Recognising Urgent and Threatening Pop-Ups
Criminals often use scare tactics to make you act without thinking. Be wary of any message that demands immediate action.
- Pop-ups that use alarming language like "Your system is severely damaged!" or "Immediate action required!"
- Messages that claim your personal information has been stolen or your device is infected with a dangerous virus.
- Pop-ups that feature countdown timers, pressuring you to respond quickly before a perceived deadline.
- Any message that states you must call a specific phone number or download a particular piece of software right away.
Important
Real warnings from Google or legitimate software will never use aggressive or panic-inducing language.
Examining Suspicious URLs and Website Behaviour
A fake pop-up often originates from a suspicious website or tries to mimic a legitimate one, but with subtle differences.
- Check the address bar for the website's URL. If it doesn't look like an official Google address (e.g.,
accounts.google.com) or a site you recognise, it's likely fake. - Look for unusual characters or misspellings in the URL, such as
goog1e.cominstead ofgoogle.com. - Observe if the pop-up seems to "take over" your browser, preventing you from closing it normally or navigating away.
- Note if the pop-up appears on multiple websites you visit, rather than just one specific site.
Good to know
Legitimate websites will usually allow you to close pop-ups easily or navigate away without resistance.
Identifying Unprofessional Design and Grammatical Errors
Fake pop-ups are often created quickly and carelessly, leading to noticeable inconsistencies and mistakes.
- Look for poor-quality graphics, blurry images, or outdated logos that don't match official Google branding.
- Read the text carefully for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or awkward phrasing.
- Check if the fonts and colour schemes used in the pop-up are inconsistent with Google's usual design.
- Be wary if the pop-up asks for unusual personal information directly within the pop-up window.
Tip
Official communications from Google are typically well-written and professionally presented.
Verifying Without Interaction: Your Chromebook's Built-in Tools
You can check the legitimacy of a pop-up without clicking on anything suspect by using your Chromebook's features.
- Do not click on any buttons or links within the suspicious pop-up.
- Try to close the browser tab or window showing the pop-up. If it persists or prevents closing, it's a huge red flag.
- Press the Esc key repeatedly; sometimes this can help to close unwanted pop-ups or full-screen modes.
- Open a new tab and search for information about the pop-up's message using keywords from the warning message itself. Check reputable security websites.
- If you suspect a wider issue, check your Chromebook's notification area (bottom-right corner) for any legitimate system alerts, which will appear there and not as giant pop-ups.
Important
Never provide personal or financial information to a pop-up you don't trust, even if it looks convincing.
Was this guide helpful?
Know someone who needs this? Send them the guide.
JD
Written by
Jordan DicksonFounder, CyberSecurityGuides
Founder of CyberSecurityGuides, writing practical, jargon-free guides that help everyday people recover from and protect against online attacks.
Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers