Why your screen looks frozen, and how to fix it permanently.
You're browsing the web and suddenly your screen is taken over. A loud warning says your computer has a virus. There's a phone number to call "Microsoft Support." Your mouse doesn't work. You can't press Escape. It looks like your computer is broken.
It's not. It's a scam. Your computer is fine. A website is using browser tricks to make it look frozen.
Scam websites abuse browser features to trap you. Some of the most common:
Combined, these make it look like your computer has crashed. Then the scam page shows a fake virus warning with a phone number. If you call, they'll charge you $200–$500 to "fix" a problem that doesn't exist.
If you're currently stuck on a scam page:
Ctrl + Alt + Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Option + Esc (Mac)Your computer is not infected. You do not need to call anyone.
Install Cody. It's a free Chrome extension that detects these scam patterns and blocks them before they take over your screen.
How it works: Cody monitors 13 attack vectors that scammers abuse — from screen takeovers and dialog spam to phishing links and clipboard hijacking. When it detects a scam pattern, it blocks it instantly. No popups, no decisions needed.
Need help? Use our install guide — it walks through the process step by step.
Not by default. All detection runs locally in your browser with zero analytics or tracking. If you opt into Team Sharing, block events sync to a shared dashboard. Read the full privacy policy.