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Knowing how to get rid of fake McAfee pop-ups is important for protecting yourself from scams, malware, and adware. These pop-ups are designed to look authentic and to scare you into sharing personal information or downloading malicious software.
If you see these fraudulent notifications, it’s crucial to recognize and avoid engaging with them. That’s especially true if you don’t have antivirus protection on your device to automatically block threats.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to remove fake McAfee pop-ups on Windows and Mac so you can keep your device safe. I’ll also discuss how to recognize genuine McAfee virus pop-ups and protect yourself from these scams.
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- Norton Antivirus – Robust Antivirus for Removing Fake Antivirus Alerts and Adware
Bitdefender – Fast, Affordable Antivirus to Block Malicious Pop-Ups
Norton Antivirus – Robust Antivirus for Removing Fake Antivirus Alerts and Adware
What are McAfee Scam Pop-Up Messages?
McAfee scam pop-up messages are fake alerts that you may receive via website pop-ups, browser notifications, or apps installed on your device.
While a web pop-up will be generated by a malicious website and limited to your browser, third-party app and browser notifications may appear directly on your desktop. They may tell you that you have a virus infection or ask you to contact support or confirm your details.
These messages mimic genuine McAfee notifications to deceive you. They use urgent language to push you into taking action, like clicking on a link, installing software, calling a fake support number, or making a payment.
If you see a pop-up ad on a website, you are unlikely to actually have an infection. However, if you see desktop pop-up messages – the so-called McAfee pop up virus – or frequently visit sites with misleading ads, it’s important to scan your device with the best antivirus software to remove malware and protect your device.
How to Identify Genuine McAfee Virus Popup Messages
Fake McAfee pop-ups may display the company’s logo, but genuine McAfee virus pop-up messages are notably different from fake ones. Here are warning signs to look for:
- Language – Legitimate McAfee notifications will use professional, grammatically correct, neutral language. They generally won’t use language that instills fear or demands urgent action.
- Appearance – Authentic McAfee pop-ups won’t use blurry or pixelated images or have improperly aligned text or logos. They’ll only appear when the McAfee app is open or running in the background and won’t appear as browser pop-ups or from third-party apps.
- Requests – Real McAfee notifications won’t ask you to share sensitive details, download third-party tools, or make payments to fix issues – and they won’t ask for payment via cryptocurrency or other unusual means.
If you’re unsure whether a notification is real, you can visit the official McAfee website and chat with McAfee support to get help from specialists. Of course, if you don’t have McAfee, it’s very unlikely that an alert will be genuine.
McAfee isn’t the only antivirus brand that is being exploited by cyber attackers, either – here’s how to recognize and avoid the Norton LifeLock scam.
How to Stop Fake McAfee Pop-Ups
In this section of my guide, I’ll cover the steps to remove fake McAfee pop-ups on Windows and Mac.
How to Stop McAfee Pop-Ups on Windows 11
Here’s how to identify fake antivirus programs and extensions on Windows.
Run an Antivirus Scan
First, scan your device using an antivirus tool like TotalAV, which is among the best free antivirus tools around. If you don’t have the software on your device, visit TotalAV’s site, download the antivirus scanner, install it on your device, and click Run a Smart Scan to find and quarantine malware.
Remove Suspicious Apps
Next, look for suspicious apps installed on your device by going to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. To find recently installed apps, click Sort by and Date installed. Check the list for any apps you don’t recognize, and if you find anything odd, click the three dots beside the item and press Uninstall after confirming you don’t need the app.
Check Chrome Extensions
Open Chrome, select the Extensions (jigsaw) icon in the top right and click Manage Extensions. Scroll through the list, and if you find suspicious extensions, click Remove to delete them. If you find your browser is behaving oddly, such as redirecting to a search engine you didn’t select, read our guide to how to remove Yahoo Search from Chrome.
Update Chrome Notifications
Click the three dots in the top right on Chrome, then Settings, and then click Privacy and security on the left. Select Site settings, and under Permissions, click Notifications. At the bottom, you’ll find Allowed to send notifications and can check which websites have this permission. If you notice anything suspicious, click the three dots beside the item and click Remove.
Check Edge Extensions
If you may be receiving fake alerts from Edge, here’s how to check them. Open the Edge browser, click the Extensions icon in the top right, and click Manage Extensions. Go to Installed extensions and click Remove if you find suspicious items.
Check Edge Notifications
To review Edge notifications, go to Settings in the Edge browser, click Cookies and site permissions on the left, select All Permissions, and click Notifications. Look through the sites listed under Allow, and if you see an unexpected website, click the three dots beside it and Remove. You can also toggle on Ask before sending (recommended) if it isn’t enabled.
Enable Ad Block
To block adware, I recommend installing an ad-blocking extension on your browser. You can also get TotalAV’s Adblock. It’s included with all the TotalAV’s plans, is compatible with popular browsers, and effectively blocks ads, pop-ups, and trackers.
How to Get Rid of McAfee Pop-Ups on Mac
Scanning for fake McAfee apps on Mac is similar to the process on Windows, but there are a few key differences.
Run an Antivirus Scan
Use a robust antivirus tool to scan your Mac for malware. If you don’t have an antivirus on your Mac, install the TotalAV app and then Run a Smart Scan to identify and remove malware from your device.
Delete Suspicious Apps
To remove any suspicious apps, open Finder and click Applications on the left. Next, right-click the app you want to remove and select Move to Bin after confirming you don’t need it.
Check Safari Extensions
To check your Safari extensions, launch Safari, click Settings on the Menu Bar, and select Extensions. Scroll through your extensions list and click Uninstall if you find anything odd.
Change Safari Notifications
To block websites from sending you notifications, launch Safari, click Settings on the Menu Bar, select Websites, and scroll to find Notifications. If you find any suspicious sites on the list, click the drop-down beside it and select Deny.
Check Chrome Extensions
If fake McAfee notifications are coming from Chrome, launch Chrome, click the Extensions icon in the top right, and select Manage Extensions. Look through the list of installed extensions and click Remove if you spot anything concerning.
Update Your Chrome Notifications
To check your Chrome Notifications settings, press the three dots in the top right on Chrome, click Settings, and then select Privacy and security. Click Site settings and select Notifications under Permissions. Under Allowed to send notifications, look for any suspicious websites. If you spot an unrecognized site, click the three dots beside it, then Remove.
Check Edge Extensions
To check Microsoft Edge Extensions on Mac, open the Edge browser, click the three dots in the top right, and select Extensions. Next, click Manage Extensions to view all browser extensions and select Remove to get rid of anything unusual.
Check Edge Notifications
To ensure unauthorized sites aren’t sending you notifications on Edge, launch the browser, click the three dots in the top right, then Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Notifications, under All Permissions. Browse through the sites listed under Allow, and if you see a site you don’t recognize, click the three dots beside it, then Remove. Don’t forget to toggle on Ask before sending (recommended) if it isn’t active.
Activate Ad Block
Using an ad blocker will stop disruptive ads and pop-ups and keep privacy-invading trackers at bay. You can install ad block extensions on your browser or use TotalAV’s Adblock. It’s included with all TotalAV plans and works seamlessly with Safari.
How to Stop McAfee Pop-Ups
Here’s how to pause notifications from McAfee. I don’t recommend doing this permanently, as it will block critical security alerts. An alternative is to modify your notification settings to reduce distractions.
You can also check out our best antivirus for gaming PCs guide for security tools that won’t interrupt you or slow you down while gaming.
Open Notification Settings
Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app. Click System on the left, and then click Notifications.
Disable McAfee Notifications
Scroll down to find the McAfee app under Notifications from apps and other senders. Click the toggle beside McAfee to turn notifications off and remove McAfee popups. That’s all you need to do in terms of how to block McAfee pop-ups.
How to Disable McAfee
If you need to disable McAfee, follow these steps. Keep in mind, though, that your device will be vulnerable without active antivirus protection:
Launch Apps Settings
Click Windows + I to open Settings, click Apps on the left, and then Installed apps.
Uninstall McAfee
Find the McAfee app with the search bar or in the app list. Click the three dots beside it, click Uninstall, and then Uninstall again to confirm.
How to Protect Yourself From McAfee Scam Popup Viruses
Most fake McAfee pop-ups aim to scare you and infect your device or steal your personal information. I’ve covered how to remove McAfee pop-ups, but here are some additional precautions you can take to protect yourself:
- Get Antivirus Software – A robust antivirus like TotalAV can detect and block malware, malicious pop-ups, dangerous websites, and phishing attacks. It can also scan your device to identify and quarantine viruses and suspicious apps.
- Use a VPN – A virtual private network encrypts your connection, protecting you from surveillance and data interception. Leading VPNs include malware and browser protection tools today, and antiviruses like TotalAV offer VPN features.
- Update Your Software – Keeping your operating system and apps up to date enhances your protection and ensures security vulnerabilities are patched. The best antiviruses include system optimization tools that can automatically find and install updates for your device’s apps.
- Steer Clear of Suspicious Websites – Shady websites often display misleading ads and host cyber threats and intrusive pop-ups, so the safest option is to avoid them. If you’ve visited a site like this and are seeing unusual Microsoft Security notifications, here’s how to block the Microsoft Security alert scam.
- Be Wary of Fake Alerts – If you see notifications that you don’t expect, then don’t engage with them without confirming they’re genuine. Equally, don’t download software, share sensitive information, or make payments if you have any doubts.
Conclusion – How to Stop Fake McAfee Pop-Ups
Fake McAfee pop-ups are a major security threat, and they exist to infect your device with malware or defraud you. Recognizing and eliminating fake antivirus pop-ups is essential to protecting your device and data, whether that means ignoring misleading pop-ups or removing malicious adware from your system.
Antivirus software can protect you from cyber scams and block fake apps, malware extensions, and misleading ads. For comprehensive protection, I recommend using a reliable antivirus like TotalAV, which can block malicious pop-ups and detect and remove malware.
