My father's Windows PC keeps showing alarming antivirus-style pop-ups in the corner of the screen. They look like security warnings urging someone to click them, but they appear to be coming from Microsoft Edge rather than the installed antivirus program. I suspect he may have accidentally allowed notifications from a questionable website. I've temporarily disabled the notifications, but I'd like to know whether this is malware, how to remove the unwanted site permissions, and whether any additional checks or cleanup are needed.
3 Answers
The notifications may be harmless scams, but an unwanted program or browser change could still be present. Run a full scan with Windows Security and, if possible, a second-opinion malware scanner. Check installed apps and browser extensions for anything unfamiliar and remove it. There’s no need to immediately reinstall Windows unless scans find a serious infection or the problems continue.
These are most likely fake website notifications rather than actual ransomware alerts. In Microsoft Edge, open Settings, then go to Cookies and site permissions > Notifications. Remove or block any unfamiliar websites listed under the allowed section. You can also disable Edge notifications entirely if your father doesn’t need them. Avoid clicking the alerts themselves.
Before making major changes, back up important personal files. Don’t back up suspicious programs or unknown files, and be cautious with saved browser passwords. If the machine shows other signs of compromise—redirects, disabled security tools, unknown accounts, or encrypted files—disconnect it from the internet and consider professional malware removal or a clean Windows reinstall.
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