Unwanted anti-virus update notifications on Mac

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Level 1

5 points

Unwanted anti-virus update notifications on Mac

I keep getting notifications in the top right hand corner of my screen saying I must update and renew my anti virus - I clicked on the notification and it led to a page which had a warning on it not to click through - I obviously did not. I do not have an anti virus as I have always been told that apple computers do not need one - even in the apple shop they have told me this. I do have the latest update to the OS - Version 26.0.1 (21622.1.22.11.15). If these are just ads - how are they managing to even come through? I have cancelled all my internet history. Should I resent the computer? I pay a server to connect to my emails so they are also scanned there and I have my own domain. I do have a gmail on outlook for Mac and do look at Quora which comes through via gmail - could this be connected? Thanks for any help

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: spam notifications

iMac 24″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Nov 4, 2025 3:09 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 4, 2025 5:48 AM in response to JacquieCC

These sound like Web notifications. If that's the case, they're coming from some Web site that you visited, through Safari or through another browser. Any browser that complies with curret Web standards can suffer from these.

See: Stop unwanted Notifications - Apple Community

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Answer 2

Nov 4, 2025 5:57 AM in response to JacquieCC

JacquieCC wrote:

I have cancelled all my internet history.

Clearing history is not enough. You need to change browser permissions for Web site notifications.

Should I resent the computer?

Reset the computer? Unnecessary.

I pay a server to connect to my emails so they are also scanned there and I have my own domain. I do have a gmail on outlook for Mac and do look at Quora which comes through via gmail - could this be connected?

This stuff isn't coming in through e-mail. (Though lots of other spams and scams do!)

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