A user reports that random advertisement pop-up notifications keep appearing in the Windows desktop Action Center even when no browser windows are open.
Which of the following is the BEST action a technician should take first to resolve this issue?
Reboot the system to refresh services and memory.
Run a full antivirus/anti-malware scan on the computer.
Unwanted desktop alerts are a classic sign of adware or other malware installed on the system. Performing a full antivirus or anti-malware scan is the most effective first step because it identifies and removes malicious programs that generate the notifications. Simply disabling applications or turning off notifications may hide the symptom but leaves the malware in place. Rebooting or installing Windows updates is good practice but rarely removes adware that is already resident on the computer.
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