![]() ![]() In 2020, Google introduced the middle option above for “ quieter messaging,” which replaces the permission dialog with a bell icon next to the site name in the address bar-click it to allow notifications. In theory, Chrome should be less susceptible to phishing notifications than Safari, potentially along with other Chrome-derived browsers (everything in the list except Firefox). Microsoft Edge: Choose Microsoft Edge > Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions > Notifications and turn off “Ask before sending.”.Google Chrome: Navigate to Chrome > Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Notifications and select “Don’t allow sites to send notifications.”.Firefox: Go to Firefox > Settings > Privacy & Security > Notifications and select “Block new requests asking to allow notifications.”.Brave: Navigate to Brave > Settings > Privacy and Security > Site and Shield Settings > Notifications and select “Don’t allow sites to send notifications.”.Arc: Choose Arc > Settings > General > Notifications and select “Don’t allow sites to send notifications.”.The interfaces vary slightly, but most will look like Google Chrome, as shown below. Other Web browsers can also be subverted to show abusive notifications, and they too let you avoid being prompted at all. Go to Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications, and deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send notifications” at the bottom. If you’re categorically opposed to notifications or are assisting someone who may not understand what they’re agreeing to, Safari provides a simple way to ensure you’re never asked to allow notifications. I’ve allowed sites to present notifications in only a handful of cases. That’s what I do in nearly all instances. Of course, if you’re paying attention and are sufficiently technically aware-as most TidBITS readers are-simply click Don’t Allow when a website asks for notification permission. Once notifications have been allowed, they have the imprimatur of coming from macOS, which makes them seem all the more believable. Part of the problem is that agreeing to receive notifications requires nothing more than pressing Return to accept the Allow option when Safari’s permission dialog appears, and websites can present their own dialogs before triggering Safari’s dialog to lull users into complacency. But like many well-intentioned technologies, Web notifications can be turned to the dark side. As one of many examples, the Discourse software we use for TidBITS Talk offers notifications for those who want to be notified of new messages or replies. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a website offering notifications. No one would intentionally sign up for adware notifications, of course, but websites can-and increasingly do-ask users if they’d like to receive notifications. Instead, notification adware exploits the capability of Web browsers to let websites display system-level notifications just like native apps. Unlike regular malware, notification adware doesn’t require an infection, so anti-malware software has nothing to find or remove. Between Randy’s warning and reader David Roessler writing in a few days later to suggest a similar article, I decided it was time to address the topic. Such abuses of Web push notifications have existed for years, but I’ve never seen one on my Mac. Randy Singer, who runs the MacAttorney User Group and publishes a variety of pages with helpful Mac advice, passed on this warning about abusive notifications recently. Attempting to eliminate the notifications by running anti-malware apps like Malwarebytes, DetectX Swift, or VirusBarrier won’t work. The alerts try to trick users into visiting a fake website and entering login credentials or credit card information to facilitate identity theft, just like a phishing attempt via email. Has a notification appeared on your Mac that claims your McAfee anti-virus software subscription has ended, “Your iCloud is being hacked,” or someone is trying to access your bank account? These attempts to phish you by notification are malware, plain and simple-the form known as adware. ![]() How to Identify and Eliminate Abusive Web Notifications #1661: Mimestream app for Gmail, auto-post WordPress headlines to Twitter and Mastodon, My Photo Stream shutting down.#1662: New Macs, 12 top OS features for 2023, vertical tabs in Web browsers, watchOS 9.5.1.#1663: Exploring the Apple Vision Pro, 12 more OS features coming in 2023, new Apple service features, Apollo shuts down.#1664: Real system requirements for OS 2023, beware Siri creating alarms instead of timers.#1665: Important OS security updates, abusive Web notifications, solve myopia with an iPhone, Self Service Repair. ![]()
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