McAfee pop ups are blocking access to my pc

Question

McAfee is not installed on thr PC, yet pop ups are coving the screen inducating a virus, after the lastest MS Edge update. Can some one kill this. The PC is use able

Answer 1

Can you please hold down Ctrl+Alt+Del, then launch Task Manager, and then end all browser items there to close it. That page is definitely scam, but as long as you didn't call the number and engage in any of the requested activities, your computer is not hacked. It is just a pop up page that can have some audio effect (sometimes) and display in full screen mode, so it appears the computer is locked.

Scammers use various methods to trigger these pop-ups. Pop-ups are a form of online advertising. They are often integrated into websites or applications through ad services. Many websites use third-party advertising services to display ads. Sometimes, these ad services might inadvertently allow scam ads to be displayed. This does not mean the website itself is malicious, but it indicates a lack of stringent ad vetting.

You can read more about this type of support scam here: https://support.microsoft.com/windows/protect-yourself-from-tech-support-scams-2ebf91bd-f94c-2a8a-e541-f5c800d18435

Answer 2

These are most likely fake browser notifications or a malicious pop-up, not real McAfee software, especially since McAfee is not installed.

Try this in order:

1. Force-close Microsoft Edge if the pop-up has frozen the browser
   • Right-click Start > Task Manager.
   • Select Processes.
   • Right-click Microsoft Edge under Apps and select End task.
   • Reopen Edge.
2. Check for suspicious extensions in Edge
   • Select the Extensions icon (puzzle piece) next to the address bar > Manage Extensions.
   • Disable or remove anything unfamiliar, especially antivirus, ad-blocking, search, or notification-related extensions.
   • If alerts say the system has critical viruses, Microsoft recommends checking for antivirus extensions and temporarily disabling them.
3. Make sure Edge pop-up blocking is enabled
   • In Edge, go to Settings and more > Settings.
   • Review site permissions and remove anything suspicious that may be allowed to show pop-ups or notifications.
4. Scan the PC for malware
   • Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
   • Update security intelligence, then run a full scan.
   • If the same threat keeps returning, run Microsoft Defender Offline:
     • Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection
     • Under Current threats, select Scan options
     • Select Windows Defender Offline scan > Scan now
   • Warning: the offline scan restarts the PC, so save work first.
5. Remove recently installed unwanted software
   • Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features or Installed apps.
   • Uninstall anything unknown or recently added.
6. Update Edge and restart the PC
   • In Edge, go to Settings and more > Settings > About Microsoft Edge and apply any available update.
   • Restart the PC.
7. If Edge still behaves badly, repair it
   • Close Edge.
   • Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
   • Select Microsoft Edge > Modify > Repair.
   • Browser data and settings should not be affected.

To reduce this happening again:

• Keep Microsoft Defender Antivirus enabled and updated.
• Use only one anti-malware app at a time.
• Keep Microsoft Edge SmartScreen turned on.
• Download apps only from trusted sources such as Microsoft Store.

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References:

• How to close a pop-up window if Microsoft Edge isn't responding
• Microsoft Edge Extensions: Frequently Asked Questions
• Troubleshoot problems with detecting and removing malware
• Protect your PC from unwanted software
• What to do if Microsoft Edge isn't working
• Protect my PC from viruses