I have McAfee and Norton popping up every couple seconds telling me I have a virus but neither is insatlled on my system?

Hi mason johnson,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I’m really sorry to hear that you’re dealing with those nonstop McAfee and Norton pop‑ups. I know how alarming it can be when you’re suddenly told you have a virus, especially from programs you don’t even have installed.

I want to reassure you right away that these alerts are fake, and we’ll walk through the steps to get them off your screen. Here’s what I recommend doing in this case:

Step 1: Close any suspicious browser tabs

These fake alerts usually come from a website you visited. If you still have the tab open, go ahead and close it. That alone can stop the pop-ups temporarily.

Step 2: Remove unwanted notification permissions

This is the most common cause. Some sites trick you into allowing notifications.

If you’re using Edge:

1. Go to edge://settings/content/notifications
2. Remove anything that looks suspicious or unfamiliar.

Once removed, the fake alerts usually stop immediately.

Step 3: Check your browser extensions

Sometimes an unwanted extension can trigger those pop-ups.

• Type edge://extensions/
• Remove anything you don’t recognize or didn’t intentionally install.

This helps rule out any adware-like behavior.

Step 4: Clear your browsing data

A quick cleanup can prevent the same site from reappearing.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete
2. Select:
   • Cached images and files
   • Cookies and other site data
3. Click Clear

*Disclaimer: Your browser automatically saves temporary internet files to help pages load faster. Clearing this cache will sometimes fix website issues. Please back up all your personal files first, such as Favorites, to ensure you do not lose data.  

Step 5: Run a scan with Microsoft Defender

Even though the pop-ups are fake, it’s always good to double-check:

1. Open Windows Security
2. Go to Virus & threat protection
3. Select Scan options > Full scan

This ensures everything on your system is clean.

Step 6: Restart your browser (or your computer if needed)

After removing the notifications and clearing your browser, a quick restart helps lock in the changes.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please feel free to reach out if anything feels confusing. I’m here to help.

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Do Not Interact,plz I advise you don't click on any part of the pop-up message or call any phone numbers provided.

Close the Browser: If the pop-up prevents normal closing, use the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows) to force-close the web browser process.

these are likely fake virus alerts caused by browser notifications or adware, not actual infections from Norton or McAfee. The pop-ups are designed to create panic and trick the user into clicking links or calling a scam number,So plz clear ur browser data.