Most often, the pop-ups will be related to threats, alerts, and renewals. Many of them read:
There are many more similar prompts, and all of them require you to take an action. Once you do that, they will direct you to a fake website resembling the original one. There, users will have the option to fill out a form to remove the virus or renew their accounts. Here, scammers can take your email, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive details. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid these sites and block their notifications and prompts for good. Similarly, you can use the Ad-Block extension on Chrome for further protection.
How can I stop these fake McAfee pop-ups?
Below, I will mention the steps for both of these methods. Moreover, there will be a section about how one can identify and avoid falling victim to this online fraud.
1. Block the website’s notifications and pop-ups.
Whenever fake McAfee pop-ups appear, there will be a website URL written on the prompt from which they emerged. The goal is to block the pop-ups and notifications from that particular website to avoid any scams in the future. There is also an option to stop receiving notifications and pop-ups from every website. However, I would not recommend that, as some people do want to get updates from important sites. Moreover, this process is not limited to Chrome alone. You can disable notifications and pop-ups on any browser, although the steps may differ. Anyway, these are the steps for Google Chrome:
After blocking the notifications, follow the steps below to stop the fake McAfee popups:
Here, you’ve successfully blocked both the notifications and popups from the fraudulent website. If there’s more than one site, then block them by following the same steps.
2. Use the Ad-Block extension on your browser.
The Ad-Block extension, as evidenced by its name, stops every irrelevant popup or prompt from showing up. It’s a great tool to have on Chrome, as it efficiently protects users from potential scams. You can find multiple ad blockers in the Chrome store, but I suggest using “AdBlock.” I have personally used it and found it to be highly reliable in doing its job. Here’s how to add the AdBlock extension to Chrome:
How can one identify fake McAfee pop-ups?
Cybercriminals will make the pop-ups appear as if they are real, and someone who doesn’t know the difference between a genuine and fake McAfee pop-up will fall for their trap. The scam website typically asks the user to allow notifications in two ways. The first category does not require you to complete the captcha, while the second one does. If you do not, the page does not proceed further. Therefore, the website that falls into the second category is likely to be fake more often than not.
Now, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying false prompts; however, a few indications will help you in the cause. This list should be enough to keep you informed about this online scam. As soon as the counterfeit McAfee pop-ups start appearing, make sure to stop them using the two recommended methods.
What should you do if you fall for the McAfee pop-up scam?
This depends on the severity of the scam. If you’ve disclosed all of your personal information, then you might have a hard time retrieving it, but it’s not impossible. Conversely, if only your email address was shared, then you’d only receive some phishing emails that could be marked as spam. In case you entered your credit or debit card number, contact the bank immediately and ask them to freeze it. Similarly, if you made any payment to renew your McAfee account or subscribe to any other service, contact your bank again and ask them to stop or refund the payment. There can also be a malicious app downloaded onto your computer after visiting these fake websites. Make sure to scan the system for viruses and remove any files that seem suspicious or that you did not download. Additionally, change your saved passwords, bank account information, credit card details, and any other data that you think the scammers can exploit. Also, don’t forget to block these scam URLs. Lastly, you should also report these cybercrime websites to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
