Online safety · Chrome on a computer
Fake virus alerts? Block unwanted Chrome notifications.
A scary website notification is not proof that your computer has a virus. Stop the website sending it, without clicking the warning.
By Thomas M Campbell / No Panic Tech · Updated November 1, 2026 · About 4 minutes
Go straight to the steps ↓ Still getting alerts?
How this happens
Websites can ask permission to send notifications. If you select Allow, that site may send messages through your browser. A misleading site can use that permission for fake security warnings or ads.
These messages can look official because they appear in your computer’s notification area. Look for the website address in the message, but don’t open the message to investigate it.
Illustration of the permission flow, not a screenshot of your computer.
Block the unwanted website in Chrome
These steps are for Chrome on Windows or Mac. Menu wording can vary with your Chrome version. They change a website permission; they do not remove malware.
- Open Chrome’s settings. Select the three-dot menu at the top right, then Settings.
- Open the notification controls. Choose Privacy and security → Site Settings → Notifications.
- Find the site sending the alerts. Check the list of sites allowed to send notifications. Match the address to the website named in the unwanted notification.
- Block that site. If the menu beside its entry offers Block, choose it. You can also use Add beside Not allowed to send notifications, enter the website’s address, and select Add.
- Check what happens next. Existing alerts may remain in your computer’s notification list until you dismiss them. The blocked site should no longer be allowed to send new ones through that Chrome profile.
Watch the quick version
The 34-second NoPanicTech Short shows the permission prompt, unwanted alerts, and the setting that blocks their source.
Did that solve it?
Yes — the alerts stopped
You have blocked that notification source. In future, decline notification requests from unfamiliar sites. You can return to the same settings to review permissions.
No — new alerts still appear
Check whether the new message names a different website, browser, or app. Repeat the permission check for the actual source. If you use several Chrome profiles, review the profile receiving the alerts.
If the warning is inside a browser tab rather than a notification, follow our fake virus pop-up guide. If you also notice other suspicious behaviour on Windows, run a scan with Windows Security.
I clicked the alert or shared information
Clicking alone does not tell us whether an account or device was compromised. The next step depends on whether you entered a password, paid money, downloaded a file, or gave someone access.
Follow the “Clicked a scam link?” checklist →
If you shared payment details or sent money, contact your bank using its official app or a trusted number, rather than any contact details from the warning.
Why not just turn off every notification?
You can choose a stricter default in Chrome’s notification settings, but blocking the unwanted site lets you keep useful alerts. Turning off notifications does not replace software updates or security checks.
Source: Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts. This guide explains website permissions and cannot diagnose whether your device has malware.
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