Honestly, they could be. It depends on what the popup is and whether you click on it or not.

Popup ads can sometimes lead you to websites that are designed to exploit certain security elements of your web browsers. This means clicking on a popup ad can be dangerous because it could download malware to your device.

But in most cases, whether a popup is dangerous or not depends on the the website you're on and your browsing style. If you're on a website that's neither secure nor trustworthy, then clicking on popups could very well be dangerous. Again, popups aren’t dangerous in general as few websites would knowingly allow malware ads or popups.

The best way to judge a popup is to read it carefully before engaging with it. If you're even a little bit suspicious, then don't open it. If they're appearing on any website you trust or have previously visited then there's little risk in opening it.

Many websites use popups as a marketing tool to reduce bounce rates and to create website engagement. If you also own a website, you can use Serviceform's free, no-code popup builder to easily (and safely!) create your own popup.