My father's Windows computer keeps showing alarming antivirus-style notifications on the side of the screen, urging him to click them. 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, although I'm not sure where it happened. I've temporarily disabled the notifications, but what's the safest way to remove the unwanted alerts and check whether the computer has malware?
3 Answers
These are most likely fake browser push notifications, not ransomware. In Edge, open Settings, go to Cookies and site permissions, then Notifications, and remove or block any unfamiliar sites listed under Allowed to send notifications. You can also leave Edge notifications disabled entirely. Don’t click the alerts or install anything they recommend.
It’s also worth explaining that websites often display fake virus warnings after someone clicks “Allow notifications.” Tell him not to grant notification permission unless he trusts the site and genuinely needs it. Blocking the offending site’s permission should stop the pop-ups without affecting the rest of Edge.
Run a full scan with Windows Security, including the offline scan if anything suspicious is found. Also check Edge extensions and uninstall anything unfamiliar. Back up important files first, and make sure saved passwords are protected. A Windows reinstall is usually only necessary if scans find persistent malware or the system continues behaving strangely.
That makes sense. I’ll check the site permissions and extensions first, then run a full scan before considering anything as drastic as reinstalling Windows.