A Pop-Up Says Your Computer Has a Virus? Don't Call. Do This Instead.

A loud warning says your computer is infected and tells you to call Microsoft? It's a scam. Here's how to close it safely, and what to do if you already called.

By Steady Neighbor Editorial Team · Updated · 4-minute read

The short answer

It's a scam. Microsoft's real warning messages never include a phone number. Don't call and don't click anything in the warning. Press Esc, then close your web browser. If it won't close, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select your browser and click End task. Your computer is almost certainly fine.

How to tell it’s a scam

An illustration of a fake virus warning window. It shows four warning signs: a phone number to call, a fake countdown, a threat not to restart the computer, and a "scan" that pretends to find viruses. a-website-you-never-visited.example ⚠ YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED 5 viruses found. Your files and passwords are at risk. Call support: 1-800-000-0000 1 Time left before files are deleted: 04:59 2 DO NOT restart or shut down your computer. 3 Scanning… 72% — threats found 4 Four signs it's fake 1 A phone number to call 2 A countdown to rush you 3 "Do not restart" — a trick 4 A "scan" inside a web page Real Microsoft and Apple warnings never show a phone number.
Illustration, not a real screenshot. A fake warning is just a web page, so closing the browser is enough.

A fake virus warning usually has several of these signs:

  • It shows a phone number and tells you to call “Microsoft Support,” “Apple Support” or “Windows Defender.”
  • It fills the whole screen, flashes, or plays a loud alarm or a recorded voice.
  • It says your computer is “blocked,” “hacked” or “infected,” and that you’ll lose your files if you don’t call right away.
  • It tells you not to restart or turn off your computer. That’s a trick to keep you from closing it.

Microsoft is clear about this: “Microsoft error and warning messages never include phone numbers.” Microsoft also says it doesn’t make unsolicited phone calls to fix your computer. The same is true for Apple.

How to close the fake warning on a Windows computer

Try these steps in order. Stop as soon as the warning is gone.

Step 1: Press the Esc key

Press Esc in the top-left corner of your keyboard. This often takes the web page out of “full screen,” so you can see your browser again.

Step 2: Close your web browser

Hold down Alt and press F4. This closes the window you’re looking at. On some laptops you need to hold Fn too.

Step 3: If it still won’t close, use Task Manager

  1. Hold down Ctrl and Shift, then press Esc. The Task Manager window opens.
  2. In the list, click your web browser, for example Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
  3. Click End task.
Two illustrations of Task Manager, one for Windows 11 and one for Windows 10. In both, a web browser is selected in the list of running apps and the End task button is marked. Windows 11 Task Manager Processes Microsoft Edge Windows Explorer End task 1 Windows 10 Task Manager Processes Microsoft Edge Windows Explorer End task 1
Illustration, not a screenshot. Click your browser in the list first, then End task. Task Manager opens with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

Step 4: Last resort: turn the computer off

If nothing else works, press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the screen goes dark. Wait a minute, then turn it back on. You may lose anything you hadn’t saved, but it won’t harm your computer.

Step 5: Don’t bring the warning back

When you open your browser again, it may ask whether you want to restore your pages or tabs. Close that message instead. Restoring would reopen the fake warning.

How to close it on a Mac

  1. Hold down Command and press Q to quit the browser.
  2. If it won’t quit, hold down Option and Command, then press Esc. Select your browser (Safari or Chrome) and click Force Quit.
  3. If the fake warning is still there when you reopen Safari, close that tab right away. Don’t click anything on the page first.
Illustration of the Force Quit Applications window on a Mac. Safari is selected in the list of apps and the Force Quit button is marked. Force Quit Applications Select the app that isn’t responding, then click Force Quit. Safari Mail Finder Force Quit 1
Illustration, not a screenshot. Open this window with Option + Command + Esc. Select your browser, then click Force Quit.

After you close it: a quick safety check

The warning itself usually can’t hurt your computer. Still, it’s smart to run a free check with Windows Security, which is built into Windows:

  1. Click the Start button and type Windows Security. Open it.
  2. Click Virus & threat protection.
  3. Click Quick scan and wait until it finishes.
Illustration of the Windows Security app. Virus & threat protection is selected in the list on the left, the page says there are no current threats, and the Quick scan button is marked. Windows Security Home Virus & threat protection Account protection Firewall & network protection App & browser control Device security Device performance & health Family options Protection history Virus & threat protection Current threats No current threats. Last scan: the date and time of your last scan appear here. Quick scan 1 Scan options
Illustration, not a screenshot. Windows Security is already on your computer. It is free, and it is the only scanner most people need.

On a Mac, make sure your software is up to date: open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then General, then Software Update.

Already called the number? Do these things now

You’re not alone. These scams are designed by professionals to be convincing. Acting quickly limits the damage.

  • Hang up if you’re still on the phone. Don’t call them back.
  • If you let them into your computer (they asked you to install a program or read them a code):
    • Disconnect from the internet: turn off Wi-Fi or unplug the network cable.
    • Uninstall any program they asked you to install. Scammers use these programs to control your computer from far away.
    • Run a full scan with Windows Security (in Windows Security, click Scan options, choose Full scan, then Scan now).
    • Microsoft’s advice: if you gave scammers access to your device, consider resetting it. A trusted local repair shop or a family member can help.
  • If you paid or gave card details: call your bank or card company right away, using the number on the back of your card. Ask them to stop the payment and replace your card. If you paid with gift cards, call the company that issued the gift card immediately.
  • Change your passwords from a different device that the scammer never touched, starting with your email and your bank.

Report it

Reporting helps stop scammers, and it can help you get money back:

From Steady Neighbor · https://steadyneighbor.com/scams/computer-virus-pop-up/

Sources we used

About the author

Steady Neighbor Editorial Team: We write plain-English guides for older adults and the families who help them. Every step is checked against the official instructions from Microsoft, Apple and U.S. government agencies before a guide is published, and we link to the sources we used. How we write and check our guides.

Lost money or shared personal details?

Call your bank first, using the number on the back of your card. Then you can get free, confidential help from the National Elder Fraud Hotline:

1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311)

Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern Time. Run by the U.S. Department of Justice, for adults 60 and older.