been detected on your device:

1. Virus infection detected
2. System protection is turned off

Do you want to fix the issues now?

The appearance of "Security Checkup In Progress" pop-up scam (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Quick menu:

• What is "Security Checkup In Progress" pop-up?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a pop-up scam?

Pop-up scams are deceptive messages that trick users into performing certain actions. For example, victims can be enticed into downloading/installing programs, purchasing products, calling fake support lines, subscribing to services, sending money to scammers, disclosing private data, etc.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

Pop-up scams are designed to generate revenue at their victims' expense. To expand upon this, scammers predominantly profit by promoting content (e.g., websites, apps, browser extensions, services, etc.), selling/abusing vulnerable information, and spreading malware.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Pop-ups are primarily endorsed via sites using rogue advertising networks, spam (e.g., emails, PMs/DMs, social media posts, browser notifications, calls, SMSes, etc.), intrusive advertisements, misspelled URLs, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites for deceptive and malicious content. It can also deny all further access to such webpages.