Microsoft Edge virus: what it is and how to remove it
Microsoft Edge virus refers to fake security alerts displayed by scammer websites or adware-infected browsers. The warnings are not real threats but scams designed to trick you into calling scammers.
Facts checked October 5, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Microsoft Edge virus: summary
| Name | Microsoft Edge virus |
|---|---|
| Type | Tech support scam |
| Related scams | Google Chrome critical error; Zeus virus detected; Congratulations Amazon user; Microsoft Warning Alert. Pornographic virus alert from Microsoft |
| Main way of functionality | Scam messages bombard its victims with constant warning alerts claiming that their data is at risk and that the only way to protect it is to call the given number |
| Main dangers | After being connected to cybercriminals, you can be tricked into downloading malware, revealing your personal information and paying for non-existent services |
| Virus responsible for this scam | Users start seeing scams and fake warnings after being infected with adware-type programs. Typically, these viruses are spread in a bundle with freeware |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | A fake virus warning in a browser tab and a support phone number shown on screen |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Imitates | Microsoft support |
| Domains | bedynet[.]ru |
| Phone number | (855) 404 3522 |
| First seen | 11 June 2021 |
| Facts checked | 5 October 2026 |
What the Microsoft Edge virus pop-up looks like
Firewall Warning:
Your computer has a serious virus!
If you see this message, you should call Support at
(855) 404 3522
DATA AT RISK:
1 Your credit card details and banking information.
2. Your e-mail password and other passwords.
3. Your Facebook, Skype and other chat logs.
4.Your private photos and sensitive files.
5. Your webcam could be accessed remotely by hackers.
Technicians are standing by to provide your FREE DIAGNOSIS
& PRIORITY assistance removing this virus from your computer.
Is the Microsoft Edge virus warning real?
What readers reported about Microsoft Edge virus
Help! When I click my edge browser minehp.com comes up. When I click my edge browser minehp.com comes up and it has another like this ww1.minehp.com How do I get rid of it? I can only get to my regular edge currently by clicking on Microsoft rewards from my task bar
Microsoft edge has not work after their upgrade. Microsoft edge has not work after their upgrade. This is a big problem with downloading files. How do I fix it or get rid of it all together?
How to remove Microsoft Edge virus?. remove Microsoft edge virus
Virus sends strange baidu links to my friends on skype. hello, I got a issues on skype about the baidu link, that now I accidentally clicked on the link, and now I keep hearing strange noises on Microsoft edge and chrome google, so is there anything i can do or you can do to try get rid of it please…
From the comments under our earlier guide; names and contact details removed.
- Address:
bedynet[.]ru - Phone number:
(855) 404 3522
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Microsoft Edge virus
- To get rid of potentially unwanted programs, run after downloading its latest version.
What the Microsoft Edge virus scammers want
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
Microsoft Edge virus is a term used to describe scams and malware that abuse this popular Microsoft search tool
Microsoft Edge virus is a term used to describe technical support scams targeting users who have Windows 10 or another OS version installed on their computers.
The fake alert can be seen at any time during the web browsing sessions - it claims that users' machines are infected with a virus and that credit card details and other personal information is being leaked by cybercriminals.
As evident, this scam comes from malicious actors who pretend to be working for this tech giant. Users are asked to call (855) 404 3522 or similar phone numbers to solve these "found issues."
However, before you grab your phone and attempt to fix nonexistent issues on your machine, keep in mind that these scammers have nothing to do with Microsoft and only seek your money or remote access to your computer. If not ignored, the scam can lead you to the loss of your personal information or infiltration of malware.
Besides tech support scams, MS Edge can also be abused for other purposes. For example, users who choose this browser can also be redirected to malicious sites by potentially unwanted programs or malware.
Besides, Trojans can enable background connections that would slow down the browser significantly, as it would be spammed with endless requests to particular sites. To conclude, Microsoft Edge virus can be related to a variety of malware that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.
Redirects to fake warning alerts typically occur after the infiltration of adware and another potentially unwanted program (PUP). However, in 2018, some compromised sites have also started showing fake alerts. In this case, you should just ignore the warning message, close the fake window and continue your browsing without visiting affected websites.
The scam not only reports about malware detected on the system. It also delivers some error codes, such as 0x8024402c (it's a legit Windows Update error that has nothing in common with a scam), and displays a pop-up message:
However, a technical support scam website also plays an audio file. Yet, the message might not go away. It might show up every time when you open the Edge. Thus, it might replace your default startup page.
In some cases, this cyber threat prevents closing this page and freezes the browser. However, you should still force-quit it and start Microsoft Edge virus removal. Bear in mind that your computer is not infected with a cyber threat that is described in the pop-up alert. Thus, calling the provided number is not needed.
People standing behind the malware might have numerous evil intentions, such as:
Therefore, calling the fake support phone number might lead to installing a malicious program, money loss, or even identity theft. If you are bothered by this issue, remove the adware virus on your computer which is causing it. Additionally, use to fix corrupted files and similar outcomes caused by the virus.
- tricking you into obtaining useless security software to clean your PC;
- convincing you to install remote access tools to solve the issue quickly;
- swindling personally identifiable or financial data.
From our report of Jun 2021 · outdated details corrected in October 2026
Chromium-based Edge is privacy-focused and more secure, although can still be abused by threat actors
In January 2020, Microsoft released a brand new MS Edge browser, which is based on Chromium.
The new release was a great success, as Microsoft made this browser much more secure and more privacy-focused and went ahead of many of its competitors. As a result, many users decided to leave Chrome, as the latter is known to be gathering a variety of user information during their browsing sessions for profits.
Despite this, the Microsoft Edge virus prevails, even though the improved security measures of the browser can ensure that scams and other malicious websites will be encountered much less commonly. Therefore, even if you chose this browser to perform your daily searches on, watch out for random popups that claim about virus infections or fake browser and codec update scams - these messages are all scams and should be ignored.
Do not click on anything on such fake sites, close down the tab immediately, and never download anything that is suggested. This way, you will keep your browser and computer secure and malware-free.
Why Microsoft Edge virus opens in your browser
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
Adware might spread using the "traditional" PUP distribution method - bundling.
It means that the virus might be presented as a toolbar, browser extension, or other legitimate application and included as an optional component in the freeware or shareware bundle.
It's easy to install PUPs unintentionally, especially if you rely on "Recommended" or rush through the "Advanced" installation guide. It's important to use only the "Advanced" setup but follow the guide carefully because you have to read all notifications and unmark pre-selected ticks from additional download offers.
Additionally, various cyber threats are hiding in online ads. Security specialists from bedynet.ru warn to stay away from advertisements that offer to download security programs, install updates or inform about detected viruses.
How to get rid of the Microsoft Edge virus pop-up
The warning is a web page and your PC is not infected by it.
Close it, then remove what keeps bringing it back.
Which browser shows the ads?
Step 1: Remove bedynet[.]ru from Chrome's notification list
Open More (the three dots) > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications, or paste
chrome://settings/content/notificationsinto the address bar.Under Allowed to send notifications, open the menu next to
bedynet[.]ruand choose Remove or Block, and do the same for any other address you do not recognise.Next to Not allowed to send notifications, click Add and enter bedynet[.]ru, so the site cannot ask again. The menus are the same in Chrome on Windows 11 and Windows 10, and each Chrome profile keeps its own list.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Google Chrome
Remove from Google Chrome
To get rid of the scam manually, follow this guide:
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.
Step 1: Remove bedynet[.]ru from Edge's notification list
Edge stores its own permission list, separate from Chrome's, and it is often the browser behind these pop-ups on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications, or paste
edge://settings/content/notifications. Removebedynet[.]rufrom Allowed, then add it under Not allowed to send notifications. Notifications that show the Edge logo come from this list.
Edge on Windows 11: Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Microsoft Edge
Removal of the Microsoft Edge virus requires restoring web browsers to their primary state
To remove the virus, you need to acquire some special knowledge related to the computer system and web browsers.
If you are willing to fix your machine manually, we highly recommend resetting every web browser that you have on your computer. Additionally, you will have to find a special directory on Edge, which can be reached by using a guide below.
However, note that this cyber threat might install suspicious components that are hard to identify and terminate. Thus, security software can save time and help you succeed in virus elimination. Programs that you can choose for Microsoft Edge virus removal are given right below this article.
If you really believe that your Edge browser is infected, use the following steps. Additionally, you should find all suspicious programs, applications, and files on your computer by investigating the system.
- Open Task Manager and go to Processes Tab.
- Find Microsoft Edge process, right-click it and choose End Task option.
- Disable your Internet connection.
- Go to this directory: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_xxxxxxxxxxxxx\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default\Recovery\Active NOTE. "xxxxxx" part is different from every user.
- Once in this directory, delete the last folder.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Make sure that your Edge browser is not infected with suspicious add-ons or plugins. Additionally, reset the browser to be certain that all scam-related entries are gone for good.
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.
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.
Step 1: Remove bedynet[.]ru from Firefox's notification permissions
In Firefox the permission sits in Settings > Permissions and data > Notifications (in older versions Privacy & Security > Notifications > Settings). Select
bedynet[.]ruin the list, click Remove Website, and confirm with Save Changes.Firefox only shows these notifications while it is open, so if they stopped after closing Firefox, this is the browser to clean. The steps are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Firefox on Windows 11: the Notification Permissions window. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Mozilla Firefox
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.
Our tested steps are for Windows 11 and 10. For Safari (Mac), use the instructions below.
Instructions for Safari (Mac)
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.
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.
Then, whichever browser you use
Step 2: Close the page without touching its buttons
The warning is a web page, not Windows, so closing the browser ends it. If the page blocks the browser or goes full screen, press Esc first, then end the browser in Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc). Start the browser again without restoring the session.
Warning: Do not call
(855) 404 3522and do not let anyone connect to the PC: the people behind it sell fake repairs.On Windows 11 and Windows 10 the steps are identical.
Full procedure with screenshots: Close a frozen app (Task Manager, Force Quit) On uGetFix
Step 3: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
More removal instructions
For programs installed on the PC and older browsers. Open the one you need.
Uninstall from Windows
To uninstall the virus scam and malware-related components that are causing it, you have to look thru the list of recently installed programs and remove suspicious entries. Additionally, you should reset all of your web browsers as well.
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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about Microsoft Edge virus
Is Microsoft Edge actually infected?
No. The alert claiming Edge has a virus is itself a scam, not a real infection. Scammers display fake warnings that mimic legitimate security alerts to frighten you into calling a provided phone number or downloading their fake software. The warning claims your credit card details, passwords, and files are at risk.
In reality, Edge and your computer are functioning normally. These fake alerts appear because either adware redirects you to malicious sites or you visited a compromised website hosting the scam page. The warning itself proves nothing about your actual security status.
What happens when I call the number on the alert?
You reach tech support scammers pretending to represent Microsoft. They will use fear tactics to convince you that your system is severely infected and requires immediate paid removal. They may ask you to purchase useless security software or sign up for a fake support plan costing hundreds of dollars.
If you agree, they request remote access to your computer via tools that let them control your system. Once connected, they install actual malware, ransomware, or steal information from your files. Under no circumstances should you allow remote access to someone from a random call or alert.
Why does the fake alert include error codes like 0x8024402c?
Scammers deliberately include real Windows error codes to appear more legitimate. The code 0x8024402c is a genuine Windows Update error unrelated to any virus or security threat. By displaying known codes, the fake alert seems technically authentic even though the entire message is a lie.
The warning may also show fictional threat names or claim your credit card data and webcam are at risk. These specific, technical-sounding details make inexperienced users believe the threat is real and urgent, prompting them to call the number immediately.
Can Edge prevent these fake warnings?
Microsoft Edge has improved security features compared to older browsers, making you encounter these scams less frequently than on other browsers. However, no browser can completely prevent you from visiting sites hosting fake alerts if you click on a link to them.
The new Chromium-based Edge released in January 2020 is more privacy-focused and secure than previous versions. You can enable safe browsing features in Edge settings for additional protection. However, your best defense is caution: never click suspicious links, and always ignore pop-up warnings demanding you call a phone number.
How does this malware get into my browser?
The fake alert itself spreads through compromised or malicious websites, not through malware infecting your Edge browser. However, the adware that redirects you to these scam sites does come from other sources. Adware spreads through software bundling when you download free programs and skip reading installation options.
Misleading ads on unsafe websites can trigger automatic downloads. Once adware infects your system, it hijacks Edge and other browsers to display redirects to scam pages. Full system scans target the adware causing the problem, eliminating the source of unwanted redirects.
Is my real data actually at risk from this alert?
The alert's claims about compromised data are false. Your actual credit card details, passwords, and files are not at risk from the alert itself.
However, if you call the scammers or grant remote access, those actions expose your real data to criminals. The alert proves nothing about your security. Your actual risk comes from interacting with the scammers, not from the warnings they display.
Real data breaches occur through malware or hacking, not through pop-up warnings. The alert is designed to panic you into making a mistake that helps criminals access your information.
Why won't the warning go away or let me close it?
Some fake alerts include code that prevents normal window closing or freezes the browser. Scammers do this to force you to call the number or download their suggested software as an escape route.
The browser may appear completely frozen, but you can still force-quit it using Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows). Open the Processes tab, find the browser, click it, and select End Task.
Restart Edge normally. The fake alert will not appear again unless adware redirects you to it. If freezing happens repeatedly, scan your system to remove the adware causing unwanted redirects.
How do I remove this fake alert and fix my browser?
First, force-quit Edge if the alert froze it using Task Manager. Restart your browser normally. The alert is gone.
If you get redirected to similar scam pages repeatedly, scan your system with reputable anti-malware software and remove the adware causing redirects. Download the latest version of the security tool and run a full system scan.
Allow it to quarantine and remove detected items. Reset Edge to default settings to clear any injected toolbars or extensions. If you suspect malware damage, use repair tools to fix corrupted system files and restore stability.
Will Fortect remove Microsoft Edge virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Microsoft Edge virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Microsoft: Protect yourself from tech support scams (read October 5, 2026)
- Ugetfix: How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 0x8024402c? (read October 5, 2026)
- The Verge: How to use Edge's tools to protect your privacy while browsing (read October 5, 2026)
- FTC: How to spot, avoid and report tech support scams (read October 5, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 5, 2026)