Google Chrome Virus or Spam Notifications

Environment

Google Chrome, Windows 10/11

Problem/Question

Notifications from Google Chrome regularly appear in the corner of your screen. They will typically say that you have a virus and/or that you need to run a scan for viruses. Many times, these notifications will mention or have a picture of a well-known anti-virus software (e.g. McAfee) regardless of whether or not the software is installed on the computer.

 

Solution

This is a SCAM!

What is happening is that a site was able to manage your Google Chrome site settings so that it is allowed to send notifications through Chrome. This is typically caused by completing a seemingly innocent CAPTCHA or request to Allow site access to Google Chrome.

  1. Confirm that the notifications are coming from Google Chrome by locating the Google Chrome name and icon in the notification as seen in the example picture below:

Pop-up with a two-part box and a list of viruses on top, the Google image and Google Chrome in the middle is circled, and underneath it has an example address (in this case, captchafine.live). There are two buttons, Scan and Delete viruses.

  1. Locate the site name in the notification
    1. The name most likely won't match what's in the example picture
  2. Once you've located it, write it down
  3. Open up Google Chrome
  4. Select the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the Chrome window
  5. Select Settings
  6. Select Privacy and Security in the left pane
  7. Select Site settings
  8. Select View permissions and data stored across sites
  9. Locate the name of the site from the notification
    1. You can use the Search field above the "Clear all data" button to help narrow down the search
  10. If you would like to delete all data associated with that site, you can click on the trashcan icon on the far right side of that site's row, then click Clear
    1. If you still want to keep certain information on that site, you can click on the arrow to the left of the trashcan icon
    2. That should take you to a page containing the Usage and Permissions of that site
    3. Under Permissions, find Notifications
    4. To the right of Notifications, select the drop down menu and change the selection to Block

Additional Information

Note: When using Chrome, although the pop-up may look like an error that actually appears is Edge -- the problem may also appear in other Web Browsers, so the Chrome & Edge Virus or Spam Notifications KB's should each be reviewed. See example:

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

If you are still getting notifications after following the above steps, you may have multiple sites sending you these notifications. You can follow the steps again for each unique website that appears in the Google Chrome notifications.

Still need assistance? See the following related services:

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Desk.

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