Chrome is by far one of the best browsers available right now. Google has spent a significant amount of time developing the browser and bringing a comprehensive browsing experience to its users.
However, that’s not to say that the browser isn’t immune to bugs, glitches and sometimes even hacks. Just like everything tech, Chrome also has its vulnerabilities and can be infiltrated.
In this article, we’re talking about Chrome’s critical error, what is it, what causes it and how you can fix the issue to get your browser back.
Also read: How to fix Err_Cache_Miss in Google Chrome?
What is the Chrome Critical Error?
Chrome Critical error is a tech scam that displays fake virus alerts on your browser. It’s malware that’ll pop up on your browser telling you that you have a virus on your system and gives you a hotline number to call so that the issue can be resolved.
When you call the hotline, you’ll be prompted to give remote access to your machine, and that’s when the attacker will install a remote control malware or monitoring tool on your system.
Of course, the issue has nothing to do with Google, Microsoft or any other legitimate company for that matter. It’s just a scammer trying to get you to give them remote access to your machine so that they can install malware, and in some cases, ransomware on your PC.
How to fix this error?
If you haven’t figured it out yet, don’t call the hotline shown in the error message. Instead, here are a few things you can try to get rid of the issue.
Close Chrome
When you encounter an error like this, the first thing you should do is immediately close your browser, any other open tabs included. However, some error messages may consist of scripts that prevent you from closing the browser. In such cases, use the Task Manager on Windows or Force Quit Applications on Mac to close the browser.
Be sure not to restore your session when you restart Chrome. Otherwise, you’ll return to the same error page.
Use Chrome to scan for malware
Chrome has an in-built malware scanner that detects and removes any ‘unwanted’ software from your PC.
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/reset.Click on Clean unwanted Software.
Step 2: Click the Find button and wait for Chrome to automatically find out and remove unwanted apps/software that might be causing this issue.
Also read: How to fix ‘this site can’t be reached’ error on Chrome?
Delete browser data
Another thing you can do is delete all your browser data to see if that solves your problem.
Step 1: Type in chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in your browser’s address bar and hit Enter.
Step 2: Select the cache and cookies options and ensure the Time range is set to All time. Click on the Clear now button to clear out all the data.
Reset your browser
Resetting your browser can also help get rid of any issues you’re facing.
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/reset. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
Step 2: Chrome will show you a warning prompt. Click on Reset Settings, and your browser will reset to default settings.
This should resolve any critical error issues you’re facing.
Also read: How to fix Aw Snap error in Chrome permanently?
