Keep getting popup phishing site when visiting stocltwits.com

Question

Hi,

This morning while visiting stocktwits.com I keep getting this popup phishing website https://viruswarning0402usmpun51.z13.web.core.windows.net/ only way to get out is to close chrome or go back a page, it is annoying to say the least. I deleted history, ran windows defender and found nothing, how can i stop this or is this something that stocktwits.com need to do something about? Please help. Anything I can do to prevent this from happening again?

Answer 1

Hello

You said you used Chrome? If so, put this in the address bar to launch the settings page.

chrome://settings/content/popups?search=pop

Then under Not allowed to send pop up or use redirects, click on Add, and add this website in that section.

Answer 2

The pop-up is a classic tech support scam page, not a legitimate Microsoft or Windows Defender message. It is triggered by malicious or low‑quality ads or redirects, often on otherwise legitimate sites.

To stop and prevent this behavior:

1. Close the fake warning safely
   When it appears again, do not click any buttons or call any phone numbers shown. Instead, force-close the browser:
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → open Task Manager → end all Chrome processes.
   • If needed, press Alt + F4 repeatedly to close the browser window, or hold the power button to turn the PC off as a last resort.
2. Clear browser cache and data
   After closing the pop-up, clear Chrome’s cached data and site data so the same script or ad is less likely to reload. (The context provides specific cache‑clear steps for Edge/Chrome/Firefox; follow the Chrome instructions from Google support.)
3. Block pop-ups and malicious ads in the browser
   Use the browser’s built‑in protections:
   • In Chrome, ensure pop-ups and redirects are blocked and intrusive ads are blocked (as described in the Q&A guidance for similar scams).
   • Consider installing a reputable ad blocker extension (such as those listed for Microsoft Edge in the context) to reduce malicious ad pop-ups.
4. Use Microsoft Edge with SmartScreen for safer browsing
   A modern browser like Microsoft Edge with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen can help block malicious or compromised sites and downloads before they load. This reduces the chance of being redirected to scam pages.
5. Run a thorough malware check if pop-ups persist
   If similar scam pages keep appearing even on different sites, there might be adware or another component reinstalling itself:
   • Run a Full scan from Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options.
   • If the same threat keeps coming back, run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan from the same menu to catch hidden threats that only show outside of Windows.
6. Recognize and ignore tech support scams
   These scam pages:
   • Often show fake blue screens or “Windows Defender” alerts.
   • May go full screen, play audio, and block normal controls to appear like a system error.
   • Try to make users call a phone number or give remote access. Real Windows or Microsoft alerts do not include phone numbers to call. If a page asks to call a number or type commands into a “black screen,” treat it as a scam and close the browser as above.
7. Report the scam site
   To help improve protections for everyone, report the scam URL to Microsoft using the report unsafe sites option described in the documentation, or via the Microsoft scam concern page in the context.

Stocktwits itself may be serving a malicious ad through a third‑party ad network, which only the site and ad provider can fix. The steps above reduce exposure on the device side; additionally, consider avoiding the site temporarily or using a browser with stronger filtering and an ad blocker when visiting it.

---

References:

• Protect yourself from tech support scams
• Unexpected SmartScreen block or warning on website
• Respond to web threats
• Troubleshoot problems with detecting and removing malware
• Protect my PC from viruses
• Prevent malware infection
• I WAS HACKED - Microsoft Q&A
• possible virus, computer locked - Microsoft Q&A
• Windows defender scam - Microsoft Q&A