how to get rid of mcafee notifications that say my computer has 5 viruses detected and wants me to click a button

Do not click the alert or its renewal button; block the suspicious website’s notification permission in Microsoft Edge, because “5 viruses detected” McAfee-style messages commonly arrive as deceptive website notifications rather than antivirus results.^1^

Stop the notifications

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Select ⋯ (Settings and more) in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions → All sites.
4. Open the Facebook-linked site or any unfamiliar site listed there.
5. Find Notifications and change it to Block.
6. Repeat this for every site you do not recognize or did not intentionally authorize.

Website notifications can appear in the lower-right corner even when Edge is closed. Blocking the individual site stops its permission without disabling useful notifications from every website.^2^

If the offending page is still open, select the site-information icon to the left of its address, then select Permissions for this site → Notifications → Block. Close the tab without pressing anything inside the warning.

Check the computer safely

The alert itself does not establish that five viruses are present. Run a scan from Windows—not from the alert:

1. Open Start and search for Windows Security.
2. Select Virus & threat protection.
3. Select Quick scan.
4. If nothing is found but you remain concerned, use the additional scan options for a more thorough scan.

Windows Security is built into Windows 10 and provides Microsoft Defender Antivirus protection.^3^

If another antivirus product such as McAfee is actively installed, open that application directly from the Start menu and scan from inside it. Never start a scan or subscription renewal through an unexpected webpage notification.

If these are browser windows rather than corner notifications

If new tabs or windows continue opening:

1. In Edge, open ⋯ → Settings.
2. Select Privacy, search, and services → Site permissions → All permissions.
3. Select Pop-ups and redirects.
4. Turn on Blocked (recommended).
5. Remove unfamiliar entries from the pop-up allow list.

Edge’s pop-up blocker is enabled by default, but its allow list and extensions can affect the result. If pop-ups continue, go to ⋯ → Extensions → Manage extensions, disable unfamiliar extensions, and test again.^4^

Also verify Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is enabled under Edge → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Security. It helps identify phishing, malicious websites, and unsafe downloads.^5^

References

1. Pop up is showing up that my computer is infected with a virus - Microsoft Q&A
2. Manage website notifications in Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Support
3. Stay protected with the Windows Security app
4. Block pop-ups in Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Support
5. How can SmartScreen help protect me in Microsoft Edge? | Microsoft Support