How to Stop Scam Pop-Ups in Google Chrome

This guide will help you get rid of scam pop-ups you may be getting in Google Chrome. These steps can also optimize your computer's performance, improve its privacy and prevent it from getting infected with malware.

What are "scam" pop-ups?

Browser-based tech support scam "warnings" are becoming increasingly more common. They are designed to look official, pretending to be from Microsoft, Google, your internet provider, or another legitimate company.

These messages will claim that your computer is infected, that your data is at risk, or that your computer has been "blocked" because it has been hacked. At the end of their scary warning, they will provide a telephone number and urge you to contact them for support.

There is most likely nothing wrong with your computer.

These are false messages designed specifically to frighten you into contacting the provided fraudulent "support" line, where an individual will attempt to sell you unnecessary support services or software, and will ask to remotely control your computer. By no means should you ever call one of these numbers or let them remotely control your computer.

In the vast majority of cases, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your computer. Unfortunately, the way these browser-based tech support scams are displayed, they can be very difficult and sometimes impossible to close via traditional means.

The following steps will walk you through terminating your browser to clear such messages, and help resolve other problems with pop-ups you may encounter.

When you're unable to close your internet browser the normal way or when it's not safe to close it the normal way, you can forcefully close it.

On a Windows PC

The following steps can be used to terminate any browser, but the examples below will demonstrate using Internet Explorer.

1. Open the Windows Task Manager.
   Using the Taskbar

   • Using your right mouse button, right-click on your Taskbar. Then select Task Manager from the menu.
     
     

   Using a Keyboard Shortcut

   • On your keyboard use Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
     

   Using the Lock Screen

   • You can do Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard, then click on Task Manager.
     
     
2. Select your browser, then select End Task.
   Basic View

   

   Advanced View

   

When you next open your browser, if you are asked to restore a session / pages, select No, or close the message.

On a Mac Computer

The following steps can be used to terminate any browser, but the examples below will demonstrate using Safari.

1. Select the (1) Apple menu, then (2) Force Quit.
   
2. Select the (1) browser you want to close from the list, and select (2) Force Quit.
   
3. You'll be prompted if you're sure, select Force Quit.
   

When you next open your browser, if you are asked to restore a session / pages, select No, or close the message. 

1. Open Google Chrome.
   
2. Select the menu at the top.
   
3. Click More tools, then select Clear browsing data.
   
4. Select Advanced at the top. For Time range, select All time. Place a checkmark next to each item you'd like to clear, then select Clear data.
   
   
   Browsing history

   Recommended
   This clears the memory of the pages you've browsed to.

   Download history

   Recommended
   This clears the memory of files you've downloaded.

   Cookies and other site data

   Recommended
   Pages store small data to remember you between visits to their pages. These are called cookies. This option clears cookies.

   Cached images and files

   Recommended
   Pages are downloaded and saved to your computer, so they are faster to display. This option clears cached copies, which can resolve many problems you may have.

   Passwords and other sign-in data

   Not Recommended
   The browser saves usernames and passwords for sites you sign into. There's no need to clear this, normally.

   Autofill form data

   Not Recommended
   Your browser stores other form data, such as your address, common search terms, and other things you type often on sites. There's no need to clear this, normally.

   Site Settings

   Recommended
   Checking this will clear specialty site settings you may have save.

   Hosted app data

   Recommended
   Some sites, especially Google apps, store extra app data that will automatically re-download when needed. Clearing this will cause a very small wait and solves problems with those apps.

1. Open your browser, and visit the website you had problems with at the start.
   
2. Make sure the page loads properly, and try following a few of the links from the page.
   

   If you are seeing pop-ups on one webpage, but not on others it means that the website you're using has advertising built-into it on purpose.

   • You can choose to continue to use the web site, understanding that this is their advertising method.
   • You can contact the website administrator to ask them to change their advertising method.
   • You can stop using the page.

Extensions provide extra features to Chrome. Sometimes, these Extensions are not coded well, break after a Chrome update, or because they change the way Chrome works in a malicious way to show you advertisements.

Disabling or removing unneeded or unwanted Extensions can help resolve these problems.

1. Open Google Chrome.
   
2. Select the Menu in the top right corner.
   
3. Then, point to More tools, and select Extensions.
   
   Disable an Extension

   1. Select the toggle in the bottom right of the extension.
      

   Repeat this for each extension you want to disable.

   Delete an Extension

   1. Select Remove for the extension.
      
   2. Select Remove to confirm.
      

   Repeat this for each extension you want to delete.