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If your browser warns that a website may be dangerous, leave the page. Don’t continue, enter a password or payment details, or download anything it offers. Google Chrome Help’s advice is direct: “If you see this warning, we recommend that you don’t visit the site.” A warning signals a possible threat; by itself, it does not prove your device is infected or that every page on the site is malicious.
What to do when the warning appears
- Stop interacting with the page. Close the tab or use the browser’s back control. Don’t click buttons to continue, download, update, scan, or call support. Chrome warns that virus prompts may try to get you to download harmful software. Google Chrome Help: Manage warnings about unsafe sites.
- Don’t share information or download files. Don’t type credentials, card numbers, or personal details into the warned page, and don’t install a file or “security update” it offers.
- Verify any organization independently. If the page claims to be from a bank, retailer, delivery company, employer, or government agency, open a new tab and use a saved favorite or the organization’s known official address. Contact it using details on its official site, a bill, or a membership card—not information from the suspicious page or message. Microsoft Support: Protect yourself from phishing.
- Keep browser protection enabled. Chrome says disabling Safe Browsing also turns off download warnings and does not recommend doing so. Don’t switch it off just to get past a warning. Google Chrome Help.
- Report the site if appropriate. In Microsoft Edge, the reporting path is Settings and More > Help and feedback > Report unsafe site. Chrome’s unsafe-site help page also describes its warning and feedback routes. Microsoft Support: Securely browse the web in Microsoft Edge.
What a malware or phishing warning means
Browser warnings are protective signals, not a verdict that a crime occurred or that your device is infected. Chrome says warnings can concern phishing, social engineering, malware, or unwanted software; Safe Browsing maintains a list of sites that might present those risks. Google says Safe Browsing warns users before visits to dangerous sites or downloads of harmful apps, while Enhanced Safe Browsing adds real-time checks and other protections. Google Safe Browsing.
Microsoft describes an Edge SmartScreen warning as indicating that a site may be trying to trick someone into installing something dangerous or revealing passwords or card numbers. A suspicious-site notice can sometimes concern a site that may be legitimate, but that possibility is a reason to verify independently—not to ignore the warning or proceed through it. Microsoft Support: Securely browse the web in Microsoft Edge.
Choose recovery steps based on what happened
| What happened | First action | Who to contact or what to do next |
|---|---|---|
| You saw the warning but did not interact | Close the page and do not return through the suspicious link. | No recovery action is established as necessary solely because a warning appeared. Verify any claimed organization independently. |
| You entered a password or account details | Change the affected password immediately, and change it on other accounts where it was reused. Use unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) where available. | Tell your workplace or school IT team if the account was for work or school. Microsoft Support. |
| You shared banking or card details, or made a payment | Contact your bank, card issuer, or other financial institution through its official app, a statement, the card, or a known website. Explain that details may have been exposed or that a payment went to a suspected scammer. | If money was lost or identity theft occurred, Microsoft advises reporting it to local law enforcement. Microsoft Support. |
| You downloaded or installed a file or app | Don’t open more files from the source. If a fake support prompt led you to install an application, uninstall applications the scammer requested, run a full Microsoft Defender Antivirus scan, and apply security updates. | Change passwords and monitor for unusual sign-in activity. A scan is not proof that a device is clean; contact workplace IT for a managed device, or seek qualified help if symptoms or unauthorized access continue. Microsoft Learn: Tech Support Scams. |
| You called a pop-up number or allowed someone to control the computer | Treat the pop-up and its contact details as untrusted. Microsoft says its error and warning messages never include a phone number and advises against calling one shown in a pop-up. | If you installed software or paid, follow the relevant steps above. Microsoft Learn: Tech Support Scams. |
If you think the warning is mistaken
A legitimate organization can be impersonated, and a legitimate site can be compromised or flagged. Don’t use the warning page itself to check whether the site is genuine. Reach the organization independently and verify the page or message through a trusted contact channel.
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If you own a site that Microsoft SmartScreen has flagged by mistake, Microsoft provides a feedback process to report it as safe and request a review. That is a remedy for site owners, not a reason for visitors to bypass the warning. Microsoft SmartScreen FAQ.
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