Scareware is a cyber-attack tactic that scares people into visiting spoofed or infected websites, or downloading malicious software.
Scareware can be spread through emails or can take the form of pop-up ads that appear on a user’s computer.
A typical example is a warning which says that the computer or files have been infected. A solution is then offered – a solution which apparently needs to be implemented very urgently.
The aim is to scare people into paying for software that supposedly provides a quick fix to the “problem.” However, rather than fix an issue, scareware actually contains malware which is programmed to steal the user’s data from their device and in some cases use personal information for identity theft.
Look out for Scareware Blocker!
To combat such scams, Microsoft will soon be upgrading its browser, Edge, with a new form of protection.
Known as “Scareware Blocker”, it will use machine learning to identify scareware within Edge tabs and then warn the user of the danger. If the user identifies the website as safe, they are still in control and can continue to the page.
As well as protecting data, Scareware Blocker will help protect your network, including stopping attacks that may be trying to gain remote access to your device.
Scareware blocker is expected to be launched early in 2025, so watch this space!