Is this malware?

Question

After closing my game, I realized that my chrome was flashing orange, trying to get my attention. I open chrome and I saw four microsoft log in pages, microsoft 365, and linkedin. I've never used linked in nor 365. How is this possible? I've recently wiped my pc and only downloaded stuff from official sites.

Answer 1

It is not enough to prove malware from those tabs alone. A more likely explanation is that a website, browser notification, popup flow, or a misleading sign-in page opened multiple tabs to get attention. Microsoft notes that malicious or compromised websites can open aggressive popups and misleading content, and tech support scam pages can use full-screen pages, repeated pop-ups, and fake Microsoft-related messages.

What to do next:

1. Run a full scan in Windows Security
   • Open Windows Security.
   • Go to Virus & threat protection.
   • Run a Full scan.
   • This checks whether anything was actually installed.
2. Check Chrome notification permissions
   • If a site was allowed to send notifications, it can keep trying to get attention.
   • In Chrome, open notification settings and remove any site that is unfamiliar or suspicious.
3. Review recently installed apps
   • Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
   • Sort by install date.
   • Uninstall anything recent that was not intentionally installed.
   • Some unwanted software adds uninstall entries and can be removed this way.
4. Remove suspicious browser add-ons
   • Check Chrome extensions and remove anything unknown.
   • Unwanted software can include intrusive browser plugins and adware.
5. Clear browser data
   • Clear Chrome cache, cookies, and site data.
   • This is especially useful if the behavior came from a malicious or compromised webpage rather than an installed program.
6. Be cautious with fake browser update prompts
   • If any page claimed the browser needed an update, do not use that prompt.
   • Close it and use the browser’s own Help > About page to check for legitimate updates.
7. Keep Windows, Chrome, and security protection current
   • Keep software updated.
   • Keep Microsoft Defender Antivirus or another current antimalware product active.

If the scan is clean and no suspicious apps or extensions are present, this points more toward a bad site or notification permission than a full system infection.

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References:

• Protect yourself from online scams and attacks
• Protect yourself from tech support scams
• Prevent malware infection
• Unwanted software
• I keep getting these notifications on my Google Chrome notifications. How do I clear these and protect myself - Microsoft Q&A