how serious are 'security alerts' (email, Windows, click, download)

[nickerman]

They occasionally pop up like today when I was viewing my email. The sign that popped up asked if I wanted to continue. Does that mean that someone is hacked into my email or what? I pushed the yes button. What would you have done? Should a person ignore the alert and continue?

[Peregrine]

It depends on the Alert. We cannot answer that without knowing exactly what the message was and what it was from.
Was it from Windows? Windows Defender? Malware?

[bigbear99]

It also depends on the email program, your mail provider and so forth. Many alerts are based on blacklists. When I see them, I usually pay attention, since there is so much malware out there, not to mention hacked or spoofed email accounts, and poisoned links or attachments.

[easychair]

If there is a link in the alert, do not click on it. It could download malware into your computer.

[rjm1cc]

I would pay attention to the alert.