Removing Fake Pop-up Warnings

Fake Pop-up Warning – Cleanup & Prevention Checklist

These steps will help you remove fake McAfee virus warning pop-ups and prevent them from returning. These alerts are not real McAfee messages but browser-based scams designed to scare you into clicking harmful links.

1. Identify the Source

• When the popup appears, note the website address (URL) in the address bar.

• Fake alerts often come from domains ending in .xyz, .top, .site, etc., not mcafee.com.

• Ignore any padlock icon—it only means the site is encrypted, not safe.

2. Close the Tab – Don’t Click Inside

• Close the browser tab or window directly.

• Do NOT click OK, Cancel, or X inside the popup message itself.

3. Remove Malicious Browser Notifications

In Chrome / Edge / Brave:

    1. Open Settings → Privacy and Security → Site Settings → Notifications.

    2. Under “Allowed to send notifications,” remove anything suspicious.

    3. Block any unknown or untrusted sites.

In Firefox:

    1. Menu → Settings → Privacy & Security.

    2. Under “Permissions,” click Notifications → Settings.

    3. Remove or block suspicious sites.

4. Clear Cache and Cookies

• Press Ctrl+Shift+Del (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Del (Mac).

• Choose cached files and cookies from the last 7 days (or All Time).

• Click Clear Data.

5. Scan with Additional Tools

• Run Malwarebytes Free (great for adware).

• Run Malwarebytes AdwCleaner (removes adware and browser hijackers).

• Run Microsoft Defender Offline Scan for deeper checks.

6. Reset Browser Settings (If Popups Persist)

• Backup bookmarks first.

• Reset browser settings to default to remove extensions and restore default search/homepage.

7. Prevent Future Popups

• Install uBlock Origin (free ad blocker).

• Disable pop-ups and redirects in browser settings.

• Keep your browser and extensions up-to-date.