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    3 min read 5 stepsJuly 11, 2026Verified July 2026

    How to Recognize a Fake "Your Computer Is Infected" Pop-Up

    Learn the warning signs of fake virus alerts designed to scare you into calling a scam phone number, and what to do instead.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    scam
    pop-up
    tech support scam
    computer safety
    phishing

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Do not call any phone number shown on the pop-up
    2. 2.Close the browser without clicking anything in the pop-up
    3. 3.Run a scan with your real, trusted antivirus software
    4. 4.Clear your browser history and cache if the pop-ups keep returning
    5. 5.Report it
    1

    Do not call any phone number shown on the pop-up

    ~28s
    No matter how official it looks — with company logos, official-sounding names, or a countdown timer — a phone number on a browser pop-up is never a legitimate tech support line. Real security warnings from your actual antivirus software appear in a small notification from your system tray, not a full-screen browser pop-up.

    Warning

    Never call the number, and never let anyone who calls you claiming to be from "Microsoft" or "Windows Support" remotely access your computer. Microsoft does not make unsolicited support calls.

    2

    Close the browser without clicking anything in the pop-up

    ~25s
    On a Windows computer, press Alt+F4 to force-close the browser window entirely rather than clicking any button inside the pop-up, since some fake "Close" or "X" buttons actually trigger a download. On a Mac, use Command+Q, or force-quit through the Apple menu if the browser won't respond.

    Quick Tip

    If the browser reopens the same pop-up automatically, hold Shift while relaunching it (on most browsers) to prevent it from restoring the previous tabs.

    3

    Run a scan with your real, trusted antivirus software

    ~19s
    After closing the browser, open whatever legitimate antivirus software you already have installed (Windows Security/Defender is built into every current Windows PC) and run a full scan just to confirm everything is clean. This step is optional reassurance, not usually necessary, since the pop-up itself didn't infect anything just by appearing.
    4

    Clear your browser history and cache if the pop-ups keep returning

    ~15s
    In your browser's settings, clear browsing data for "cached images and files" and recent history. This removes the malicious ad or script that was triggering the pop-up in the first place.
    5

    Report it

    ~15s
    If you did call the number and gave remote access, payment information, or a password, contact your bank right away to watch for unusual charges, change any passwords you may have shared, and report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

    You Did It!

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    One of the most common scams aimed at computer users is a pop-up window that suddenly fills the screen with flashing warnings, sometimes accompanied by a loud alarm sound, claiming your computer is infected with viruses and instructing you to call a phone number right away. These pop-ups are fake — no legitimate antivirus company, and certainly not Microsoft, Apple, or your internet provider, detects a virus and tells you to call a phone number to fix it.

    The goal of the scam is to panic you into calling. If you call, a scammer posing as "tech support" will try to get remote access to your computer, then either charge you hundreds of dollars for fake repairs, install actual malware, or steal banking information while pretending to "fix" the problem. The pop-up itself, no matter how alarming it looks, cannot actually damage your computer — closing it safely is always the right first move.

    These scam pop-ups usually come from a website you visited, not an actual infection, which is why closing the browser (not just the pop-up) usually makes the alarm disappear completely. Source: consumer.ftc.gov/articles/tech-support-scams.

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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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