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

Clear cookies on all web browsers. You likely allowed a sketchy site to send you notifications.

I am also getting these "popups" and they happen any time, including when no browser is running. Malware and cleaning tools have no effect on their appearance. I have popups blocked on all browser settings. Is this a virus?

"On the cloud" is great for sharing photos, but is not a viable backup solution for everything you have. The stuff is not under your control, and is subject to sloppy handling, arbitrary changes in policy, theft, accidental deletion, data loss [are they making frequent backups using best practices?], and bankruptcy of the company that holds it. It can easily take three days to restore it at ordinary Internet speeds.

If you do not have a recent local, disk-based backup, your computer is like a ticking Time bomb. You are only one disk failure, one crazy software, or one "oops" away from losing EVERYTHING! Drives do not last forever. It is not a question of IF it will fail, only WHEN it will fail. In addition, you never know when crazy software or Pilot Error throws away far more than you intended.

If you are using another direct-to-disk backup method that you prefer, and you currently have a recent disk-based backup, that is great. If not, you should consider using Built-in Time Machine. Take steps to acquire an external drive as soon as possible. If you buy one, a drive 2 to 3 times or larger than your boot drive is preferable for long term trouble-free operation. Do not pay extra for a drive that is fast.  (You can get by for a while with a "found" smaller drive if necessary, but it will eventually become annoying).

Attach your external drive and use

System preferences > Time machine ...

... to turn on Time Machine and specify what drive to store your Backups on.  It may ask to initialize the new drive, and that is as expected.

Time machine works quietly and automatically in the background, without interrupting your regular work, and only saves the incremental changes (after the first full backup). Time machine backs up every connected drive that is in a Mac compatible format. it can not back up Windows format drives.

Time Machine's "claim to fame" is that it is the backup that gets done, because it does not ruin performance of the rest of the computer while doing its backup operations. You do not have to set aside a "Special Time" when you only do backups. When you need it, your Time machine Backup is much more likely to be there.

How to use Time Machine to Backup or Restore your Mac:

Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support

I am having the same issue, were you able to find a solution?

Thanks

Grant, so what does one do when iCloud fails and all your files are gone ? iCloud lost files -- Do not trust! - Apple Community

Apple sent out a statement earlier this year that all users should don't rely on iCloud for file restoration, AND you are stating don't use a product such as BackBlaze, etc. So I can only share my documents with other Apple device and no Windows based computers ? (thus the need for dropbox). What does one do ?

Why is it that Apple does not produce their own software such as CleanMyMac ? To help the consumer ? That would be too grateful

It's the same logic why does Apple sell computer with 8GB of RAM when at a MINIMUM all computer should be at 16GB Ram. So that you go back and buy another computer after 12-18 months because your current one is too slow.

I understand 3rd party products can create issues, but what does one do when their computer total slows down ? Rebuild it ? Well that take s hours and people don't have the time.

Apple protection is soooo good one does not need a 3rd party Internet Security app ? Show the techncial documentation to support your statement

<< It's the same logic why does Apple sell computer with 8GB of RAM when at a MINIMUM all computer should be at 16GB Ram. >>

Apple sells computer into many different markets. The 8GB computer you describe works GREAT is a school classroom, where all user files are stored on a central server or google docs.

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Apple has a full value exchange policy (if you bought direct from Apple, and not through a Reseller). If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, you have 14 days to exchange it for a different one or return it for a refund.

<< Apple protection is soooo good one does not need a 3rd party Internet Security app ? >>

Your statement is correct as written.

<< Show the techncial documentation to support your statement >>

Protecting against malware in macOS - Apple Support

,

CleanMyMac doesn't change anything, purchased it, ran it, found nothing, no change.

Thank you, that is what I wanted to hear :-)

They definitely tricked me, I have absolutely no recollection of installing it. I am having difficulty even finding where it is on my drive so I can uninstall as well. Very troublesome.

ME TOO! It must be hiding somewhere. Have you found anything?

try a spotlight search, BUT: spotlight is very literal.

search for just one word like "ask" to avoid not found due to spaces or not spaces

I was getting these but they stopped; my research indicated it's a bug in the OS.

I did the same and now the issue is gone...but I cannot locate the offending software to remove that from my computer.