Microsoft Debunks
Microsoft has confirmed that recent Windows Security pop-ups warning users their antivirus protection is disabled are not actual security threats, but rather a software bug.
The company stated that these false alarms started appearing after devices installed the latest Microsoft Defender Antivirus updates and can strike any version of Windows or Windows Server with Microsoft Defender Antivirus running with the latest Defender updates.
Microsoft has listed the issue as confirmed but unresolved in its release-health advisory, first opened on August 28, 2026. The company is working to resolve the issue in a future Microsoft Defender Antivirus update, although no specific fix timeline has been shared yet.