Posto.click ads: what it is and how to remove it
Posto.click is a website that imitates security software scan processes in order to frighten people and make them believe that their systems are infected with dangerous viruses and other malware. This is when users are directed to a purchase page, which benefits crooks financially.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Posto.click ads: summary
| Name | Posto.click |
|---|---|
| Type | Scam, ads, redirect, rogue website |
| Infiltration | Compromised websites, pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications |
| Scam content | Shows fake messages about virus infections, allegedly coming from legitimate security software, and claims that the license of anti-malware has expired and needs to be renewed in order to fix the issue |
| Dangers | Installation of other potentially unwanted software or malware, personal information disclosure to cybercriminals, financial losses due to scams, etc. |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Notification spam from a website |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | posto.click |
| Ads shown as | Desktop notifications |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Installed on the PC | Nothing; a browser notification permission only |
| First seen | 18 October 2022 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What the Posto.click ads ads look like
Your PC is infected with 5 viruses!
Is Posto.click ads dangerous?
From our report of Oct 2022 · not reviewed since
Posto.click ads show misleading messages about malware infections to make people click on promotional links and purchase software
Posto.click is a website that imitates security software scan processes in order to frighten people and make them believe that their systems are infected with dangerous viruses and other malware.
This is when users are directed to a purchase page, which benefits crooks financially.
If you have been redirected to Posto.click from somewhere else, you should ignore all these fake warnings and check your system using legitimate methods instead - adware could be behind redirects to malicious sites in the first place.
The site would also ask to enable push notifications, which is yet another way for scammers to insert more ads of low quality. If you have accidentally enabled these, we'll show how to get rid of notifications quickly and easily below.
From our report of Oct 2022 · not reviewed since
The fake results
Most commonly, people enter scam websites like Posto.click after being redirected from another suspicious place, such as distributors of cracked software or illegal video streaming.
The trick here is for users not to expect this in the first place, which benefits the scam authors in the long run.
After the redirect, people are quickly presented with what looks like a security scan being performed - there are scanned files that are shown, detections, and similar seemingly interactive material. In reality, it is a mere illusion, and it is shown to anyone visiting this malicious website. The results, which are completely bogus, are always identical as well:
This message is intended to terrify users and give them the impression that their system is in danger. Fear is a strong emotion that is frequently employed in phishing scams and social engineering strategies because it impairs people's ability to reason and causes them to make snap decisions.
In practice, no website can check if your system has malware since only a specialized application installed on the system with elevated access is able to accomplish this.
Another security advice would be to always confirm that the URL of the website claiming problematic information matches the URL of the firm name shown on the page - Posto.click by no means represents what it tries to portray, and the security vendor has nothing to do with it.
From our report of Oct 2022 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Posto.click
- Scammers mimic a well-known vendor's McAfee system scans only to show fake virus infection alerts and then claim that their security software license has expired and needs to be renewed.
- McAfee has nothing to do with this ploy, and it is the work of threat actors who seek to benefit from illegal advertisements.
- ACTION REQUIRED Your McAfee Subscription Has Expired!
- Renew now to keep your PC protected.
- If your PC is unprotected, it is at risk for viruses and other malware.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
posto.click
How to remove Posto.click ads
How to stop Posto.click notifications
Do this in every browser you use, and in every profile inside it: each keeps its own list of sites allowed to send notifications.
Nothing has to be uninstalled for the notifications themselves.
Which browser shows the ads?
Step 1: Remove posto.click from Chrome's notification list
Chrome keeps a list of every site you once allowed to send notifications, and
posto.clickis on it. Pastechrome://settings/content/notificationsinto the address bar, find posto.click under Allowed to send notifications, open the three-dot menu next to it and pick Remove.Then click Add next to Not allowed to send notifications and type posto.click, so the site cannot ask a second time. Repeat it in every Chrome profile you use on Windows 11 or Windows 10, since each profile has its own list.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Step 1: Remove posto.click from Edge's notification list
Open Settings and more (the three dots) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Remove
posto.clickfrom the Allowed list, then click Add site next to Not allowed to send notifications and enter it there.Edge is built into both Windows 11 and Windows 10, so check it even if you normally use another browser. If the notifications came with the Edge logo, this is the browser that holds the permission.
Edge on Windows 11: Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Step 1: Remove posto.click from Firefox's notification permissions
Open the menu (three lines) > Settings and click Permissions and data in the left list, then Notifications. Select
posto.click, click Remove Website and confirm with Save Changes.In versions older than Firefox 152 the same list sits under Privacy & Security, behind a Settings button next to Notifications. Firefox shows these notifications only while it is running, on Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Firefox on Windows 11: the Notification Permissions window. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Then, whichever browser you use
Step 2: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
If you only saw the notifications and clicked nothing, you can stop before this step. If a notification led you to download or run something, delete that file, then scan Windows.
In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan, then choose Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and Scan now. The offline scan restarts the PC and takes about 15 minutes on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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.
Next steps to take
Increased advertisement quantity, altered homepage, new tab settings, and redirects to questionable websites are all signs that potentially unwanted or dangerous software has been installed.
For example, browser hijackers are known to take control of the browser, modify the search engine, and add many sponsored links at the top of the results.
Adware mostly works by sending users to dubious websites, inserting links into fairly unrelated text, displaying pop-up advertisements, and other similar activities that enable those who operate it to make money. Adware's primary flaw is that it prioritizes the display of ads, seldom providing any advantages to users in the process. Additionally, adware could expose them to dangerous material and lead to additional malware/potentially unwanted program installation.
Running a scan with or software is the easiest and most efficient way to do this since it can find all the malware-related components and remove them immediately. After that, you need clear the caches from your browsers and remove any trackers from your computer. You can do this easily and quickly with , while manual methods are also an option.
MS Edge (Chromium)
Finally, you should tackle the Posto.click push notification issues if you have accidentally enabled them. Without following the steps below, you won't be able to get rid of the annoying pop-ups that would show up on a regular basis on your desktop, regardless if you are actively using your browser or not.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Click the 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.
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
- Click Safari > Clear History...
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
- Open the Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
- Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
- Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
- Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
- Click on Privacy & Security section.
- Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
- In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
- Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.
- Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Go to Notifications on the right.
- Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
- Click on More actions and select Block.
- Click on Safari > Preferences...
- Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
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 Posto.click ads
How do I stop notifications from posto.click?
Remove its permission in the browser. The bottom line of each notification names the browser, so open that browser's notification settings and look under Allowed. Remove posto.click and any other site you do not recognise.
In Chrome and Edge this is under the site settings for notifications; in Firefox it is under Settings, Permissions and data, Notifications. Do this in every browser profile, because each one keeps its own list.
Restart the browser and wait a few minutes. If a message still arrives, read its bottom line again: the sending address can differ from the site you remember, and that is the entry still left in the list.
The posto.click notification said my PC is infected. Is it true?
No. Notifications from posto.click are adverts written to look like system messages. A website cannot scan your files, so it has no way to know whether your PC is infected; it shows the same warning to everyone who allowed its notifications. Real Windows Security messages name Windows Security in the bottom line, not a browser and a website.
If you want to be sure, open Windows Security from the Start menu and run a quick scan there. Then remove posto.click from the browser's notification settings so the fake warnings stop arriving. Do not call any number or buy anything the notification or its page suggests.
Why does Posto.click show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. Posto.click is a push-notification spam site, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of desktop notifications.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Is posto.click safe to visit?
No. The site posto.click exists to push visitors towards ads, and the pages it leads to include fake virus warnings, fake updates, prize scams and notification prompts. Visiting it once does not infect an up-to-date PC, but anything you click or download there is a gamble.
Do not enter personal details, do not allow notifications and do not call phone numbers it shows. If it opens by itself, close the tab and check the browser's extensions and notification permissions. Blocking the single domain helps little, because the operators register new names regularly.
Which browser is sending the posto.click notifications?
Each notification shows the name of the browser and the site in its small print. In the cases we saw, the messages from posto.click came through Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Permissions are stored per browser and per profile, so removing the site in one browser does not affect another.
If you use several Chrome or Edge profiles, check each one. If you sync the browser with an account, remove the permission while signed in, otherwise another computer may still hold it and keep receiving the same messages.
How do I know the ads come from Posto.click?
Look for notifications from posto.click. That is the trace Posto.click leaves, and it shows up as desktop notifications. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Posto.click?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Will Focus or Do not disturb stop the notifications?
Only for as long as it is on. Do not disturb in Windows 11 holds back notifications from all apps, including browsers, and releases them to the notification centre later. The site still has permission and the messages still arrive.
Use the browser's notification settings to remove the site instead: once its permission is gone, it cannot send anything, whatever Windows is set to. Keep Do not disturb for what it is meant for, such as meetings, presentations and quiet hours.
Did clicking Allow install anything on my PC?
No. Allowing notifications stores a permission in the browser and nothing else. No file is downloaded and no program is added to Windows, which is also why antivirus scans find nothing. The risk comes later, from the notifications themselves: they lead to scam pages, fake updates and phishing forms.
Remove the permission in each browser where you allowed it. If you clicked a notification and downloaded something afterwards, delete that file and run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan.
Will Fortect remove Posto.click?
No program removes Posto.click itself, because there is nothing on the PC to remove: the notifications come through a permission saved in the browser, and only the browser's settings take it away, as the steps above show.
What Fortect can do is check the rest of Windows. Its free scan looks for malware, unwanted programs and damaged system files, which is useful if you clicked the ads, downloaded something from the pages they opened, or are not sure what else changed on the PC.
If the scan finds nothing and the notifications stopped after you removed the permission, this problem is solved. Use Microsoft Defender as a second opinion whenever you have downloaded files from pages like these.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Adware (read October 7, 2026)
- Knowbe4: What is Social Engineering? (read October 7, 2026)
- Pressidium: How does the browser cache work? (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)