0x80016CFA Windows Defender Error: How to Fix It

The internet is largely unsafe unless you possess some technical acumen and the ability to identify online threats.

And it’s often hard to tell the difference between a legitimate mistake and a scam. One example is a pop-up that displays Microsoft Defender error code 0x80016CFA.

When you browse the web, a pop-up window will appear stating that a critical failure has been detected. It lists a mobile phone number of a so-called Microsoft certified technician who can be contacted to resolve the issue. If you're seeing this message on your browser too, keep reading!

Is Windows Defender Error 0x80016CFA a scam?

Yes, the Windows Defender error message in your browser is a scam! Microsoft never sends prompts when visiting a website, nor does it ask users to call with such questions. If there is a problem with your PC or Windows Defender is not working properly, an error message will appear in the utility.

So far, the bug has been mostly reported on Edge, but Chrome and Firefox appear to be suffering from the same issue. From the information we have, this is not a browser-centric issue.

Here are a few reasons why you may get 0x80016CFA Windows Defender pop-ups:

• Visiting Unreliable Websites: For some users, when visiting a specific website Messages can pop up, especially on websites with weak security.
• Malware-Infected Computer: When you have malware or viruses on your PC, it usually glitches and throws errors like this.
• The offending app or extension is installed: Scammers typically either develop the app/extension directly or modify the code of an existing app/extension to deliver this on the user side class message. Therefore, be sure to check the reliability of the application beforehand.

How to get rid of Windows Defender error 0x80016CFA?

Since it is the most affected, we have detailed various troubleshooting methods to deal with the Microsoft Edge browser issue. If you use another browser, the process should be similar.

1. Terminate the process in Task Manager

1. Press to open Task Manager. CtrlShiftEsc
2. Now, select the browser's process from the list and click End Task.
3. Likewise, identify any related processes and terminate them.

The simplest solution to this problem is to terminate all related tasks. In most cases it is a one-time pop-up that may appear on a single website and restarting the browser should work.

2. Clear browsing data and reset browser settings

1. Open Microsoft Edge and press to open the Clear browsing data utility. CtrlShiftDelete
2. From the time range drop-down menu, select All time, check Browsing history, Cookies and Other Sites Data and Cached Images and Files checkboxes and click Clear Data.
3. Now, restart your browser and verify that the issue is resolved.
4. If not, click the ellipsis near the upper right corner and select "Settings".
5. Go to Reset Settings from the navigation pane and click to reset the settings to their default values ​​.
6. Select Reset in the confirmation prompt that appears.

In most cases, what triggers the 0x80016CFA Defender error is an issue with the browser itself, and clearing browsing data or resetting to defaults should resolve the issue.

3. Scan for malware

1. Press to open Search, type "Windows Security Center" in the text field, and then click the relevant search results. WindowsS
2. Select "Virus and threat protection".
3. Click Scan Options.
4. Select Full Scan and click Scan Now at the bottom.
5. Wait for the scan to complete.

If you receive the 0x80016CFA scam message on your PC, it may be due to the presence of malware. You can detect and resolve this issue using Windows Security Center by running a system-wide scan. Additionally, it has been suggested to try using a reliable third-party antivirus software to get the job done.

4. Uninstall the problematic app

1. Press to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and then click . WindowsREnter
2. #Select the program that you think triggered the message (should be the closest program ), and then click Click Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to completely remove the app.
4. When completed, restart your computer.

When determining the root cause, we cannot ignore the possibility that a program is responsible for the 0x80016CFA pop-up message. Start by uninstalling the most recent apps, and once you find the offending app, reinstall the rest.

5. Perform a system restore

1. Press to open search, type to view advanced system settings, then click on the relevant search results. WindowsS
2. Go to the System Protection tab and click System Restore.
3. Select Choose a different restore point if that option is available, and then click Next.
4. Select another restore point from the list, one that was created before the error first occurred, and click Next.
5. Finally, click "Finish" to start the restore.

When other methods don’t work, you can always perform a system restore and get back to a stable state in case recent changes trigger the 0x80016CFA Microsoft Defender prompt. Keep in mind that it may affect some installed programs.

After you fix the issue, don’t forget to check out the best security settings in Windows 11 for added protection.

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