Privacy, Devices & Citizenship · lesson 15 of 17 · 15 min
Pop-ups and ads — what are they?
Pop-ups are windows that suddenly appear on your screen while you are browsing the internet. Ads are paid messages trying to sell you something or get you to click. Both can be completely harmless — or they can be traps designed to trick you.
Some pop-ups are designed to look like official warnings, prize notifications, or urgent alerts to scare or excite you into clicking. These are called malvertising — malicious advertising. Clicking them can install malware on your device, take you to a scam website, or steal your personal information.
The golden rule: when in doubt, close it out. Use the browser’s own X button to close a suspicious pop-up — never click buttons inside the pop-up itself, because even “Close” or “No thanks” buttons can trigger downloads.
Pop-up safety rules: Never click “OK” or “Yes” on a pop-up from a site you do not trust. Close pop-ups using the browser tab’s X button. Never call a phone number shown in a pop-up “warning.” Tell a trusted adult if a pop-up scares you or asks for personal information.
Spotting fake pop-ups — common tricks
- Fake virus warning
- “Your computer has a virus! Call 1-800-HELP-NOW immediately!”
Real antivirus software never asks you to call a phone number. This is a scam designed to steal money.
- Fake prize notification
- “Congratulations! You are the 1,000,000th visitor! Click here to claim your prize!”
You did not enter a contest, so you cannot win one. This is a trick to get your personal information.
- Fake update warning
- “Your browser is out of date! Download the update now to stay safe!”
Always update through your device’s official settings — never through a pop-up.
- Fake security alert
- “Your account has been compromised! Enter your password to verify your identity.”
Legitimate services never ask for your password through a pop-up. This is phishing.
How to safely close a pop-up
- Do not click anything inside the pop-up — even “Close,” “No thanks,” or “X” buttons inside the pop-up can trigger downloads.
- Use the browser tab’s X button to close the entire tab.
- If the pop-up will not close, close the entire browser window.
- If your device seems stuck, ask a trusted adult for help — do not enter any information.
- Tell a trusted adult what happened, especially if the pop-up asked for personal information or a phone number.
Key words to remember
- Pop-up
- Malvertising
- Fake virus warning
- Ad blocker
- When in doubt, close it out
Match each pop-up concept to its description
Pop-ups and ads — quiz
A pop-up appears saying “Your computer has a virus! Call 1-800-HELP-NOW!” What should you do?
- Call the number immediately
- Click OK to fix the virus
- Close the pop-up using the browser’s X button and tell a trusted adult
- Enter your password to verify your identity
Answer: Close the pop-up using the browser’s X button and tell a trusted adult
This is a fake virus warning scam. Real antivirus software never asks you to call a phone number.
All pop-ups on websites are safe to click.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Many pop-ups are designed to trick you. Only interact with pop-ups from sites you fully trust.
How should you close a suspicious pop-up?
- Click the “Close” button inside the pop-up
- Use the browser tab’s X button to close the tab
- Enter your password to dismiss it
- Click “OK” to make it go away
Answer: Use the browser tab’s X button to close the tab
Close suspicious pop-ups using the browser’s own X button — buttons inside the pop-up may trigger downloads.
What is malvertising?
- A type of antivirus software
- Malicious advertising designed to trick you into clicking
- A safe type of online ad
- A browser setting
Answer: Malicious advertising designed to trick you into clicking
Malvertising is malicious advertising — ads or pop-ups designed to install malware or steal information.
A pop-up saying “You won a prize!” is probably a real prize.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Fake prize pop-ups are a common scam. You cannot win a contest you never entered.
Where should you always go to update your browser or device?
- A pop-up that tells you to update
- Your device’s official settings — not a pop-up
- Any website that offers the update
- A link sent in an email
Answer: Your device’s official settings — not a pop-up
Always update through your device’s official settings. Pop-up update prompts are often fake.
What should you do if a pop-up asks for your password?
- Enter it to verify your identity
- Close the pop-up immediately — legitimate services never ask for passwords this way
- Enter a fake password
- Share the pop-up with friends
Answer: Close the pop-up immediately — legitimate services never ask for passwords this way
Legitimate services never ask for your password through a pop-up. This is a phishing attempt.
Even “No thanks” or “Close” buttons inside a pop-up can sometimes trigger downloads.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Malicious pop-ups can make any button — including “Close” — trigger a download. Use the browser’s own X button.
What is the golden rule for suspicious pop-ups?
- Click quickly to dismiss them
- When in doubt, close it out
- Read every word carefully before clicking
- Call the number shown
Answer: When in doubt, close it out
When in doubt, close it out — use the browser’s X button and do not interact with the pop-up.
What should you do after closing a suspicious pop-up?
- Nothing — it is handled
- Tell a trusted adult what happened
- Go back to the same website
- Download an antivirus from the pop-up
Answer: Tell a trusted adult what happened
Always tell a trusted adult after encountering a suspicious pop-up, especially if it asked for personal information.
Try it: Ad, pop-up, or real?
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