What is a pop-up?
Learn what a pop-up is and how to close a suspicious one.
A pop-up is a box or window that appears on your screen. Some ask a normal question, such as whether to save a file.
Others claim your device has a virus or ask you to call a number. A scary web message is not proof of a device problem.
For a suspicious pop-up, use the browser tab or window controls to close it. Buttons inside the warning may be part of the trick.
Try this
- Pause before pressing a button in the pop-up.
- Do not call a number or install a tool from an unexpected warning.
- Close the tab with the browser controls.
- If it will not close, use your device help to quit the browser.
- Get help through a support contact you found on your own.
A message you can copy
Explain the difference between a browser tab and a button inside a web page.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
Buddy says
Closing a tab can lose unsaved work. It does not fix an account if you already gave away a password.