How to remove fake virus notifications

A message fills the screen: your computer is infected, call this number now, don’t turn it off. It looks official, maybe it even makes a noise. Here’s the important part. That warning is almost always the scam itself. Real security software doesn’t beg you to ring a phone number.

Don’t click, don’t call

Whatever the pop-up tells you to do, don’t. Don’t click the buttons, don’t ring the number, don’t type in card details, and don’t let anyone talk you into installing “support” software. The whole point of the alarming language is to rush you before you stop and think.

Close the pop-up the safe way

Don’t click the X inside the message, because on a fake page even the X can be a trap. Instead:

• On Windows, press Alt + F4 to close the browser window, or open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and end the browser from there.
• On a Mac, press Command + Q, or use Command + Option + Esc to force quit.

When you reopen the browser, don’t restore the previous tabs.

Clean up what’s behind it

If the fake alerts keep appearing, something is generating them:

1. Remove any browser extensions you don’t recognise.
2. Reset the browser to its default settings.
3. Check for unfamiliar programs on the computer and uninstall them.
4. Run a scan with reputable antivirus or anti-malware software.

If you already called or gave them access

It happens to careful people every day, so don’t be embarrassed. If you let someone connect to your computer or handed over card or bank details, act quickly. Disconnect the computer from the internet, ring your bank to flag your accounts, and change the passwords for anything important from a different device.

Then get the computer checked, because they often leave something behind. We can do that remotely and tell you exactly what was touched. Call 0477 319 160.