Safety Guide
If odd alerts keep appearing in the corner of your screen saying your device has a virus, you have won a prize, or you must call a support number straight away, the problem is often not a virus at all. In many cases, a website has been allowed to send notifications through your browser.
These alerts can look official and upsetting, especially when they mention security, banking, or urgent action. The good news is that you can usually stop them by removing that website’s notification permission and blocking future requests.
The short version: do not click the alert itself. Open your browser settings, find notification permissions, remove or block the website that is sending them, and if you are fed up with these requests altogether, turn off new notification requests for sites you do not trust.
This guide explains the difference between browser notifications and pop-ups, then walks through the practical steps on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Chrome on Android.
Why these alerts appear in the first place
Many websites ask whether they can send notifications. Sometimes the request appears after you tap something by accident, or after a page tries to hurry you along with phrases like Click Allow to continue or Allow to prove you are not a robot.
If you press Allow, that site may then send messages through the browser later, even when you are not actively using that website. Some sites use this for genuine updates. Scammy sites use it for fake warnings, fake offers, and alarming messages designed to make you click.
Important: a website notification is not the same as a browser pop-up inside the page. A notification usually appears through your device’s notification system and can keep returning until you remove the website’s permission.
Signs a browser notification is not trustworthy
Suspicious website notifications often try to create urgency. Common warning signs include:
- claims that your device is infected, especially if they tell you to call a number straight away,
- messages about prizes, refunds, or gift cards, even though you did not enter anything,
- alerts that pretend to be from Microsoft, McAfee, Google, or your bank, but arrive through the browser,
- poor spelling, odd website names, or pressure to click immediately.
If the alert is trying to frighten you into acting quickly, slow down. Do not tap it. Do not call any number in it. Do not let someone remote into your device because of it.
If you have already seen a fake warning telling you to ring a support number, our guide on what to do if a virus warning pop-up tells you to call a number may also help.
First step: do not interact with the notification
When a suspicious alert appears, the safest first move is not to press it. Clicking it can reopen the website behind it and sometimes lead you back into the same cycle of pressure and confusion.
- Ignore the message itself.
- Open the browser you normally use.
- Go into the browser’s notification or site-permission settings.
- Find the website that has been allowed and block or remove it.
If you are not sure which browser is involved, think about where you were when the problem started. On many laptops it is usually Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. On many Android phones it is often Chrome.
How to stop website notifications in Chrome on a laptop or desktop computer
Google says you can manage notification permissions in Chrome either while you are on the site or through the browser settings.
- Open Chrome.
- If you know which site is causing the problem, visit it carefully without clicking any warning inside the page.
- Click View site information to the left of the address bar.
- Next to Notifications, choose Block.
If you would rather check a broader list, Google also provides notification controls in Chrome settings, where you can review which sites are allowed to send notifications and remove ones you do not trust.
A simple rule: if you do not deliberately want updates from a website, there is rarely any reason to allow notifications from it.
How to stop website notifications in Microsoft Edge
Microsoft says website notifications can continue to appear even when Edge is closed, so it is worth removing the permission properly rather than just dismissing the alert each time.
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Select Settings and more in the top right.
- Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All sites.
- Select the website that is bothering you.
- Find Notifications and change it to Block.
Microsoft also says you can manage a site’s notification permission from the address bar by opening View site information and changing the Notifications setting there.
How to stop website notifications in Firefox
Mozilla says Firefox notification permissions are opt-in, which means a site should not be able to send them unless permission was granted at some point.
- Open Firefox.
- Select the menu button, then Settings.
- Open Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to the Permissions section.
- Click Settings… next to Notifications.
- Find the website and change its status to Block, or remove it if you only want to reset the permission.
- Click Save Changes.
Mozilla also says you can stop future notification prompts by ticking Block new requests asking to allow notifications in the same Firefox notifications settings area.
How to stop website notifications in Chrome on an Android phone
Google says Chrome on Android also lets websites send notifications if you have allowed them.
- Open Chrome on your Android phone.
- Tap More, then Settings.
- Tap Site settings, then Notifications.
- Review the sites that are allowed and remove or block any you do not trust.
- If you want a firmer approach, turn the main notifications setting off so websites stop asking.
This is often the quickest fix when suspicious alerts keep appearing on an Android phone even though no obvious browser tab is open.
Do not confuse this with text messages: if the warning arrives as a text rather than a browser alert, the fix is different. In that case, treat it as a scam message and do not tap the link inside it.
Should you block one site or turn off all website notification requests?
For many people, blocking the one problem site is enough. For others, the calmer option is to stop these requests altogether.
- Block one site if there is a trusted website you genuinely want updates from, such as a delivery page or a work tool.
- Turn off new requests if you never use website notifications and find the prompts distracting or confusing.
There is no prize for leaving these permissions open. If they do not help you, switch them off.
What if the alerts still keep coming?
If you have removed the website permission and the messages still appear, work through a short checklist.
- Check whether a different browser is installed and sending the notifications instead.
- Look again for more than one suspicious site in the notification list.
- Close the browser fully, then reopen it and recheck the permissions.
- Think back to whether you clicked a suspicious link shortly before the problem started.
If the alerts began after you tapped a bad link, our guide on what to do after tapping a suspicious link on your phone covers the next sensible safety checks.
If you are still unsure, patient one-to-one help is often faster than battling through confusing settings alone.
How to avoid this problem in future
Most website-notification trouble starts with one rushed tap. A few habits make a big difference.
- Be wary of any site that says you must press Allow to continue.
- Do not trust scare messages that mention viruses, prizes, or urgent calls.
- Only allow notifications from websites you know and genuinely want updates from.
- If in doubt, close the page instead of interacting with it.
These alerts are designed to feel urgent. Your advantage is to slow the situation down.
When patient support is worth it
Scam notifications are upsetting because they make ordinary browsing feel unsafe. Many people do not need a new device or a paid security package. They need someone calm to identify which browser is involved, remove the permission, and explain what happened in plain English.
Simply Tech Support helps independent clients and families with fake warnings, suspicious messages, browser confusion, safer settings, and practical support at home. You can read more on the Personal Tech Support page.
