I keep getting notifications popping on my Macbook pro that I am at risk for a virus that someone is downloading files

See my reply at the end of this thread. The Safari Settings/Websites/Notifications section is where you can get rid of this thing completely. It will be listed at the very top with nothing but that bogus System Settings graphic. Click once on it, then click the REMOVE button at the bottom left of that same window. Everything related to this thing will be GONE. 😃 👏

I was seeing that same "Ask You" thing in my Notifications section, and I was getting those pop-ups with the "System Settings" graphic constantly. My ASUS Router/TrendMicro protection would always BLOCK the website linked to those Notifications if you clicked on them listing it as a Malware site.

After following the instructions in this thread related to DENYING access to the source of those Pop-Ups in the Safari/Settings/Websites/Notifications section, the bogus virus Notifications not only stopped, but that "Ask You/I am Not a Robot" item in my actual Notifications section also disappeared.

The offending Pop-Up was easy to spot in the Safari Settings/Website/Notifications section. It was at the very top and only showed that bogus "System Settings Gear Graphic" and nothing else. I selected it with one click and then went down to the bottom left section of that box and clicked REMOVE. You can also uncheck the box in that same window that says: "Allow websites to ask permission to send notifications" if you don't want a repeat of this thing or something similar happening again in the future.

So to recap... Just turning off that "Ask You" thing in the actual Notifications section of the OS doesn't completely get rid of this thing. Doing the above stuff in Safari Settings totally does!

[Edited by Moderator]

Many, many readers here consider CleanMyMac to itself be Malware.

By far the easiest way to ruin performance and cause instability is to install ANY third-party speeder-uppers, Cleaners, Optimizers, Virus scanners third-party file Sync-ers such as DropBox, BackBlaze, OneDrive, or GoogleDrive, or a VPN that you installed yourself.

The idea that a third party, with no special knowledge of the inner workings of MacOS, can somehow find a simple way to protect your computer that is not already being done by MacOS itself suggests that the MacOS developers are somehow "holding out on you". That is absurd.

You should remove any and all other virus scanners, speeder uppers, optimizers, cleaners, App deleters or VPN packages you installed yourself, or anything of that ilk.

The current versions of MacOS have protections so good, there are currently no known Viruses that can SPONTANEOUSLY infect your Mac. Random ‘stuff’ is NEVER allowed to be Executed, so all your files do not need to be scanned, again and again. Only software from know developers is allowed to be considered for becoming Executable, and then only after you enter your Admin password to allow installation. Potentially-executable files are then scanned at first run by MacOS Gatekeeper, locked, and moved to the /Applications folder.

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

I found the cause on my system. Mine were coming from an application called "ask you" that claims it is to "Confirm that you're not a robot". Go to Notifications in System Settings and disable notifications from that application and you'll get rid of the pop up notifications.

To stop pop-up: apple menu->systems settings->notification center and find the icon in list of application notifications. It was the first website listed for me and called "Ask Me" (the icon mimicks the System Preferences gear thing but with a red dot in top right corner) and has some message about must allow if not a robot, which you ignore. Click on the arrow to open details and toggle OFF everything you can. It's set to on (blue).

I wish someone could tell me how to get rid of it entirely.

ahc201 wrote:

Is it a virus? It's showing up on my computer too

As Grant Bennet-Alder wrote,

This is not a bug.

This is not a virus.

You allowed some web site to send you Notifications. (it was turned OFF by default.)

Criminals are now using that portal to send you solicitations and notifications that include outright LIES. You are being scammed by Criminals.

Read Stop unwanted Notifications - Apple Community.

Hi rosemaryfromhamden,

We'd like to share some information to help you with pop-ups in Safari. We would recommend following the guidance in Allow or block pop-ups in Safari on Mac - Apple Support. These types of pop-ups are designed to trick you into contacting or following guidance that leads to malicious purposes. We hope this will help you block these.

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

T1t4nn wrote:

thanks so much, didn't realise other people had this problem - any idea where they come from in the first place?

You asked for it. Literally. That's what happens when you agree to have a website send you Notifications.

If you don't want to do that, Stop unwanted Notifications - Apple Community describes what you should do instead. In a (also literal) word, NO. Just say no. It's that simple.

Maybe this would help: https://macpaw.com/how-to/remove-apple-security-alert-scam

CompanyHydro wrote:

Bug . Please fix virus , winner prizes ; example?

This is not a bug.

This is not a virus.

You allowed some web site to send you Notifications. (it was turned OFF by default.)

Criminals are now using that portal to send you solicitations and notifications that include outright LIES. You are being scammed by Criminals.

CompanyHydro wrote:

Bug . Please fix virus , winner prizes ; example?

Read the previous posts. Chances are you have a Safari Notification entry that is sending you these messages.

My Wife just went through this last night.

<< Why is it that Apple does not produce their own software such as CleanMyMac ? >>

Macs do not accumulate filth that requires cleaning.

The Mac optimizes files as you use them, and do not become fragmented or 'dirty'

Caches speed up your computer and do not need to be emptied.

"Unused RAM is wasted RAM" that could be helping to speed up your computer.

The idea that a third party, with no special knowledge of the inner workings of MacOS, can somehow find a simple way to protect your computer — that is not already being done by MacOS itself — suggests that the MacOS developers are somehow "holding out on you". That is absurd.

CleanMyMac is widely considered malware.

did you knowingly authorize the installation of "Ask You' by supplying your admin password to install, or

did they 'Trick You'?

I got rid of it by following jdtobey’s advice, to disable notifications and delete “ask you” in system setting.

... and this:

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

.