Microsoft Edge Virus Notifications

Environment

Microsoft Edge, Windows 10, Windows 11

Issue

Notifications from Microsoft Edge 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 actually installed on the computer. They will also feature an erroneous random website address in the Windows Notification.

These pop up notifications may also occur in Google Chrome in similar fashion: Google Chrome Virus Notifications

Resolution

This is a SCAM!

What is actually happening is that a site was able to manage your Microsoft Edge site settings so that it is allowed to send notifications through Edge in your Windows Desktop. This is typically caused by completing a seemingly innocent CAPTCHA or request to Allow a site access to Microsoft Edge.

1. Confirm that the notifications are coming from Microsoft Edge by locating the Microsoft Edge name and icon in the notification
2. Locate the site name in the notification
3. Once you've located it, write it down
4. Open up Microsoft Edge
5. Select the 3 dots in the upper right corner of the Edge window
6. Select Settings
7. Select Cookies and Site permissions in the left pane
8. Select All Sites - View permissions for sites you've visited
9. Locate the name of the site from the notification
   • You can use the Search field above the "Sort by:" button to help narrow down the search
10. Click the small arrow to the right of the site and then click Reset Permissions

If you would like to block all notifications from that site:

1. Select Cookies and Site permissions in the left pane
2. Under All Permissions select Notifications
3. To the left of the Block option click Add to enter the address of the site then click the Add button

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:

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 Microsoft Edge notifications.

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