Microsoft runs ads for Black Ops 6, Defender, 365 on Windows 11

Windows as a service or ads as a service? This depends on whether you see notifications as ads or suggestions in Windows 11. Windows 11 makes new ads (or recommendations) available via notifications. This idea is not new, but there has been an increase in these warnings.

Last week, Windows Latest detected ads for Black Ops 6: Vault Edition and the Microsoft Defender app, which only work if you pay for Microsoft 365. As shown in the screenshot below, Windows 11’s “Recommended” notification alert prompts you to purchase the Black Ops 6: Vault edition from the Microsoft Store.

Clicking the “Buy Now” button will open the Microsoft Store with the Black Ops 6: Vault edition product page. You also have the option to turn off the ad, but remember; The ad will appear again in the coming days. But this is not the only ad you will encounter in Windows 11.

Windows Latest noticed another ad, but this time for the Microsoft Defender app.

While Windows Defender is built into Windows 11 and is free, Microsoft has another “Defender app” that lets you monitor security and malware protection across all platforms, including Android.

For example, you can install the Microsoft Defender app on Windows 11 and Android devices and then open the app on any of your devices. From here, you can view when your device was last scanned for malware or other security threats and control some security features directly from the Microsoft Defender app.

The problem is that Microsoft Defender only works when you have a Microsoft 365 subscription and that’s why we now see Microsoft Defender ads in Windows 11.

As shown in the screenshot above, Windows 11’s ad displays a suggested message regarding online security.

It introduces Microsoft Defender by saying that you can get advanced security for your devices in a single application.

The ad on Windows 11 reads, “Get advanced security in a single app on your devices with Microsoft Defender.”

The options available in the notification are “Stay safe” to learn more or “Dismiss” to dismiss the message.

If you click Stay Safer to learn more, Microsoft Defender’s web page opens with a Microsoft 365 purchase link.

As you can see in the screenshot above, the “Microsoft Defender app” is offered “exclusively” with a Microsoft 365 subscription, which is why the company is running ads for it.

You can close the ad or go to Microsoft’s website to purchase Microsoft 365.

Luckily, if you’re not a fan of these alerts, you can open System > Notifications and undo all the buttons highlighted in the screenshot above, especially “Get tips and advice when using Windows“.

This will disable all ads you see in Windows 11.