Nowadays, you should be on high alert whenever you’re browsing the web. The cyber scammers are counting on you to have an average (or below-average) level of knowledge about cybersecurity threats so they can trick you into downloading malicious applications.
The attack usually goes like this: First, you receive a fake Windows Alert pop-up message claiming “Your PC might be infected” and to “click OK to do a quick 10-second scan”.
When you click OK, a very realistic-looking–but very fake–”system scan” runs within your browser. The scan looks almost identical to your antivirus software’s real system scans.
Once the “scan” ends, you’re told that your PC is indeed infected and that you need to download and install an update to the antivirus software. Don’t do it! This “update” is actually an unwanted application that will install onto your computer.
Consider the following to protect yourself from this type of scam:
- Never trust internet pop-ups. They often use scare tactics to get you to call a number for tech support or download an application to "fix" the problem.
- Go to your IT administrator (if at work) or a reputable computer repair company (if at home) if you think something is wrong with your computer.
Stay safe out there!
Stop, Look, and Think. Don't be fooled.
