Windows Defender keeps saying PUP Threat found (fix)

Many users have reported that the Windows Defender keeps showing up a dialog with a notification sound mentioning that a PUP has been detected in the system. On clicking on that pop-up dialog, it shows up a message saying that the affected program has been quarantined and removed. After some time, the same pop-up dialog shows again. This happens repeatedly. When such behavior is seen, there is nothing to worry about as these are most likely false positives; not malware that causes any issues to the system.

Possible reasons for this issue could be :

  • Windows Defender Firewall stores logs, quarantines, and removed items. When a full scan of the system is done, there are chances that it scans itself and detects the logs as a threat to the system.
  • When malware that is detected from a suspicious browser extension is removed, but the browser’s settings haven’t been changed.

In case you have encountered this issue and looking out for ways to resolve the same, then read along. In this article, we will be discussing different fixes that can help you solve this issue.

Fix 1: Delete the Scan History

Before you proceed , make sure files are not hidden on your PC. Once you have made sure the files are not hidden on your computer, proceed with the steps

Step1: Open file explorer by pressing Windows key and E together.

Step 2: Now, navigate to the following location.

  • C:
  • ProgramData
  • Microsoft
  • Windows Defender
  • Scans
  • History
  • Service

 

NOTE: You cannot copy-paste the address in the address bar. So make sure you manually navigate to the location for the first time.

Step 3: If you see a prompt as shown below, click on the Continue button.

 

 

Continue Warning



 

 

Step 4: Delete DetectionHistory folder .

Detectionhistory Min

 

Step 5: Restart the System.

Fix 2: Clear Logs with Event Viewer

Step 1: In the search box located in the taskbar type Event Viewer.

Step 2: From the right-hand side, click on Run as administrator. This will open the Event Viewer application with Admin rights

 

 

Eventviewerin Start Min

 

 

Step 3: In the Event Viewer window, from the left-hand side menu, choose to click on Applications and Servies Logs and then choose Microsoft and within it click on Windows

 

 

Eventviewer

 

 

Step 4: Scroll down and locate Windows Defender and then click on Operational

Step 5: From the right-most menu(Actions), click on Clear log as shown below

 

 

Clear Log

 

 

Step 6: Click on Save and Clear or Clear

 

Fix 3: Preventing Windows Defender Firewall from scanning its Scan History

Step 1: Open the Run Dialog. Feel free to use the shortcut Windows+R

Step 2: Type ms-settings:windowsdefender  and hit Enter

 

 

Mssettingswindowsdefender

 

 

Step 2: Click on Virus & threat protection

 

 

Windows Security Window

 

 

Step 3: Under Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings

 

 

Manage Settings

 

 

Step 4: Scroll down and locate the Exclusions section

Step 5: Click on Add or remove exclusions

 

 

Exclusions

 



 

Step 6: Click on Add an exclusion

Step 7: Choose Folder from the drop-down menu

 

 

Add An Exclusion

 

 

Step 8: Navigate to the below location

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service

 

Step 9: Click on DetectionHistory and then press the Select Folder button

 

 

Detection History

Fix 4: Turn Off real time protection

1 – Press Windows and S keys together jointly to open search.

2 – Search Windows security and click on Windows security

Windows Security Min

 

3 –  Now, Click on Virus & Threat Protection 

Screenshot 2022 08 06 140401 Min

 

4 – Click on Manage settings under Virus & Threat protection settings

Screenshot 2022 08 06 140535 Min

 

5 – Turn Off Real time Protection

Real Time Protection Off Min

 

Althoiugh this is only a temporary workaround , but can get rid of the issue for some time, till you find a better solution

Fix 5: Clearing Browser Cache

Here we have demonstrated clearing the browser’s cache in on Google Chrome. It should be similar in any other browsers.



Step 1: Open the chrome browser and press the menu button  in the top right corner of the window as shown below

Step 2: Choose Settings

 

 

Chrome Settings

 

 

Step 3: In the appearing window, scroll down to locate the Privacy and Security section and click on Clear browsing data

 

Chrome Clear Browsing Data

 

Step 4: In the Clear browsing data window, Go to the Advanced tab

Step 5: From the time range drop-down, select All time

Step 6: Click on Clear data

 

 

Chrome Clear Data

 

 

That’s All.

We hope this article has been informative. Thank you for Reading

Kindly comment and let us know which of the above methods helped.