“Update your browser” – a scam that attempts to convince users to install useless software

“Update your browser” is a fake message that prompts users to update their browsers, regardless of which one is used – Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or MS Edge. The notification can be encountered on dozen of malicious websites, specifically crafted by cybercriminals to scam users into installing potentially dangerous software, such as adware or another type of malware.
If you have been seeing a warning saying “Update your browser” or “Errors found on this webpage! Update browser”, you should be careful, as you might end up infecting your computer with malicious software or disclosing your personal information to crooks.
| Name | “Update your browser” |
| Alternative name | “Errors found on this webpage! Update browser” |
| Type | Online scam, hoax, phishing |
| Distribution | The fake message is placed on various malicious websites that users might reach accidentally or after being redirected by the installed adware app |
| Dangers | Malware installation, personal data disclosure to cybercriminals |
| Removal | You should be safe as long as you don't download anything suggested and do not enter any personal details. To be safe, you can scan your device with security software or look for adware manually as per the instructions below |
| System fix | Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings. To revert these changes and remediate the OS, perform a full system scan with FortectIntego repair software |
As already mentioned, the “Update your browser” pop-up might appear on various malicious sites. In most cases, users reach them after clicking on a malicious link somewhere.
Alternatively, they might be redirected to such malicious sites due to adware infection – a type of a potentially unwanted program that focuses on the display of pop-ups, ads, redirects, and other intrusive commercial content, which sometimes might be dangerous.
Once visitors land on the page, they receive the following scam pop-up:
Update your browser
This page does not support your version of browser
Please update your softwareBrowser update
Remember that legitimate warnings offering people to update their web browser show up as soon as they enter their computers, not when they start browsing. Of course, it might be that you will see such a warning when browsing on the web, but instead of clicking it, you should go to the official website of the program and see what it offers to you.
Besides, if you have seen the “Errors found on this webpage! Update browser” alert for a while, you should be concerned because it is mostly caused by adware-type programs. Such programs can easily infiltrate computers without being noticed because they are usually spread via deceptive methods, such as:
- Software bundling;
- Fake update prompts;
- Deceptive ads.
For more information about methods that can be used for avoiding adware, you should check the next paragraph. Also, make sure you remove Update browser virus from your computer. The easiest way to do that is to run a full system scan with updated anti-spyware because you can never know what suspicious program is causing these fake ads on your computer.
Additionally, if you installed something that was promoted via the scam message, you should also employ FortectIntego after “Errors found on this webpage! Update browser” removal from your computer to ensure that it does not crash, deliver errors or BSODs due to system damage.
Online scams are mostly delivered by adware: take steps to avoid it
If you want to avoid adware, browser hijackers, and other questionable programs that can easily initiate such suspicious and annoying activities on your computer, you should remember some tips. The most important of them is that you must double-check every program before its installation.
You should monitor its installation because there are lots of freeware that may lead you to Update your browser adware or Errors found on this webpage! Update browser virus. In order to avoid them, you should read Privacy Policy, End User's License Agreement, and similar information before installation of the freeware.
Additionally, we highly recommend selecting the Custom or Advanced installation method and then uncheck all questionable check marks. If they are offering you to install “valuable” browser add-ons, extensions, or plugins, you should uncheck them.
Otherwise, you may start seeing such and similar ads:
Errors found on this webpage! Please update browser
Download updates now.
If you have already been tricked into clicking the update button, you should check your computer with the reputable anti-spyware because it might be that you have been tricked into downloading the adware-type application, such as:
- New Player,
- HostSecurePlugin,
- CloudScout
- Parental Control,
- Savefier,
- Storm Watch,
- Media Video Players, etc.
Please, get rid of these apps using a guide below or with the help of updated anti-spyware.
Deal with Update your browser virus correctly
Many users might be tricked by social engineering techniques that are used in pop-ups on various websites. This is because malicious actors often use familiar formatting, known names, and other attributes to make the scam more believable. In this case, “Errors found on this webpage! Update browser” uses a simple technique – it tells visitors that they need to update their browsers. Otherwise, they allegedly won't be able to view the page.
However, you should simply remove “Update browser” scam by closing the browser tab. You should always download software and its updates from official websites only to avoid being scammed by cybercriminals.
If you have downloaded something, you should definitely scan your device with anti-malware software. When suffering from persistent redirects and ads, you should check for adware as described below.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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