I have a lot of pop ups, how do I get rid of them?

Question

Pop ups about system been infected. How do I get rid of them?

Answer 1

Popups can have many causes, where are you seeing the popups, is that inside a web browser or at the bottom right of your Desktop, please provide a screenshot of the popups, so I can provide you with a solution.

Answer 2

Pop-ups that say the system is infected are almost always scams or signs of a malicious or misleading website, not real Microsoft messages.

Do the following steps in order:

1. Close the fake pop-up safely

• Press Alt + F4 repeatedly to close the browser window.
• If that does not work, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open Task Manager, select the browser (Edge/Chrome/etc.), and choose End task.
• As a last resort, hold the power button to turn the PC off, then turn it back on.

2. Clear the browser cache

• In Microsoft Edge, enter edge://settings/clearBrowserData in the address bar.
• Select at least the first three options (browsing history, cookies, cached files) and confirm.

3. Block pop-ups in Microsoft Edge

• Open Edge.
• Go to Settings and more (three dots) > Settings.
• Select Privacy, search, and services.
• Select Site permissions > All permissions.
• Select Pop-ups and redirects and turn on Blocked (recommended).

4. If pop-ups still appear in Edge

• Make sure Edge is up to date:
  • Press Alt+F > Settings.
  • Go to About Microsoft Edge and let it update, then restart Edge if prompted.
• Turn off extensions to see if one is causing the issue:
  • Alt+F > Extensions > Manage extensions.
  • Turn off all extensions, then turn them back on one by one to find the culprit.
• Block third-party cookies:
  • Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies and site data.
  • Turn on Block third-party cookies.

5. Check for fake “security” notifications

• Many “McAfee/Norton/virus” alerts are just website notifications, not real apps.
• In Edge or Chrome, open the notifications settings page (as described in the context) and remove any strange or unknown sites from the Allow list.

6. Scan Windows for malware Constant and unexpected pop-up windows can be a symptom of malware.

• Open Windows Security.
• Go to Virus & threat protection.
• Run a Full scan and follow any recommendations.
• For additional checks, use the tools listed in the malware guidance article such as Microsoft Safety Scanner and keep Windows Update current.

7. Important safety tips

• Microsoft does not put phone numbers in pop-ups and will not ask to call a number or give remote control.
• If a pop-up tells to call a number, pay, or install software, close it as above and do not interact with it.

If pop-ups continue even after these steps and a full malware scan, consider using the Microsoft scam and malware guidance pages in the references for deeper cleanup and reporting.

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References:

• Block pop-ups in Microsoft Edge
• Use a screen reader to block pop-ups in Microsoft Edge
• Microsoft resources and guidance for removal of malware and viruses
• possible virus, computer locked - Microsoft Q&A
• I WAS HACKED - Microsoft Q&A
• How can I remove McAfee Norton Pop Ups on Windows 11? It is not showing up on Apps or Task Manager. - Microsoft Q&A