Warning signs of malicious popups

How to tell a real warning from a fake one, and what to do when a popup scares you.

What a malicious popup looks like

A real security warning from your computer or browser is quiet and specific. A scam popup is loud, scary, and desperate for you to act fast.

Watch for these signs:

A big red screen with sirens or a flashing 'Your computer is infected!' message
A phone number to call for help
A countdown or a threat that your files will be deleted
A prompt to download something or allow remote access

What to do

Don't call the number. Real companies don't put support numbers in popups.
Don't click anything inside the popup - not even a 'close' or 'cancel' button.
Close the browser tab or, if it won't close, force-quit the browser.
If the same popup keeps coming back, run a real scan with trusted security software.

The bottom line

A popup that tries to scare you into calling or downloading is the scam. Your computer is almost certainly fine.

When in doubt, ask someone you trust before you do anything.

Is a virus pop-up in my browser real?

A browser page claiming that your device is infected cannot, by itself, prove there is malware on your computer. Warning signs include loud alarms, a countdown, a phone number for 'support,' or instructions to install remote-access software.

Close the tab or browser using its normal controls rather than buttons inside the suspicious page. If you installed software or allowed remote access, seek qualified help and run trusted device security tools.