Pop-ups and Ads
Stop unwanted pop-ups, notification spam, scareware warnings, and rogue ads in your browser
Most "pop-ups" today aren't actually pop-up windows – they're notification spam from websites you accidentally gave permission to, or fake "virus warning" pages designed to scare you. The fix depends on what kind of pop-up you're dealing with.
Notification spam – You clicked "Allow" on a site's notification prompt (it happens to everyone). Now that site can send you pop-ups anytime, even when you're not on that site. The fix: revoke the notification permission.
Scareware / fake virus warnings – A page that says "Your computer is infected! Call this number!" or "Windows has detected a virus!" These are always fake. Never call the number, never click anything on the page, never download anything it offers. Just close the tab. If you can't close it, force-close your browser. See the avoiding phishing guide for more on recognizing scams.
Rogue browser extensions – An extension you installed is injecting ads or redirecting you. See the browser extensions guide for how to audit and remove suspicious extensions.
Adware on your system – If pop-ups appear even outside your browser, you may have adware installed on your computer. Run a malware scan with your OS's built-in tools (Windows Security on Windows, or Malwarebytes on any platform).
Revoke notification permissions:
- Click the three dots menu (top-right) and go to Settings
- Click Privacy and security > Site settings
- Click Notifications
- Under Allowed to send notifications, find any sites you don't recognize or want to stop
- Click the three dots next to the site and choose Remove or Block
Alternatively, if you're currently on a site that's sending notifications: click the padlock icon (or site info icon) to the left of the URL, click Site settings, and change Notifications to Block.
To stop all future notification prompts: on the Notifications settings page, select Don't allow sites to send notifications. You can still manually allow specific sites later.
Block pop-ups and redirects:
- Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings
- Click Pop-ups and redirects
- Make sure it's set to Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects
Check for rogue extensions:
- Click the three dots menu and go to Extensions > Manage extensions (or type
chrome://extensionsin the address bar) - Look for anything you don't recognize or didn't install intentionally
- Disable or remove suspicious extensions – ad injectors often have vague names and descriptions
- See the browser extensions guide for a thorough audit process
Frequently Asked Questions
I accidentally clicked "Allow" on a notification prompt. How do I undo it?▾
Follow the steps above for your browser to revoke the notification permission. Every browser lets you remove or block sites from the notification allowed list. Once you block or remove the site, the notifications stop immediately.
How do sites trick me into allowing notifications?▾
Common tricks: a fake "verify you're not a robot" checkbox that's actually the notification prompt, a "click Allow to continue" overlay that triggers the browser's real permission dialog, or a "your download will begin after you click Allow" message. If any website asks you to click "Allow" on a browser pop-up to do something basic, it's a trick. The browser prompt comes from the browser itself (usually top-left of the window), not from the page.
Is the "Your computer has a virus" pop-up real?▾
No. It's never real. No website can scan your computer for viruses. These pages are designed to scare you into calling a fake support number (where scammers will charge you money or install actual malware) or downloading fake antivirus software. Close the tab. If it won't close, press Cmd + W (Mac) or Ctrl + W (Windows/Linux) to force-close the tab, or force-quit the browser entirely.
How do I know if I have adware vs just notification spam?▾
Notification spam only appears as browser notifications and stops when you revoke the permission. Adware shows ads in places they shouldn't be – inside apps, on your desktop, or as separate pop-up windows. If ads appear outside your browser, run a malware scan. On Windows, use Windows Security (built-in). On Mac or Linux, download Malwarebytes (free version works fine for a scan).
Will an ad blocker stop all of this?▾
An ad blocker (like uBlock Origin) will stop most in-page ads and some pop-up tricks, but it won't stop notification spam from sites you've already allowed. You still need to revoke those notification permissions manually. That said, an ad blocker is still worth having – it blocks the deceptive prompts that trick you into allowing notifications in the first place.