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Applicable for: Mac
Stop receiving fake virus notifications on your Mac
Fake virus alerts are deceptive cybersecurity threats designed by today’s hackers to try to deliver different types of malware onto a potentially vulnerable device.
Fake virus alerts have two motives: to get you to click on an infected link, triggering a drive-by download, or to continue to a fake website and purchase antivirus software that doesn’t exist.
In some cases, you may also receive fake updates or push notifications that look like they are coming from your macOS or apps.
If you don't want to receive spam virus notifications, you can block them at any time on your browser.
Depending on the browser, choose one of the following:
Safari
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Open Safari.
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At the top-left corner, click Safari, and then click Settings or Preferences.
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Click the Websites option at the top, then click Notifications on the left menu.
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Select the website you do not trust. Next to the website, select Deny to stop receiving push notifications from the website.
Google Chrome
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Open Google Chrome.
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Type the text "chrome://settings/content/notifications" in the address bar and press return to navigate to the Notifications section.
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Under the Customised behaviours section, remove the website you do not trust.
Mozilla Firefox
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Open Mozilla Firefox.
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Type the text "about:preferences#privacy" in the address bar and press return to navigate to the Privacy section.
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Scroll down to the Permissions section, next to the Notifications option, and then click Settings.
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In the Notification Permissions window, select the website you do not trust, and then click Remove Website.
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Click Save Changes.
Last modified: 05/23/2025
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