I got a security alert but I'm not sure if it's real
Real alerts come from places you already control. Fake alerts arrive uninvited. The rule: don't click the alert's link.
Real alerts only come from inside accounts you control. Windows Security, your bank's website, or your email when you're already logged in. Fake alerts come through browser popups, emails with urgent language, or messages with links. If you're unsure, don't click anything in the alert. Go to the official website yourself instead.
Risk: Medium
⏱ 5-10 minutes
Beginner
⚡ Before you start
- ✓Don't click any link in the alert. Close it
- ✓Go to the official website yourself by typing the address directly in a browser
- ✓Log in and check whether the same alert appears in your real account
- ✓If it does, the alert is real. If not, it was fake.
Fix-IT-Bot will walk you through each step, just tap, no typing needed.
Skip, I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Clicking the Update or Check button inside the alert
- Calling any phone number in the alert
- Entering your password on a site you reached through the alert
Signs you need professional help
- If you clicked a link and entered your password or payment information If you got an alert inside Windows Security that doesn't make sense If you want to set up two-factor authentication for important accounts
Book a technician
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