Cybersecurity researchers have identified a rogue web page known as mosdefender.co.in, a deceptive platform responsible for tricking users into subscribing to spam browser notifications and redirecting them to potentially malicious websites. This threat isn’t just annoying—it can lead to serious privacy invasions, malware infections, and even identity theft.
What is mosdefender.co.in?
Mosdefender.co.in is not a legitimate or safe website. Instead, it is a browser-based scam that uses fake CAPTCHA checks to lure unsuspecting users into enabling push notifications. Once the “Allow” button is clicked, the site gains permission to bombard the user with intrusive pop-ups and ads directly on their desktop—even when the browser is closed.
These deceptive notifications are often linked to:
- Tech support scams
- Phishing websites
- Fake software updates
- Downloaders of malicious files
- Pages pushing adware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), or browser hijackers
How Does It Work?
Most users land on mosdefender.co.in via redirects triggered by rogue advertising networks. These networks are commonly embedded into pirated content websites, free streaming services, or sketchy downloads. Once redirected, users are met with a fake CAPTCHA test that says something like: “Click Allow to verify you’re not a robot.”
By doing so, users unknowingly authorize the site to deliver endless notifications. These can degrade system performance, invade privacy, and facilitate further infection by more serious threats such as ransomware or trojans.
Threat Summary
Attribute | Details |
---|---|
Name | Ads by mosdefender.co.in |
Threat Type | Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads |
Associated Emails | N/A |
Detection Names | Not listed on VirusTotal |
Symptoms | Intrusive ads, pop-ups, reduced browser speed, redirects to suspicious sites |
Serving IP | 104.21.74.221 |
Observed Domains | Multiple subdomains (e.g., cvm530anaffc73ejagpg.mosdefender.co.in, cvmgguinaffc73epej70.mosdefender.co.in) |
Distribution Methods | Rogue ad networks, fake CAPTCHA pages, shady websites, potentially unwanted applications (PUAs, adware) |
Damage | Browser hijacking, exposure to malware, loss of privacy, financial loss, identity theft |
Danger Level | High |
Recommended Removal Tool | SpyHunter |
Why You Should Be Concerned
Websites like mosdefender.co.in take advantage of users by employing social engineering tricks to deliver spam content. Not only are the ads themselves disruptive, but the links embedded in these notifications may point to actual malware installers or phishing scams.
Unlike legitimate browser pop-ups, these fake notifications cannot be trusted. Ignoring them may eventually result in exposure to even more malicious software, which can deeply compromise your device’s security.
Trusted Solution
To completely eliminate pop-up spam and any associated adware or PUPs installed through deceptive redirects, we strongly recommend using SpyHunter — a trusted malware detection and removal tool.
👉 Download SpyHunter here and scan your system for threats.
Manual Adware Removal Process (Windows & Mac)
Step 1: Identify and Uninstall Suspicious Applications
For Windows Users
- Open Task Manager by pressing
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
. - Navigate to the “Processes” tab and search for unknown or high-resource-consuming processes.
- If you detect anything suspicious, right-click and select “End Task.”
- Go to
Control Panel
>Programs
>Programs and Features
. - Locate and uninstall any unfamiliar programs.
For Mac Users
- Open
Finder
and click onApplications
. - Identify and move any suspicious applications to the
Trash
. - Empty the
Trash
. - Check
System Preferences
>Users & Groups
>Login Items
for unknown startup programs and remove them.
Step 2: Remove Malicious Browser Extensions
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome, click
Menu
(three dots) >Extensions
. - Locate and remove unknown extensions.
- Reset Chrome:
Settings
>Reset settings
> “Restore settings to their original defaults.”
Mozilla Firefox
- Click
Menu
>Add-ons and themes
. - Remove suspicious extensions.
- Reset Firefox:
Help
>More troubleshooting information
> “Refresh Firefox.”
Safari (Mac)
- Open Safari, go to
Preferences
>Extensions
. - Delete unknown extensions.
- Reset Safari:
History
> “Clear History.”
Microsoft Edge
- Click
Menu
>Extensions
. - Remove any unfamiliar extensions.
- Reset Edge:
Settings
>Reset settings
> “Restore settings to their default values.”
Step 3: Delete Adware-Associated Files and Folders
For Windows Users
- Press
Win + R
, type%AppData%
, and press Enter. - Locate and delete suspicious folders.
- Repeat for
%LocalAppData%
,%ProgramData%
, and%Temp%
.
For Mac Users
- Open Finder and press
Shift + Command + G
, then enter~/Library/Application Support/
. - Remove any suspicious folders.
- Repeat for
~/Library/LaunchAgents/
,~/Library/LaunchDaemons/
, and~/Library/Preferences/
.
Step 4: Flush DNS Cache to Remove Adware Traces
For Windows Users
- Open
Command Prompt
as Administrator. - Type
ipconfig /flushdns
and press Enter.
For Mac Users
- Open
Terminal
. - Enter
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
and press Enter.
Step 5: Restart Your System
Perform a reboot to apply the changes and ensure the removal process is complete.
Automatic Adware Removal Using SpyHunter (Windows & Mac)
For an effortless and effective solution, use SpyHunter, a powerful anti-malware tool designed to detect and remove adware completely.
Step 1: Download SpyHunter
Click the link to download SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter Here.
Step 2: Install SpyHunter
Follow the installation guide based on your operating system:
For Windows Users
- Run the downloaded
.exe
file. - Follow the installation instructions.
- Launch SpyHunter and allow it to update its malware database.
For Mac Users
- Open the downloaded
.dmg
file. - Drag and drop SpyHunter into
Applications
. - Open SpyHunter and let it update its database.
Step 3: Scan and Remove Adware
- Open SpyHunter.
- Click
Start Scan
. - Wait for the scan to complete.
- Click
Fix Threats
to remove detected malware.
Step 4: Restart Your Computer
After SpyHunter removes all threats, restart your system to ensure all adware components are fully removed.
Conclusion
Mosdefender.co.in is not just a spammy annoyance—it’s a serious online threat. It deceives users through fake verification tests, sends unsolicited push notifications, and can expose users to a host of dangerous cyber threats. Avoid clicking “Allow” on unfamiliar sites and use a trusted anti-malware tool like SpyHunter to stay protected.