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How to Get Rid of Fake McAfee Virus Pop-Ups

Sick of  fake McAfee pop-ups that try to lure you into downloading malware or giving away your personal information? You need to know how to get rid of McAfee pop-ups once and for all.

If you’re wondering whether those McAfee pop-ups are real or malicious, jump to our five ways to tell if a McAfee pop-up is a fake . Otherwise, you can purge those annoying McAfee scam pop-ups using our guide below:

• Restore your browser’s default settings .
• Delete any unrecognized browser extensions .
• Run an antivirus scan .
• Enable an ad blocker .
• Use a VPN for protection at the source.

If you’re looking for an antivirus that can detect and root out malware like those at the source of McAfee scams, we recommend Norton 360. It can detect malicious websites , as well as scanning files for malware before you open them.

Remove Fake McAfee Pop-Ups With Norton 360

Read on for our full guide to removing McAfee scam pop-ups from your device for good.

Wondering how to get rid of McAfee pop-ups? The McAfee Antivirus is a legitimate cybersecurity tool , though it didn’t do as well as competitors in our comprehensive antivirus tests. But McAfee scams created by third party cybercriminals to exploit the brand are a real threat, and these McAfee scam popups are a hallmark.

If you’ve seen McAfee pop-ups on your device, you need to check whether they’re legitimate. If not, they could compromise your personal data or even scam you out of money. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to get rid of fake McAfee virus pop-ups .

We’ll also cover the best way to protect yourself, including the top-ranking antivirus solution we’ve tested and can recommend. Norton 360 performed admirably in our tests, detecting and removing malware of all kinds.

So, let’s get right in. Below, we’ll show you how to stop McAfee pop-ups from riddling your device once and for all.

What is the McAfee Pop-Up Scam?

The McAfee pop-up scam relies on your sense of urgency to try and compromise your device. Also known as the “McAfee Critical Virus Alert” scam, this technique tries to sign you up for fake subscriptions or get you to install malware on your device.

Annoyingly, the scam can take on many disguises. The pop-ups vary wildly, and we’re not sure why cybercriminals have chosen to emulate the McAfee software specifically, but they’re all malicious.

At first glance, we had to pause for a minute to work out whether the pop-ups were real. They tell you that the software has detected a computer virus or malware on your computer, but that your McAfee subscription has expired. From here, you’re told to either:

• Get Protection
• Accept Risk

In reality, the pop-up is the risk. Running a virtual machine to protect our device, we tried clicking on the “Get Protection” option. One of two things can happen, based on our experience:

• The software launches a malicious website : You may be directed to a fake McAfee page asking you to sign up for a subscription. If you input payment details, you’ll be giving them to the operators of the scam.
• A malicious file download is launched : If you accept and install the file, you’ll likely be installing malware. Depending on the type of file, it could steal your data, lock or delete personal files, log your keystrokes, or even take control of your device .

Ironically, clicking on the option to accept the risk is the only safe option here. Of course, you’ll still want to get rid of the root cause of the McAfee scam pop-up ads. We’ll show you how below, but first, we recommend installing Norton 360 .

Norton 360 is currently our best antivirus software . Some people don’t use antivirus software because they think: “It’ll never happen to me.” But if you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve already been hit by the McAfee scam. Don’t risk further infections – get Norton’s complete protection.

How to Remove McAfee Pop-Ups: 5 Simple Steps

McAfee scam pop-ups can be linked to malware that’s made its way onto your device. But like a lot of malware, fake McAfee pop-ups can live in your browser, too. Follow our guide below to purge those pesky notifications from your device and safeguard it in the future.

Step 1: Reset your browser to default settings

If your browser’s been infected by a malicious McAfee pop-up, resetting your browser might be enough. Below, we’re going to restore your browser to its default settings. We’ve seen readers have success by following this step:

• Now, you choose which data you want to delete . We recommend that you clear the lot – but if you worry about forgetting your passwords, don’t clear your password data.

• Finally, click on “ Clear data ” to purge browsing data and cookies.
• We’re not quite done yet. Now, you should restore Chrome to factory defaults. Click on the three-dot menu again, then on “ Settings .”

Is that all done? Now, we can remove potentially malicious extensions that might be lurking in your browser.

Step 2: Manually remove any suspicious browser extensions

Now, it’s time to make sure that no malicious extensions are responsible for your McAfee scam pop-up infection. Note that the extension responsible won’t necessarily be called “McAfee” – malicious browser extensions can attempt to disguise themselves, as we discuss in our guide to the risks of browser add-ons .

Here’s our guide on how to remove them:

• Open the three-dot menu in Chrome again.
• Click on “ Extensions ” and “ Manage Extensions “.

The above image is for example purposes only. Klarna’s a safe shopping and finance extension from a reputable company.

Step 3: Use your antivirus to run a scan

The McAfee virus pop-ups aren’t always caused by browser extensions. Sometimes, they can result from a computer virus. On that note, we now recommend running a full system scan with your chosen antivirus.

If you’re already a McAfee subscriber, make sure you’re careful to choose the real program. Locate the app in your computer’s applications folder or directory to make sure that you’re not interacting with a virus.

But to be completely safe, you can try an alternative instead. Norton 360’s our personal choice of antivirus for protecting any operating system. Get the cheapest subscription price, plus a 14-day free trial , using the button below.

Step 4: Switch on your ad blocker

There’s one simple way to avoid clicking on a malicious McAfee ad – stop seeing them altogether! The best ad blockers can help you avoid malware-loaded ads by blocking them at their source.

Unfortunately, this might not work if the problem exists on your device. We can easily block adverts on free streaming sites and other websites, but McAfee scam pop-ups will still appear if they’re driven by malware. Still, it’s a good all-around solution to avoid annoying adverts on any website, whether they’re malicious or not.

Pro-tip: NordVPN can block YouTube adverts on Mozilla Firefox and Apple’s Safari browser, which leads us to our final point.

Step 5: Protect your connection moving forward with a VPN

Getting a VPN to pair with your antivirus is one of the best things you can do for online security. Our preferred VPN, NordVPN, will take care of any holes in your online security that Norton doesn’t address, including:

• Encryption : VPNs encrypt your data , meaning third parties can’t get it. That includes everyone from your internet service provider to cybercriminals.
• Ad blocking : Norton 360 blocks ads, but NordVPN’s powerful ad blocker can even put a stop to interrupting YouTube adverts .

Using a combined antivirus and VPN approach provides the best protection from McAfee scam pop-ups and similar adware. So, grab NordVPN for 58% off — there’s even a 30-day VPN free trial in case you choose not to continue!

5 Ways to Tell if a McAfee Pop-Up is Fake

The McAfee scam pop-ups are very similar to the real McAfee notifications we’ve seen. The criminals behind these scams have gotten better at designing malware, so you need to understand what to look for. We’ve rounded up 5 ways to tell if a McAfee pop-up is fake below.

• The template uses poor grammar : Bad grammar has been a hallmark of phishing messages for as long as we can remember.
• It has low-quality images : Another common indicator of a scam message or pop-up is low-resolution images.
• It contains suspicious links : Any URLs present in the pop-up might not point to McAfee’s website. We recommend avoiding clicking on anything.
• Other device issues have surfaced : Suddenly dealing with other malware or compromised accounts? McAfee pop-ups could be responsible.
• You don’t have McAfee : This one’s more obvious – if you don’t use McAfee antivirus, it’s bound to be a fake!

Unfortunately, it’s not always guaranteed that you’ll see one or any of these traits. In our testing, we came across a frighteningly realistic McAfee scam pop-up. It appeared to be scanning our device in real time, and we saw additional pop-ups telling us that the tool had found malware.

But crucially, we don’t use McAfee from day to day. What’s more, this notification appeared in a new browser window while we were accessing a free streaming site. We know that those sites are riddled with ads, so we knew it was undoubtedly a malicious McAfee scam pop-up.

How to Protect Your PC From McAfee Pop-Up Viruses

Protecting your PC or Mac from McAfee pop-up viruses and other potential malware takes a two-pronged approach. If you’re not already, we recommend using a tried-and-tested antivirus and a top-ranking, premium VPN service .

Otherwise, you can also adopt good cybersecurity best practices to avoid becoming a victim in the future. Here’s our list of tips:

• Don’t download software from unknown sources .
• Avoid visiting suspicious websites .
• Regularly clear your browser’s data .
• Keep your software up to date .
• Regularly schedule antivirus scans .
• Use an ad-blocker .
• Don’t go online without a VPN .

The Best Antivirus for Fake McAfee Virus Pop-Ups: Norton 360

Norton 360 is currently our best-ranked antivirus , regardless of the operating system you use. In our tests, it could detect and remove the malware behind the McAfee scam pop-ups. What’s more, the Norton Safe Web browser extension will warn you if you’ve landed on a malicious site.

Did you accidentally click the fake McAfee pop-up? Norton’s got your back.

• Can protect both Windows and Mac from McAfee scam pop-ups and other malware
• Built-in VPN for enhanced online protection, plus a password manager
• Includes cloud storage to lock your files safely away where viruses can’t touch them

Norton also has a built-in VPN. If your budget’s tight and you have to choose between a VPN and antivirus, Norton can check both boxes with one subscription. Though, in our Norton VPN review , it wasn’t our top-ranking recommendation.

Regardless, Norton will massively improve your device security. Not just through malware detection, but other features too. Avoid having your passwords captured by malicious keyloggers with the integrated password manager, and hide your files away from potential ransomware infections by making use of Norton’s included cloud storage.

If you want the best all-in-one VPN and antivirus software package that we’ve personally tested and recommended, take a look at Surfshark One .

Conclusion: Keep Yourself Safe From Fake McAfee Pop-ups

Just because you see the name McAfee – a longstanding brand in the antivirus world – on a notification, you shouldn’t immediately click on it. We’ve seen dangerous McAfee scam pop-ups that very closely mirror the real thing.

Instead, take a minute to see if the pop-up displays any of our telltale signs of being a fake McAfee virus:

• It uses poor grammar .
• Images are low in quality .
• It features odd-looking, suspicious links .
• Your device is misbehaving in other ways.
• You’re not subscribed to McAfee antivirus.

In the future, you can prevent the risk of malware infections by also backing up your online security with an antivirus and VPN.

We recommend also checking out our related guides for antivirus, VPN, and ad-blocker protection:

• The Best Antivirus With a VPN
• What Are Trojans? How Can You Protect Yourself From Them?
• What is Ransomware? Tips on How to Prevent and Remove it

If you’ve gotten stuck with the removal of the fake McAfee virus, check out our frequently asked questions below. If there’s something you’re still unsure about, drop us a comment and we’ll help you out!

Those fake McAfee virus pop-ups could be linked to a malicious browser extension or active malware on your device. We recommend ensuring that you’ve uninstalled any suspicious extensions lurking in your browser. After that, we recommend running a full virus scan with a top antivirus – we recommend and have extensively tested Norton 360 .

If you have the legitimate McAfee antivirus installed on your device, it might be warning you about malware on your device. But a lot of our readers that don’t even have McAfee have been seeing fake McAfee scam pop-ups. If you don’t have McAfee installed, look out for the hallmark signs of the McAfee virus:

• Poor grammar in display
• Low-resolution images
• Suspicious-looking links that don’t lead to McAfee
• Your device is acting up in other ways

There are several things you can do to remove fake McAfee pop-ups.

• Restore your browser settings to their default mode.
• Delete any browser extensions that look unfamiliar.
• Run an antivirus scan with a good service like Norton 360.
• Get an ad-blocker. The pop-ups could originate from ad-riddled domains, like free streaming sites.
• Use a VPN for additional protection.

Chris Bluvshtein Author

Senior journalist.

Chris is a tech journalist with many years’ experience covering online privacy and cybersecurity. He’s also a published author and works as a Product Manager for some of the most innovative software development companies.

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• How to remove McAfee popups

How to remove McAfee popups: A step-by-step guide

McAfee has an excellent portfolio of cybersecurity products for consumers and business users, but its antivirus and internet security suite are often installed on new PCs without the user’s consent. The programs frequently generate popups, especially if you’re not paying for the premium version. Whether McAfee was included as bloatware on a new device or you unknowingly installed it, McAfee pop-ups can get in the way.

Ready to find out how to remove McAfee popups? Let’s dive in.

How to remove McAfee popups: The TL: DR

If you’re getting popups in your Windows notification area prompting you to upgrade your license, performance tips, or anything else from McAfee , stopping them is straightforward.

Here’s how to remove McAfee popups from Windows 10 or 11:

• Press the Windows Key+ I
• Click Notifications
• Scroll down to the list of installed applications
• Locate McAfee and switch the toggle to Off
• Close your settings

You should now stop seeing popups from McAfee, but if they still appear, keep reading for more solutions.

What are McAfee popups, and why do they appear?

McAfee popups are notifications on your screen, usually stemming from your installed McAfee antivirus software. These popups serve multiple purposes, but they’re primarily designed to keep you informed and, in some cases, prompt you to take action.

Informational alerts

The first type of popup you’ll see from McAfee is informational – they don’t typically require you to take any action. These usually alert you when a scan has finished and no threats are found, or let you know your system is running smoothly.

Promotional Notifications

Like other software providers, McAfee uses alerts to nudge you toward taking a promotional action. Part of their marketing tactics entices you to get limited-time offers to upgrade your antivirus to a paid plan or add a VPN service.

Action-Required Alerts

Lastly, there are the critical alerts. These popups are your software’s way of waving a red flag, signaling something’s wrong. Maybe it’s detected malware or noticed that your firewall settings have been tampered with. These popups require immediate attention and often include a call-to-action like “Resolve Now” or “Scan System.”

So, why do these popups appear? In a nutshell, they’re McAfee’s way of communicating with you. Whether to inform, upsell, or alert, each popup aims to enhance your system’s security or the company’s bottom line.

Other ways to remove McAfee popups

If you’ve turned off McAfee notifications in your settings and still see annoying popups, you may need to take a more drastic approach.

Option 1: Uninstall McAfee

• Click Start and then select Settings.
• Click Apps (Windows 11) or Programs, then Programs and Features (Windows 10).
• Scroll through the list of installed programs until you find McAfee. It might appear as McAfee Total Protection, Security Scan Plus, or similar.
• Select the application name and click Uninstall.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Option 2: Use the McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool (MCPR)

In some instances, McAfee leaves traces of its software on your device, and although unlikely, you may still see popups from McAfee stating components are missing to try and get you to install it again. Download and run the MCPR tool . This will remove any leftover files related to McAfee from your device and remove any McAfee popups.

See also: How to uninstall McAfee .

How to tell fraudulent McAfee pop-ups from legit ones

Occasionally, McAfee popups aren’t what they seem. They might not be from McAfee at all and are instead attempting to scam unsuspecting users. Red flags to look for in fraudulent popups are:

• Bad spelling and grammar or typos.
• Images genuinely from McAfee will look clean and crisp, while scam popup images may appear pixelated.
• Fraudulent popups may try to direct you to a webpage, while legitimate McAfee offers keep you in the app.

If you suspect a McAfee popup is fraudulent, don’t click on it. Report is to McAfee support, and if possible, take a screenshot.

McAfee popups FAQs

Will mcafee's vpn cause popups.

McAfee Secure VPN may cause popups on your device, though these are usually informational to advise when the VPN connects/disconnects. However, there may be alerts trying to push you to upgrade if you only use its VPN and not other McAfee products. Read our guide if you’re looking for an antivirus with a VPN .

How do I turn off McAfee renewal notice?

To turn off McAfee renewal notices, you can disable the auto-renewal feature directly from your  McAfee  account.  Here’s  how you can do it:

• Access Your McAfee Account:  Go to the McAfee website and log into your account.
• Navigate to Auto-Renewal Settings:   Once logged in,  find the  “ Auto-Renewal Settings ”  section.   This  can typically be found  under the  ‘ My Account ‘  tab.
• Disable Auto-Renewal: In the Auto-Renewal Settings, you should see an option to turn off auto-renewal. Click on this option to disable it. If the setting already shows ‘Off,’  auto-renewal is inactive  on your account.

If you continue to receive renewal notifications on your device after turning off auto-renewal, you may need to adjust your  device’s  notification settings.

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How to Remove Fake McAfee Pop-Ups in 3 Simple Steps

Preliminary Step. Check Your Browsers for Suspicious Extensions and Settings

• Step 1. Identify the Fake McAfee Pop-Ups With Your Antivirus (And Don’t Make the Problem Worse!)

Step 2. Remove the Fake McAfee Pop-Ups Infection and Delete Any Other Infected Files

Step 3. make sure you never get fake mcafee pop-ups again, 3 best antivirus programs for removing fake mcafee pop-ups, why am i seeing mcafee pop-up notifications, how to tell if a mcafee pop-up is fake.

• What to Do if You’ve Clicked on a Malicious McAfee Pop-Up

Frequently Asked Questions

• Best Antiviruses for Getting Rid of Fake McAfee Pop-Ups — Final Score:

Short on time? Here’s how to remove the fake McAfee pop-ups:

• Preliminary Step. Check your browser for any issues or add-ons that might be causing problems.
• Scan Device. Install an antivirus and run a full scan (I found that Norton works best).
• Remove All Dangerous Files. After the scan is complete, let the antivirus remove whatever is causing the fake pop-ups.
• Stay Protected. Protect yourself from further infections by making sure your antivirus’s real-time protections are turned on. Norton is particularly good in this area, but there are other options.

If you’re seeing fake McAfee pop-ups, don’t panic. These notifications are a form of scareware and don’t come from McAfee. In most cases, they’ll claim that your McAfee subscription has run out — even if you’ve never had a McAfee account. The pop-ups are designed to scare you into clicking their links so that they can steal your personal information or put malware on your device. The only way to reliably beat them is to use a quality antivirus.

That said, a lot of cybersecurity products misrepresent how powerful their scanners are (especially free ones), so they can’t remove tricky scareware like the fake McAfee pop-ups. Not only that, but a lot of antiviruses lack vital security features like real-time protection, a firewall, or quality web protection.

I did lots of tests to find the best tools for getting rid of fake McAfee pop-ups. I went through all of the top antiviruses on the market to find which are best when it comes to dealing with this particular issue. Norton is my top pick thanks to its flawless malware scanner and wide range of extra features. That said, every option on my list is more than capable of eliminating the malware behind fake McAfee pop-ups, so read through each option closely.

GET NORTON NOW

Note: This step is only necessary if you’re getting fake McAfee pop-ups in your web browser. If the notifications appear to come from your desktop, you can skip to step 1 .

Before using an antivirus, you’ll want to check whether the fake McAfee pop-up is confined to your browser. Fake McAfee pop-ups can come from a variety of sources, but they most often spring from malicious browser extensions.

Whether a scammer pretended to be McAfee and encouraged you to install a malicious extension, it came bundled with another download, or it infected your browser when you clicked on a shady pop-up, removing a malicious extension is easy. Here’s what you need to do:

• Remove malicious extensions on Chrome.
• Remove malicious extensions on Firefox.
• Remove malicious extensions on Edge.
• Remove malicious extensions on Safari (Mac).
• Check push notification settings.

Remove Malicious Extensions on Chrome

Dangerous extensions can be added to Chrome without the user even realizing it. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to find and remove the causes of fake McAfee pop-ups:

• Click on the 3 vertical dots on the top right of the window.

• Move your mouse over Extensions then click Manage Extensions.

• Review any browser extensions you have installed. If any are suspicious, click on the Remove button.

About the Author

What Is the McAfee Virus Pop-Up Scam? How to Get Rid of It

H as a McAfee pop-up randomly appeared on your screen informing you that your subscription has expired and your system is at risk of virus attacks? If you use McAfee antivirus or other related tools from the company, your subscription may have genuinely expired. However, if you don't use any McAfee tools and received this pop-up out of the blue, it's probably a scam.

How does this pop-up scam work? What should you do if you receive this email? And, if you have already fallen victim to it, how can you protect yourself?

What Is the McAfee Fake Pop-Up Scam?

Is McAfee a virus or a scam? Let's get this out of the way: McAfee itself is a trustworthy antivirus suite, but because people trust it, scammers are trying to piggyback on its reputation. The McAfee fake subscription expired notification is a pop-up scam designed to appear like an official subscription expiration notice for McAfee antivirus, one of the most widely used antivirus suites. The pop-up informs victims that their subscription has expired and their device is no longer protected.

Scammers play with their victims' minds by giving them two options in the pop-up: "Accept risk" or "Get protection." The "Accept risk" option means not taking action and closing the pop-up, apparently exposing the device to threats. The "Get protection" conveys the notion that the user is trying to protect their device again.

Users get tricked and click the "Get protection" option, which redirects them to a fake subscription renewal page, set up by scammers.

How Does the McAfee Fake Pop-Up Scam Work?

When victims click the button and land on the phishing page set up by cybercriminals, the scam can take many forms.

Scammers may ask you to renew your subscription through a fake page. By tricking you into seemingly paying the subscription fee, the tricksters will gain access to a valuable asset: your credit card information. When you give scammers access to your credit details, they will abuse it to the fullest extent.

If cybercriminals don't follow this route, they will exploit you in other ways.

• The scammers may direct you to call or email them, where they will entice you to complete the scam.
• To appear friendly, they may offer to download free, but actually malicious, software in place of McAfee antivirus if you don't want to subscribe.
• As part of the trap, they might offer you free access to McAfee antivirus premium by instructing you to run malicious executable crack files.
• The perpetrators may ask you for confidential information, such as your social security number, which they will later exploit.

The list goes on and on…

How to Spot the Fake McAfee Pop-Up Scam

The fake McAfee pop-up scam is easy to spot. If you don't use McAfee products but still receive such a popup on your computer, receive the alert on a random website or as a browser notification, or anywhere you would not expect to see it, the popup is very likely fraudulent.

If you use any McAfee product, especially the McAfee antivirus, and you see this notification, open the antivirus app itself immediately. If your subscription is still active and the software doesn't suggest renewing it, the popup you saw earlier is a scam.

Now that you know how to spot the fake McAfee pop-up scam, what should you do when you encounter it?

How to Deal With the Fake McAfee Pop-Up Scam

When you receive a McAfee subscription expiry notification as a pop-up, make sure it's not an official notice. Do you use McAfee? If not, it's obviously fake. If you do use McAfee, however, navigate away from the pop-up and open your antivirus; any notifications should come up there if it's genuine. If you're confident it's a scam, close the pop-up without clicking on it. This might mean shutting down your browser.

If you encounter this pop-up on a website, close the webpage and don't return to it. If you've encountered this as a push notification, you've probably allowed a malicious website to send you such prompts. You need to block these annoying notifications on your browser to avoid encountering them in the future.

If you see this pop-up when browsing through your device randomly, without having your browser open, scan your device for malware to ensure it isn't infected. If that doesn't work, check your list of recently installed apps and remove any suspicious software on your Windows or on your macOS device , particularly if you don't remember installing it.

Apart from scanning your device with built-in tools, you should also scan your device with third-party virus removal tools to guarantee that your device is malware free.

You may also see McAfee fake subscription pop-ups on your mobile device. There is a known issue with this pop-up infecting the Calendar app on iPhones. If this happens, remove the pop-ups or notifications on your Android or on your iOS device the moment they appear.

Have You Fallen for the McAfee Pop-Up Scam? Here’s What to Do Next

Depending on how much information you've already disclosed to scammers, minimizing the damage could be challenging.

If you have only opened the pop-up and landed on the scammer's webpage, close both the website and the pop-up, and you're good to go. It's worth scanning your system with a real antivirus suite to make sure nothing malicious has been downloaded too as even clicking on a bad link could lead to infection.

If you have paid scammers to seemingly subscribe to the offer, contact your bank immediately and ask for the payment to be stopped or for a refund. Likewise, if you have used your credit card to subscribe to the offer, contact your bank to have your credit or debit card frozen.

Delete any free software offered to you by scammers as a replacement for McAfee antivirus if you have already downloaded it, and properly scan your computer. Moreover, keep an eye out for phishing email links if you have disclosed your email address. The scammers will likely target you multiple times from even legitimate-looking email addresses, so be careful.

Additionally, if you have visited a suspicious webpage, ensure that your browser has not been hijacked, and then remove any hijackers from it. In addition, make sure the hackers haven't retrieved any other data saved on your browser. Change saved passwords, credit card details, and other information for your safety.

How to Avoid Receiving Fake McAfee Virus Pop-Ups

If fake McAfee pop-ups constantly bother you and you don't want to deal with them again and again, keep the following tips in mind:

• Malicious websites trigger a popup when you land on them that asks for your permission to send you notifications. Don't grant them this permission.
• Enable a popup blocker on Edge , Firefox , Google Chrome , or any other browser you use. This will block the pop-ups from appearing on websites, and they will no longer bother you.
• Avoid downloading software, especially antivirus suites, from third-party sources since scammers can program the software to send notifications. Only use official websites!
• Some software unknowingly obtains permission from users to send promotional offers. Some of them can appear as a notification, like the one we're discussing here. Ensure you read all the instructions before installing anything, and do not grant apps permission to send you such alerts.
• Regularly scan your device for malware using a reputable security suite. It will help you detect infections before they take hold of your system and send malicious pop-ups.

Beware of Fake McAfee Pop-Up Scams

Creative scammers behind pop-up scams easily fool victims by making them appear official. They successfully lure people into their traps using real company names in their notifications.

Hopefully, by understanding how the McAfee pop-up scam works, you'll be able to avoid it easily when you come across it. If you've already fallen for it, our tips should be sufficient to minimize the damage.

How to Get Rid of Fake McAfee Virus Pop-Ups on Mac?

Have you received a pop-up with the McAfee logo claiming that your protection from viruses has expired? Be careful! It may be fake. To learn how to identify and remove these annoying pop-ups, keep on reading.

Before we start, it is recommended that you download Antivirus One —a professional and reliable antivirus tool.   It can remove the fake McAfee pop-ups from your Mac and protect you from other types of malware and online threats. Check below for more info on Antivirus One .

What is the fake McAfee virus pop-up?

The fake McAfee virus pop-up scam is designed to trick users into landing on a phishing page and inadvertently handing over sensitive personal and financial info. The bogus pop-up looks like an official notice from McAfee, warning about an expired subscription.

By telling people they’re no longer protected against viruses, the scammers behind the pop-up are trying to get people to click the “Get protection” button, because who wants to accept the risk of viruses, right?

However, clicking the “Get protection” button leads to a fake, scammer-controlled subscription renewal page. On this page, the scammers want you to enter your personal and financial info, including your name, address, and credit card details. With your info, the scammers could commit any number of cybercrimes, and even potentially leak or sell it on the dark web.

How to identify the McAfee virus pop-up scam?

Although the pop-ups look very convincing, with the correct McAfee logo and color scheme, if you don’t have an active McAfee subscription, they’re guaranteed to be bogus.

However, if you do have an active McAfee subscription, to rule out any doubt that the pop-ups are legitimate, it’s best to open your McAfee app and check if your subscription is still active or not. If it’s active, then you know for sure the pop-up is a scam.

In either case, if the pop-ups are confirmed to be fake, it means your Mac may be infected with malware. In this case, you can download Antivirus One to solve all these malware problems at once and effortlessly. Also, you can follow the cleaning tutorial below.

How to remove fake McAfee virus pop-ups?

It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the fake McAfee virus pop-ups. They could have infected your Mac via a number of methods, including rouge programs, malicious websites, spam emails, or pop-up advertisements. However, what’s important is to know how to remove them. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Close the pop-up

Clicking the “Accept risk” button may not close down the pop-up. You may need to find and click a small “X” or “Close” button somewhere within the pop-up window. Failing that, you can press the “Esc” key on your keyboard to close it.

Step 2: Clear and reset your browser

Fake McAfee pop-ups often come from malicious websites that you may have accidentally visited. To be on the safe side, clear your browsing history and reset your browser.

Note: The instructions below are for Chrome, but other browsers will be similar.

• Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner, then “ Settings ”.

• In the new window that opens, select “ Privacy and security ” from the left sidebar, and click “ Clear browsing data ”

• Click on the “ Advanced ” button, and then ensure “ Browsing history ”, “ Download history ”, “ Cookies and other site data ”, and “ Cached images and files ” are all selected.

• Select the time range (e.g. “ Last hour ,” “ Last 24 hours ,” “ Last 7 days ,” “ Last 4 weeks ,” or “ All time ,”). “ All time ” is recommended if you’re not sure when you may have visited a malicious website or done anything that lead to the fake McAfee pop-ups.

• Hit “ clear data ” to confirm your choices.
• After that, click “ Reset settings ” from the left sidebar, and click on the banner that reads “ Restore settings to the original defaults ”.

• Then you’ll see a pop-up asking you to confirm that you want to continue this process. Click the blue “ Reset settings ” button.

Step 3: Block push notifications

If you are plagued by the constant appearance of scam pop-ups, you can disable push notifications. Doing so prevents malicious websites from sending you pop-ups, thus further improving your browsing experience.

2. Go to “ Privacy and security ” and select “ Site settings ”.

• Scroll down to the “ Notifications ” section. For any website that you no longer want to receive notifications from, click the three dots next to it, then click “ Remove ”.

• Alternatively, in this “ Notifications ” section, if you want to disable all notifications, you can simply select the “ Don’t allow sites to send notifications ” option.

• In addition, when you return to “ Site settings ”, you can scroll down to “ Pop-ups and redirects ” and select the “ Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects ” option.

Step 4: Remove malware and unwanted programs with Antivirus One

Antivirus One offers live antivirus monitoring to protect your Mac from adware , ransomware, spyware, and all other kinds of malware. If there are persistent fake McAfee virus pop-ups on your device or you think you might’ve accidentally downloaded something malicious after clicking on a fake virus alert, you can use Antivirus One to run a comprehensive scan and restore your Mac to full health. But best of all, you can get it for FREE!

Here are some of Antivirus One’s awesome features:

• Real-time Detection — Protects your Mac against all threats 24/7.
• Virus Scanner — Scan files and locations to safeguard every part of your Mac.
• Virus Cleaner — Automatically remove viruses to secure your system and privacy.
• Adware Cleaner — Get rid of pop-ups, adware, and browser hijackers so you can browse safely.
• Privacy Cleaner — Hide your information to prevent others from identifying you.

So, what are you waiting for? Click here to download Antivirus One and protect your Mac from all types of threats for free!

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How to get rid of McAfee virus pop-ups Scams

Are you receiving pop-ups with the McAfee logo warning about expired virus protection? Beware, it could be a scareware scam targeting your credit card details and personal information. In this article, we will delve into the McAfee virus pop-up scam, its implications, and effective ways to remove it from your Mac and Windows devices. Additionally, we’ll provide valuable tips on preventing malware infections in the future.

What is the McAfee Virus Pop-Up Scam?

The McAfee virus pop-up scam, also known as the McAfee critical virus alert, preys on fear and panic to deceive users into making malicious downloads or sharing valuable personal information for fake antivirus subscriptions. These scams often utilize the well-known McAfee logo to appear legitimate, luring users into clicking on the “Get protection” button to address non-existent threats.

Identifying Fake McAfee Notifications:

If you don’t have McAfee installed on your computer, any McAfee critical virus alert pop-up is likely a scam. Look for spelling or grammar mistakes and unusual logo appearances as clear signs that it is not an official message from McAfee. 

If you have McAfee on your device, close the pop-up and open McAfee on your device to check your real notifications.

Reasons for Fake McAfee Notifications:

Your browser might display fake McAfee notifications due to several reasons, including visiting malicious sites, installing suspicious browser extensions, downloading files from unverified sources, or accidentally allowing notifications from dubious websites. Recognizing these potential risks can help you avoid falling victim to pop-up scams.

How to Remove the McAfee Scam Pop-Ups:

Follow these steps to eliminate the root cause of the McAfee pop-up scam and prevent encountering such scams in the future:

Step 1: Clear and Reset Your Browser

Clear your browser’s stored data and reset its settings to remove the fake McAfee virus pop-ups effectively.

• Open Safari.
• Click on the  Safari  menu in the top left corner.
• Select  Preferences .
• Click on the  Privacy  tab.
• Under  History , select the  Remove all history  option.
• If you want to clear other browser data, such as cookies and website data, select the appropriate options.
• Click on the  Remove  button.
• Open Chrome.
• Click on the  three dots  in the top right corner.
• Select  Settings .
• Scroll down and click on  Privacy and security .
• Under  Clear browsing data , click on the  Choose what to clear  button.
• Select the data you want to clear.
• Click on the  Clear data  button.

Step 2: Manually Remove Suspicious Extensions or Apps

Check for and remove any suspicious extensions or applications that might be causing the issue.

Step 3: Run an Antivirus Scan

Conduct a thorough antivirus scan to detect and remove any malware or viruses that may have infected your device.

• Mac users: Antiviurus One from the App Store is a great option for protecting your Mac from malware and other threats. Antiviurus One is a lightweight antivirus software that offers basic protection against malware and other threats. It is a good option for Mac users who are looking for a simple and affordable antivirus solution.
• Windows users: Trend Micro Maximum Security is one of the most recommended antivirus software for Windows. Maximum Security offers comprehensive protection against malware, ransomware, and other threats .

Step 4: Enable an Ad Blocker

Protect your future browsing experience by enabling a reliable ad blocker that blocks pop-up scams and phishing attempts. AdBlock One is a free ad blocker for Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. It blocks ads, pop-ups, and trackers on websites, making web pages load faster and more secure.You can download it for free.

Preventative Measures against Viruses:

Adopt these simple habits to safeguard your PC/Mac against malware and ensure a secure computing experience:

• Download legitimate software from trusted sources and avoid pirated versions.
• Stay away from suspicious websites with unknown origins, especially those associated with illegal activities.
• Close pop-ups carefully and avoid clicking on anything except the “X” button to close the threat.
• Regularly clear your browser’s cache and cookies for proper maintenance.
• Install system and program updates to patch security weaknesses.
• Run regular system scans using comprehensive antivirus software.
• Set up a robust ad blocker to prevent pop-ups and online tracking.
• Stay calm and avoid falling for fear-based pop-up scams. Close threatening pop-ups safely and use reputable security software.

The McAfee virus pop-up scam is a prevalent phishing tactic that relies on fear to deceive users. To protect yourself, remember to close these fake notifications safely and avoid sharing personal information. Follow the steps provided to remove the scam from your device, and consider using TotalAV antivirus for comprehensive protection against pop-up scams and scareware attacks. By adopting preventative measures, you can keep your PC safe from malware and enjoy a secure browsing experience. Let us know your experience in the comments below!

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How to Get Rid of McAfee Pop-Ups on Mac

In this article you will find the following:

Are you struggling to get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac? You may know how to turn off McAfee notifications on Mac, but they still come back, especially when browsing the internet. You may see them on web pages you visit. They might say things like:

• Your PC may be at risk!
• Your protection from viruses has expired!
• Your data is at risk!

This may be scary and confusing, especially if you don’t use McAfee antivirus software. So, if you see similar alerts from a different application, check out our information about the Windows Defender security scam .

However, you can relax. These alerts may not be genuine. You could be a victim of the McAfee virus pop-up scam, a type of scareware intended to convince you to pay to fix a fake problem.

In this article, we’ll explain what the fake alerts are, how to spot them, and how to stop McAfee pop-ups on Mac.

Before we start:   If you’re concerned about scareware or other types of malware on your Mac, ensure you’re fully protected. MacKeeper’s Antivirus can offer real-time antivirus protection, as well as scheduled and on-demand virus scans.   How to use MacKeeper’s Antivirus: Download MacKeeper. Open MacKeeper, and choose Antivirus from the sidebar. Click Enable to turn on real-time antivirus protection. Choose Start Scan to scan your Mac for malware. When the scan is complete, choose to Delete any threats.

• What are the fake McAfee virus alerts

McAfee is a legitimate antivirus software—to find out more about it, read our McAfee antivirus review.

However, not all McAfee virus alerts are genuine.

Fake McAfee virus alerts are part of a scareware scam. They look like an official McAfee alert but do not relate to the antivirus software. Scammers hope you’ll click on the alert and enter your payment details—then they can steal your personal data, use your payment information, and commit fraud.

You may see the alerts in several forms:

• On a webpage
• As pop-ups in the center of your screen, with McAfee’s red branding
• As pop-ups in the Notifications Center of your Mac, in the top-right corner of your screen

When you click on the alert, you’ll be taken to a malicious website. It will encourage you to enter your payment information—allegedly so that you can purchase a subscription to ensure your computer is protected against viruses. However, you will not get a subscription because it’s not a website run by McAfee. Instead, you’re now vulnerable to fraud, having given your payment details to a scammer.

Note from our experts:     If you’re concerned about other unexpected pop-ups, read our article about virus pop-ups on Mac .

• How to spot a McAfee virus pop-up scam

If you use McAfee, it can be hard to tell the difference between real and fake virus alerts. After all, if you have McAfee installed and malware is detected, you’d expect to see an alert with the application’s name.

However, there are some ways to confirm whether your McAfee pop-ups are legitimate.

McAfee virus alerts might be fake if:

• You don’t have McAfee installed—the app can’t scan your Mac unless it’s installed on your computer.
• They tell you your subscription has expired, but you know it hasn’t.
• They only appear in your web browser rather than in the McAfee app.
• Virus scans don’t show any threats.

Does it sound like your virus alerts are fake? Read on to discover how to get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac.

• Why are you getting scam McAfee pop-ups

You are getting scam pop-ups because your Mac might be infected with malware.

It’s unlikely that you deliberately downloaded malware. However, computers can easily become infected with viruses, scareware, or adware.

You may have downloaded the scam McAfee pop-up malware in one of a few ways:

• Accidentally clicking on a malicious link in an email or on a website
• Accidentally clicking on a malicious advert online
• Installing unsafe browser extensions
• Downloading a file that contained malware

However, if the scam finds its way to your computer, it’s important to get rid of McAfee pop-ups on your Mac as soon as possible. That way, you can continue to use your Mac uninterrupted and avoid the risk of giving your payment details to a scammer.

Hint from our team:     Not all online pop-ups are bad. Depending on your web browsing habits, you may want to enable pop-ups for specific websites or in general. Read our article on how to allow pop-ups on Mac .

• How to stop fake McAfee pop-ups on Mac

Now that you know they might be scams, we’ll explain how to stop McAfee pop-ups on Mac.

Some of these steps require you to complete them in your web browser. If you use more than one browser, you may need to complete the steps more than once, one time for each browser.

1. Close the pop-ups

It’s important not to click directly on the pop-ups. They will take you to a malicious website and could download further malware onto your computer.

Instead, to get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac, click the X in the corner of the pop-up.

2. Clear and reset your browser

You need to repeat this step for each browser you use. We’ve provided instructions for four of the most popular browsers used on Mac.

How to clear and reset Safari

Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy one-click solution to clear and reset Safari. However, it’s still possible—follow these steps:

• Go to Safari menu > Settings .
• Go to the Advanced tab, and ensure Show features for web developers is checked.
• Close the Settings screen, and go to the Develop menu. Choose Empty Caches .
• Go to Safari > Settings , and choose Privacy . Select Manage Website Data .
• Choose Remove All .

How to clear and reset Google Chrome for Mac

Follow the instructions to reset Google Chrome on Mac:

• Go to the menu (three dots) and choose Clear Browsing Data.
• Choose Advanced , and make sure that all the items are selected.
• Select Clear Data .

How to clear and reset Firefox

Follow the instructions to reset Firefox on Mac:

• Go to the menu (three lines) and choose Help > More troubleshooting information .
• Select Refresh Firefox .
• Confirm that you want to Refresh Firefox .

How to clear and reset Opera

Follow the instructions to reset Opera on Mac:

• Go to Opera > Update & Recovery .
• Under Recovery , choose Recover .
• Choose whether to keep your data or reset it, and reset Opera’s settings. You should be able to keep your data and still get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac. Click Recover .

3. Block push notifications in your browser

Push notifications on your Mac are the pop-up alerts appearing in your screen's top right corner. You might also see this called the Notifications Center .

Push notifications can be very useful. Your MacBook may tell you when it’s running low on battery, when updates are available, or when you have an upcoming calendar event. Some websites also use push notifications to update you about important changes. However, some malicious sites may use push notifications to try and scare you–like the fake McAfee alerts.

Fortunately, you can block all notifications from certain applications using Apple’s System Settings. Here’s how to turn off notifications in System Settings:

• Go to Apple menu > System Settings .
• Choose Notifications from the sidebar.
• Select your web browser from the list of applications. Make sure that the option to Allow Notifications is turned off.

4. Remove any suspicious extensions and apps manually

Malicious browser extensions or apps may be the cause of the alerts. So, to completely get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac, we need to remove any extensions or apps that might be causing the problem.

There are a few ways to remove suspicious apps on Mac. We recommend using an uninstaller, which will remove all traces of the application. Simply deleting an app in Finder can leave data behind—and if you have malware on your system, you want all traces removed!

MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller quickly scans your Mac for all installed software and allows you to remove your chosen apps easily. Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller:

• Open MacKeeper , and choose Smart Uninstaller from the sidebar. Select Start Scan .
• When the scan is complete, choose Applications .
• Look through the list for any suspicious apps. Choose the apps you want to remove and choose Remove Selected .

Browser extensions are add-ons to your web browser. They can be useful—for example, they might help with accessibility, ad blocking, or saving passwords. However, like most types of software, some can be malicious.

If you use multiple browsers, you’ll need to check for malicious extensions on each one.

How to remove extensions in Safari

Follow these steps to remove suspicious extensions in Safari:

• Go to Safari > Settings . Choose Extensions from the top bar.
• Choose any suspicious extensions, and click Uninstall .

How to remove extensions in Chrome

Follow these steps to remove suspicious extensions in Google Chrome:

• Go to menu (three dots) > Extensions > Manage Extensions .
• Under the extension you want to delete, select Remove .

How to remove extensions on Firefox

Follow these steps to remove suspicious extensions in Firefox:

• Select the Extensions button (puzzle piece).
• Select Extensions from the sidebar and look through your installed extensions. If you want to remove any, click the three-dot button and click Remove .

How to remove extensions in Opera

Follow these steps to remove suspicious extensions in Opera:

• Choose the Extensions button (cube) and select Manage Extensions .
• Look through the list of extensions. For any that you want to delete, click Remove .

5. Install antivirus and scan your Mac

This is the next key step if you don’t have antivirus software installed already. You should look for antivirus software that provides real-time protection and also make sure that you scan your Mac for viruses regularly.

MacKeeper’s Antivirus provides real-time antivirus protection as well as an adware removal tool. Here’s how to install and use MacKeeper:

• Download MacKeeper and open the Package file. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
• Open MacKeeper, and choose Antivirus from the sidebar. Click Enable to turn on real-time virus protection.
• Choose Start Scan to run a virus scan.
• If MacKeeper finds any threats, click Delete to remove them.

6. Use an ad blocker

Now that you’ve removed McAfee pop-ups on Mac, you should ensure you don’t download other malware forms while browsing the web. Use an ad blocker to avoid accidentally clicking on malicious links or fake adverts online.

If you use Safari or Google Chrome for Mac , MacKeeper’s StopAd can help. It blocks online ads, stops online trackers from following you, and can even improve your browsing speed–you no longer need to wait for annoying ads to load. To use MacKeeper’s StopAd:

• Open MacKeeper , and choose StopAd from the sidebar.
• Install and Enable StopAd for the browser or browsers you use.

If you use multiple web browsers, you may need to install multiple ad blockers—one for each browser.

McAfee is a legitimate antivirus program, but some scammers have created malware that causes fake McAfee virus alerts. These fake pop-ups take you to websites where you are encouraged to enter your payment information.

Because of this, if you see McAfee virus alerts unexpectedly, you should follow our instructions to remove McAfee pop-ups on Mac. They could be a sign that your Mac is infected with malware, and your finances and personal security are at risk.

MacKeeper’s Antivirus can help keep your Mac safe from malware, including scareware such as the McAfee virus alerts.

• FAQ about fake McAfee pop-ups on Mac

Now that you’ve learned about the fake virus scam and how to get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac, you may have more questions.

1. How to turn off McAfee notifications on Mac?

If you know that the alerts you see are scams, it’s important to block McAfee pop-ups on your Mac. This avoids the risk of clicking on fake alerts and giving your payment details to a scammer.

To turn the alerts off, you should remove the malware from your system. If you use McAfee as your antivirus provider, make sure that legitimate alerts are allowed, or consider using MacKeeper’s StopAd to stop McAfee pop-ups on Mac .

To make changes to your notification settings:

• Go to Apple menu > System Settings , and choose Notifications from the sidebar.
• Select the app you want to change, and turn notifications on or off.

2. Why does McAfee keep popping up when I don't have McAfee?

If you don’t have McAfee antivirus software installed on your Mac, you should never see McAfee notifications. However, some scammers have designed malware that spoofs McAfee’s virus alerts.

This is a type of malware called scareware. It wants to scare you into thinking that you need to pay for a premium service to remove viruses from your Mac. However, even if you enter your payment details, it won’t provide antivirus protection.

3. How do I disable McAfee antivirus on my Mac?

If you use McAfee antivirus on your Mac and want to disable it, you can temporarily turn protection off within the application or fully uninstall it using an uninstaller.

However, if you want to turn off McAfee notifications on Mac, be aware that these alerts may not come from McAfee antivirus software. Instead, they may come from malware that’s trying to scam you into giving it your payment details. Follow our directions to get rid of the McAfee virus notification scam.

4. How do I stop fake McAfee pop-ups on Safari?

If you want to get rid of McAfee pop-ups on Mac when you’re using Safari, you can change which websites are allowed to show notifications within the application.

To change notification settings in Safari:

• Go to Safari > Settings .
• Choose Websites , and click Notifications in the sidebar. If you see any suspicious websites in the list, select them and choose Remove .

However, even once you’ve changed Safari’s settings to block McAfee pop-ups on Mac, you should still follow the instructions in the rest of this article to ensure the malware is removed from your system.

We also recommend using MacKeeper’s Antivirus to run regular system scans to ensure your Mac stays safe.

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How to Get Rid of Fake McAfee Virus Pop-ups 2024

This is an estimated reading time to let you know how long it will take you to read all the content on this particular PrivacySavvy.com page. However, it has a sneak peek, easy guide steps, and/or a quick list providing quick in-page navigations and easily-found answers if desired.

If you're wondering how to get rid of fake McAfee virus pop-ups, read on to learn how to deal with these intrusive alerts.

Online scammers use fake pop-ups that pose as reliable McAfee antivirus to carry out malicious attacks. They collect sensitive information by informing victims that their devices are unprotected and prone to cyber threats. This article outlines how to identify these dubious notifications and what causes them to appear on your screen. Furthermore, you will learn how to eliminate them irrespective of the device.

When you receive notifications from McAfee that a virus has infected your device, it’s almost irresistible to click on these pop-ups immediately because you want to protect your gadget. However, do you know it might be a fake McAfee virus warning? Malicious sites use this tactic to target and scam unsuspecting people by getting their personal information , like their credit card details.

The fraudulent scheming can appear legit because some scam notifications go as far as having the McAfee logo. This fact requires extra carefulness, especially if you are not subscribed to McAfee tools . This article will deeply dive into understanding these McAfee virus pop-ups and how to prevent malware infections on your device.

What is the McAfee virus pop-up scam?

The McAfee virus pop-ups are impostor messages that cybercriminals use to trick users into purchasing fake antivirus licenses. These pop-ups are also referred to as McAfee critical virus alerts, and they cause panic and fear in their victims’ minds by telling them that their devices are no longer protected.

It is worth mentioning that McAfee is a trustworthy antivirus software provider that never requests subscribers’ personal information via pop-ups. However, scammers leverage their reputation to lure victims to click on fraudulent pages under pretenses . The pop-ups usually carry McAfee’s official logo, and they inform users of non-existent threats.

Furthermore, the notifications typically contain buttons that prompt users to get protection by purchasing or renewing their McAfee subscription.

The McAfee fake pop-up scam – How does it work?

The scammers behind the adware allow users to accept their non-existent risks or protect their devices. If the pop-up is not clicked, there is nothing to worry about. However, if this scareware is clicked, the user automatically downloads a malicious app or file .

The pop-ups also redirect victims to sham subscription renewal pages where they will be required to fill in their financial information. Some perpetrators explore other ways to entice users further, like calling or emailing. They may also claim to offer you a premium McAfee antivirus package , provided that you run some malicious crack files.

Moreover, they can offer a free download of dubious software as an alternative to subscribing. Others can even clandestinely ask for your Social Security Number. When scammers eventually collect a user’s details , they can impersonate them to achieve their malicious intentions .

How can I spot the fake McAfee virus pop-up scam?

McAfee critical virus alerts are simple to identify. It is even easier for people who don’t use any McAfee products . In this case, any McAfee alert on your device, browser, or a pop-up from a random website is most likely fraudulent.

Look out for any unusual appearances in the McAfee logo . Also, check for spelling or grammar errors because they are telltale signs that the notification is illegitimate.

However, if you subscribe to McAfee’s antivirus or any other product and see a pop-up, do not click on it . First, open the antivirus application to confirm that your subscription has expired. If there is no prompt requesting you to renew your subscription, then the alert you saw was phishing.

Did you fall for the McAfee pop-up scam? Here’s what to do next.

If you have unwittingly clicked on a fake McAfee notification and compromised your safety or gadgets’ safety, there’s no need for panic. However, mitigating the damage depends on how many details you’ve divulged to these malicious actors. Based on your situation, here are the steps to take:

• Ignore and close the window : If you only click on the fake notification window without filling in any information, there is no cause for alarm. Simply ignore its content and close the pop-up window, even if it requires shutting down your browser.
• Scan your device : It is possible that clicking the button led to an automatic download of malware that poses as an antivirus. So, to ensure your device’s safety, do a deep scan with a trusted antivirus package to eliminate any malicious downloads.
• Contact your bank immediately : If you successfully subscribed as prompted by the pop-up, call your bank to explain the situation and tell them to cancel the subscription immediately. Also, if you made payments using your credit or debit card, ask your bank to deactivate it instantly to avoid the scammers’ further access to your money. Moreover, you can change your card login details if that is all you revealed to the fake website.
• Beware of fraudulent emails : If you filled in your email address via the notification link, watch out for any fraudulent emails the scammers might send you. Be careful when clicking on emails from unfamiliar sources, even genuine ones, because perpetrators can go to any length to get through to potential victims.
• Check your browser : Finally, confirm that your browser has not been hijacked if the pop-up redirected you to a suspicious website. A browser hijacker potentially threatens your privacy because it modifies your browser settings and gains access to your information without permission. Remove any hijackers and change your passwords and other data if necessary.

5 ways to stop receiving and seeing fake McAfee virus pop-ups

So far, we’ve examined what McAfee critical virus alerts are and how to spot them. Nonetheless, you probably cannot relate because you’ve not exactly had any experience with them. This fact doesn’t mean you can’t encounter them later . Thankfully, there are measures you can put in place never to be a victim of dubious and unwanted pop-ups.

Below are practical ways to avoid receiving fake McAfee critical virus alerts:

• Do not permit them : One fact about fake virus notifications is that you receive them only because you knowingly or unknowingly permitted them. Whenever a site that you suspect to be malicious sends a notification requesting permission, do not grant the request.
• Download trusted antivirus from credible sites : It is advisable to download your antivirus packages only from trusted websites or, better still, from the provider’s official website. Scammers can make use of third-party websites for malicious reasons. As such, it is best to steer clear of third-party sources.
• Scan your device regularly : When you successfully install a trusted and robust antivirus on your gadget, scan your device regularly. Frequent scanning helps you detect phishing software or content early to get rid of them.
• Activate pop-up blocker : Popular browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox , and Edge have a pop-up blocker feature that you can maximize for your safety. Enable the pop-up attribute to stop receiving unwanted website alerts.
• Grant software permission cautiously : Software usually requests permission when you are installing it. Do not give access to software carelessly, especially when they request to notify you of promotional offers. Read through the installation instructions to clarify exactly what you are agreeing to.

Don’t fall victim to bogus McAfee pop-ups

McAfee pop-up scams are online phishing schemes that mislead people into revealing personal data and sensitive information . By leveraging the identity of the credible McAfee antivirus service provider, they lure unsuspecting users by appearing legitimate.

They cause fear in people by telling them that their devices are unprotected because their subscription has expired. These pop-ups are usually intrusive and persistent once a potential victim ignorantly permits them .

Nonetheless, it is possible to deal with them by taking decisive measures, as explained earlier. First, never allow websites permission to display notifications anyhow on your screen. Moreover, remember that the genuine McAfee antivirus software never uses pop-ups for malware warnings or subscription renewals.

Windows troubleshooting – Removing fake McAfee pop-up alerts

Now that you know why you keep seeing those weird alerts, you may wonder how to get rid of fake McAfee virus pop-up windows . Thankfully, you can easily remove fake McAfee popups in Windows 10 and other Windows versions by restoring your browser to its default setting.

This resetting will clear your history, favorites, and your saved passwords . It will also remove temporary data cookies and turn off previously installed extensions. Check out the steps below to get started:

• First, open your Chrome browser and access the menu by clicking on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the page. Then, click on the “ Settings ” button.
• Scroll down the left sidebar to find the “ Reset settings ” option and click on it.
• Click on “ Restore settings to their original defaults .”
• A dialog box will appear and detail the browsers’ components that will be reset. Click on the “ Reset settings ” button to complete the process.
• You can further reset Chrome’s data sync to deal with the reinstallation of malicious websites after the reset process. To do this, go to “ chrome.google.com/sync ” and select the “ Clear data ” option.

These steps to eliminate McAfee virus pop-ups on Windows devices also apply to other browsers like Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge.

Mac troubleshooting – Remove fake McAfee pop-up alerts

Now that we’ve discussed removing McAfee pop-ups in Windows 10 let’s examine how to remove fake McAfee pop-ups from Mac. This process also involves restoring your browser to its default setting to remove scareware and dubious push notifications, and it includes the following steps:

• Open Safari and select “ Preferences ” from the menu.
• You’ll be directed to the “ General ” tab to ensure your “ Homepage ” field contains a preferred web page that will serve as your start-up page.
• Select the “ Extensions ” tab to reveal the list of the extensions currently installed on Safari.
• Remove any extension you suspect to be malware . If you are unsure how to identify phishing websites, you can uninstall all the extensions. It is safe to remove any extension because, by default, Safari doesn’t install extensions.
• Click “ Preferences ,” followed by “ Websites, ” and then “ Notifications ” to remove spam notification pop-ups. Then click on “ Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications ” to deselect the option.
• To remove the data stored by the website on your Macbook, click “ Preferences ” and select “ Privacy .” Next, click the “ Manage website data ” option. You can now select “ Remove All ,” after which you’ll be asked to confirm that you agree to remove all website data stored on your computer. Then, click on the “ Remove Now ” button to clear your browsing history.
• Empty your Safari caches by selecting “ Safari ” and then “ Preferences ” and clicking the “ Advanced ” tab. Next, enable the “ Show to develop a menu in the menu bar ” checkbox. Select “ Develop ” from the menu bar, and click on “ Empty caches ” to complete the process.

Android troubleshooting – Remove fake McAfee pop-up alerts

For Android users, you are not left out of protecting your device . Here are the simple steps to remove fake McAfee pop-up alerts by resetting your browser to its default state.

• Open Google Chrome on your Android device
• Open the menu and click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner.
• Select “ Settings ” when the menu opens.
• When the “ Settings ” window is displayed, click “ Notifications .”
• Turn off the “ Show notifications ” option when the “ App notifications ” menu opens.

You’re not alone if you want to eliminate fake McAfee virus pop-ups permanently. First, make sure you don’t fall for their fear tactics . Next, patiently follow the tips in this article to stop these alerts from bothering you.

Protecting your device and your data is up to you. As such, you can take preventive measures never to deal with these malicious notifications . Download a trusted antivirus package so your gadget is never prone to attacks.

You are getting McAfee pop-ups because the malware has access to your device. Do not click on them to protect your data and device when they appear on your screen. Instead, close the alerts and undo any permission you unwittingly granted these malicious websites. Also, download a credible antivirus to scan and remove any scareware carefully.

If you are not subscribed to any McAfee products and keep getting these notifications, there is a high probability that it is a scam. To get rid of the pop-ups, enable the ad-blocker feature on your browser to deactivate the permission you might have unknowingly granted the websites.

You can eliminate the McAfee virus first by not clicking on the pop-ups. Next, install a robust antivirus software to scan your device thoroughly. These antiviruses are designed to detect and notify you of phishing websites. Some of these antivirus services include Norton 360 antivirus and TotalAV Pro antivirus.

Simple measures to protect your gadget from viruses include using credible antiviruses and avoiding illegitimate websites. You can also enable an ad blocker and scan your system regularly to detect potential malware.

You can get rid of McAfee pop-ups on your Windows 11 by restoring your browser to its default setting, as explained above. You can also install an antivirus to reveal and remove threats from your PC. 

You can determine whether a McAfee alert is fake or real by looking for flaws in the McAfee logo. You can also check for grammatical errors in the pop-ups. Furthermore, if you have the McAfee app, confirm that the alerts you receive correspond with the app’s notifications. If there’s any disparity, then the alert is a fake.

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About the Author

Justice Ekaeze

Justice Ekaeze is a freelance tech writer with experience working for specialized content agencies. Justice has acquired extensive content writing experience over the years. He’s handled several projects in diverse niches but loves the cybersecurity and VPN sectors the most. His friends call him 'the VPN expert.' In his free time, he likes to play football, watch movies, and enjoy a good show.

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Safari User Guide

• Get started
• Go to a website
• Bookmark webpages to revisit
• See your favorite websites
• Use tabs for webpages
• Import bookmarks and passwords
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Autofill credit card info
• View links from friends
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading
• Translate a webpage
• Download items from the web
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a webpage
• Print or create a PDF of a webpage
• Interact with text in a picture
• Change your homepage
• Customize a start page
• Create a profile
• Block pop-ups
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Hide your email address
• Manage cookies
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• See who tried to track you
• Change Safari settings
• Keyboard and other shortcuts

Allow or block pop-ups in Safari on Mac

Pop-up windows can be helpful or distracting. Some websites require you to allow pop-ups. For example, a bank website might show your monthly statements in pop-ups. Other websites might fill your screen with pop-up ads.

You can allow or block pop-ups on individual websites or all websites. If you’re not sure whether you want to block pop-ups on a website, you can choose to block and be notified when the site wants to display a pop-up, then decide if you want to show the pop-up.

Open Safari for me

Allow or block pop-ups on one website

Choose Safari > Settings, then click Websites.

Click Pop-up Windows on the left.

If you don’t see Pop-up Windows, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the list.

In the pop-up menu for the website, choose one of the following:

Allow: Pop-ups for the website appear.

Block: Pop-ups for the website don’t appear.

Allow or block pop-ups on all websites

If there are websites listed below Configured Websites, and you want to change the settings for these sites (for example, they’re set to Allow, but you want to change them to Block), select each website, then click Remove.

If you don’t see Configured Websites, either you haven’t set pop-up blocking for any sites yet, or you’ve cleared the list.

Click the “When visiting other websites” pop-up menu, then choose one of the following:

Allow: Pop-ups for the websites appear.

Block: Pop-ups for the websites don’t appear.

If you block pop-ups on a website, but you continue to see pop-ups on the website, you might have unwanted software on your Mac. See the Apple Support article Block pop-up ads and windows in Safari .

Note: Blocking pop-ups might also block some content you want to see.

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How to get rid of McAfee pop up notifications on my MacBook Pro?

How to get rid of McAfee pop up notifications? I don't remember installing it, or if I did, I uninstalled it ages ago and now suddenly there the notifications are again. Every post I've seen tells you to go to Applications and use the uninstaller...but what do you do when you can't see the McAfee application anywhere and have no installer?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Jan 20, 2023 6:15 PM

Posted on Apr 15, 2023 7:29 AM

Generally, this works.

A site you visited added itself to notifications in Safari. Everything you're seeing is nothing but a scam.

Open Safari's preferences. Click on the Websites tab and then scroll down to Notifications . Clear any entries in the right hand window. You might find something similar in the Pop-up Windows heading below that. Block any you don't recognize.

Then if you want, uncheck the box below as shown here.

I personally can't think of any reason why I would ever want any website to push notices to me.

How to Stop the Popups

Quick Links

McAfee is tracking an increase in the use of deceptive popups that mislead some users into taking action, while annoying many others.  A significant portion is attributed to browser-based push notifications, and while there are a couple of simple steps users can take to prevent and remediate the situation, there is also some confusion about how these should be handled.

How does this happen?

In many cases scammers use deception to trick users into Allowing push notifications to be delivered to their system.

In other cases, there is no deception involved.  Users willingly opt-in uncoerced.

What happens next?

After Allowing notifications, messages quickly start being received.  Some sites send notifications as often as every minute.

Many messages are deceptive in nature.  Consider this fake alert example.  Clicking the message leads to an imposter Windows Defender alert website, complete with MP3 audio and a phone number to call.

In several other examples, social engineering is crafted around the McAfee name and logo.  Clicking on the messages lead to various websites informing the user their subscription has expired, that McAfee has detected threats on their system, or providing direct links to purchase a McAfee subscription .  Note that “Remove Ads” and similar notification buttons typically lead to the publishers chosen destination rather than anything that would help the user in disabling the popups.  Also note that many of the destination sites themselves prompt the user to Allow more notifications.  This can have a cascading effect where the user is soon flooded with many messages on a regular basis.

How can this be remediated?

First, it’s important to understand that the representative images provided here are not indications of a virus infection.  It is not necessary to update or purchase software to resolve the matter.  There is a simple fix:

1. Note the name of the site sending the notification in the popup itself. It’s located next to the browser name, for example:

Example popup with a link to a Popup remover

2. Go to your browser settings’ notification section

• For Chrome, go here:  chrome://settings/content/notifications
• For Edge, go here:  edge://settings/content/notifications

3. Search for the site name and click the 3 dotes next to the entry.

Chrome’s notification settings

4. Select Block

Great, but how can this be prevented in the future?

The simplest way is to carefully read such authorization prompts and only click Allow on sites that you trust.  Alternatively, you can disable notification prompts altogether.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

What other messages should I be on the lookout for?

While there are thousands of various messages and sites sending them, and messages evolve over time, these are the most common seen in April 2021:

• Activate Protection Now?|Update Available: Antivirus
• Antivirus Protection|Download Now To Protect Your Computer From Viruses & Malware Attacks
• Check here with a Free Virus Scan|Is Windows slow due to virus?
• Click here to activate McAfee protection|McAfee Safety Alert
• Click here to activate McAfee protection|Turn on your antivirus
• Click Here To Activate McAfee Protection|Upgrade Your Antivirus
• Click here to clean.|System is infected!
• Click here to fix the error|Protect your PC now !
• Click here to fix the error|System alert!
• Click here to protect your data.|Remove useless files advised
• Click Here To Renew Subscription|Viruses Found (3)
• Click here to Scan and Remove Virus|Potential Virus?
• Click To Renew Your Subscription|Viruses Found (3)
• Click to turn on your Norton protection|New (1) Security Notification
• Critical Virus Alert|Turn on virus protection
• Free Antivirus Update is|available.Download and protect system?
• Install Antivirus Now!|Norton – Protect Your PC!
• Install FREE Antivirus now|Is the system under threat?
• Install free antivirus|Protect your Windows PC!
• Jetzt KOSTENLOSES Antivirus installieren|Wird das System bedroht?
• McAfee Safety Alert|Turn on your antivirus now [Activate]
• McAfee Total Protection|Trusted Antivirus and Privacy Protection
• Norton Antivirus|Stay Protected. Activate Now!
• Renew McAfee License Now!|Stay Protected. Renew Now!
• Renew McAfee License Now!|Your McAfee Has Expired Today
• Renew Norton License Now!|Your Norton Has Expired Today
• Renew Now For 2021|Your Norton has Expired Today?
• Scan Report Ready|Tap to reveal
• Turn on virus protection|Viruses found (3)

General safety tips

• Scams can be quite convincing. It’s better to be quick to block something and slow to allow than the opposite.
• Manually enter in a web address rather than clicking a link sent to you.
• Confirm numbers and addresses before reaching out, such as phone and email.
• McAfee customers  utilizing web protection  (including McAfee Web Advisor and McAfee Web Control) are protected from known malicious sites.

Introducing McAfee+

Identity theft protection and privacy for your digital life

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McAfee+ keeps you more secure and private online

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How to Get Rid of Fake Virus Alert Pop-Ups on Mac

Last Updated on May 9, 2023

It’s somewhat ironic, but pop-ups that alert you to the fact that you have malicious software installed on your Mac are actually malicious themselves. These fake virus warning pop-ups try to scare you into thinking your system macOS is infected with a virus when in actual fact there is nothing wrong with it. However, if you click on one of these pop-ups, that may not be the case afterward!

Some of these mac virus pop-ups are nothing more than a slight annoyance, but many of them can cause some serious harm. Whether you’re currently dealing with annoying fake virus pop-ups, or you would just like to know how to deal with them just in case, keep on reading to learn everything about how to get rid of fake virus alert pop-ups on Mac.

What is a fake virus alert?

A fake virus alert is a pop-up window or new browser tab that says your computer is infected with a virus. These alerts will almost always advertise some fake virus-removal software and prompt you to download it. If you’ve recently seen what you believe to be a fake virus alert but you’re not sure if it was legitimate, the simple answer is, if you don’t have anti-virus software installed on your Mac, the alert was 100% fake. No legitimate virus alert will ever appear in your web browser either. If you have an antivirus program installed, the only virus alerts you should be seeing are ones displayed by that program.

What should I do if I see a fake virus alert?

Under no circumstances should you click on any fake virus alerts. If you do so, it could result in your Mac becoming infected with some type of malicious software. You should exit out of the alert straight away — either by closing down the “system macOS is infected” notification or closing down the web browser entirely. If the alert is particularly troublesome, you may need to use Force Quit to close down the web browser. To open Force Quit, press the Option, Command, and Esc keys on your keyboard at the same time. Within the Force Quit app, select your web browser and then click on the Force Quit button in the bottom right.

What should I do if I’ve already clicked on a fake virus alert?

It’s certainly not guaranteed, but it is decently likely that your Mac is now infected with some form of malicious software. However, there is no need to panic. If you have an antivirus app installed on your Mac, you can use it to run a comprehensive scan. This will find and remove any malicious applications, restoring your Mac to full health. If you don’t have an antivirus app, skip to the next section…

Protect your Mac against all viruses with Antivirus One

Antivirus One offers live antivirus monitoring to protect your Mac from adware, ransomware, spyware, and all other kinds of malware attacks. But best of all, you can get it for FREE! Here are some of Antivirus One ’s awesome features:

• Real-Time Detection — Protects your Mac against all threats 24/7.
• Virus Scanner — Quick scan, customize scan, or deep scan files and locations to safeguard every part of your disk.
• Virus Cleaner — Automatically remove viruses to secure your system and privacy.
• Adware Cleaner — Gets rid of pop-ups, adware, and browser hijackers, so you can browse safely.
• Privacy Cleaner — Hides your information to prevent others from identifying you, especially after visiting websites.

If you think you might’ve accidentally downloaded something malicious after clicking on a fake but critical virus alert on mac , don’t wait any longer and download Antivirus One to find out for sure! Click the button below to learn more.

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