URGENT!!! Malware claiming to be Google Chrome live on my laptop and I can't get rid of it

Question

I mistyped a URL and this red warning window launched in my browser. I closed it and side tiles started updating on my desktop (see pic). I ran Windows Defender twice and it is not indicating a problem. I deleted and reloaded Google Chrome software and these tiles are still updating these every few seconds. I looked in my Uninstall list and did not see anything out of the ordinary.

I am running Windows 11 and Office 365 on a Surface 7. I would only have Chrome loaded, but of course I can't get rid of Bing or Edge, which I never use.

Answer 1

Hi,

. I closed it and side tiles started updating on my desktop (see pic).

If you mean your desktop icons started refreshing, this is a known issue with the latest Chromium browser affecting Edge and Chrome i.e. the icons refresh when you hit close. Just a coincidence :)

Typically, if you closed the mistyped URL pop-up and did not download anything, you are safe. This is echoed by Windows Security too.

Rest assured I believe no action is required from your end.

I hope this information helps. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out.

Otherwise, please take a moment to rate the answer. Wishing you good luck!

Answer 2

Those tiles and fake Chrome warnings are almost certainly coming from a malicious or unwanted website or notification source, not from a deep system infection, which is why Microsoft Defender Antivirus is not finding anything.

Do the following steps in order:

1. Close the hijacked browser session

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• In Processes, select any running instances of Google Chrome (and any other browsers) and choose End task. This forcibly closes any malicious tab or pop-up that has taken over the screen.

2. Clear browser cache and reset settings Scam and hijack behavior is often maintained by cached data or altered browser settings.

• For Edge, open it once normally, then go to edge://settings/reset and choose Restore settings to their default values (similar reset steps apply to other browsers).
• After resetting, clear cache and cookies as recommended in the hijack scenario:
  • For Edge, enter edge://settings/clearBrowserData and clear at least Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.

3. Remove malicious notifications and pop-up permissions Many fake “Chrome” or “antivirus” alerts are actually browser notifications from a site that was allowed earlier.

• In your browser’s Site settings / Notifications section, remove any suspicious sites from the Allow list so they can no longer send notifications.
• Also review Pop-ups and redirects and Ads settings and block intrusive or misleading sites, as described in the guidance for blocking malicious or compromised websites.

4. Check for unwanted or deceptive software Unwanted software can alter the Windows experience, including desktop behavior and persistent tiles.

• Go to Start > Settings > Apps and review installed apps. Uninstall anything unfamiliar or recently installed that coincides with when the problem started.
• If something suspicious does not appear in Apps, check C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) for folders with names matching suspicious programs. If found, open the folder and run its Uninstall or Uninst.exe file instead of manually deleting files.

5. Run additional malware scans Even if Microsoft Defender did not find anything, run a deeper or offline scan to catch hidden components:

• In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan.
• If the problem persists or malware keeps coming back after restart, run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan from the same Scan options page. This scans outside of Windows and can remove threats that hide during normal operation.

6. If behavior persists, consider reset/recovery If the tiles and fake alerts continue after browser reset, notification cleanup, and offline scanning, treat it as potentially deeper unwanted or deceptive software:

• Back up important files to an external location or cloud storage.
• Use Windows 11 Recovery options to Reset this PC (keeping or removing files as appropriate). This removes persistent malware or unwanted software that cannot be easily cleaned.

7. Prevent future incidents

• Use a modern browser such as Microsoft Edge with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen enabled to block malicious or compromised websites and downloads.
• Keep Windows and all apps fully updated so known vulnerabilities cannot be exploited.
• Avoid sites offering pirated or illegal content, and be wary of unexpected pop-ups that claim to be from Microsoft, Google, or antivirus vendors, especially if they show phone numbers or demand immediate action.

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References:

• Troubleshoot problems with detecting and removing malware
• Microsoft resources and guidance for removal of malware and viruses
• Unexplained Windows or software behavior may be caused by deceptive software
• Prevent malware infection
• Unwanted software
• Protect my PC from viruses
• I WAS HACKED - Microsoft Q&A
• possible virus, computer locked - Microsoft Q&A