Scareware is a malware type that uses fear tactics to trap users and trick them into installing malware unknowingly or disclosing private information before they realize they are being scammed. Generally, the scareware attacks are disguised as full-screen alerts that spoof antivirus warnings.
Scareware aka Tech Support Scam
One infamous example is the “tech support scam,” where a fake warning tells the user their device is infected with malware and they need to reach out to contact support number (fake) or install fake anti-malware software to restore the system and clean up things. Over the years, users have noticed a few Microsoft IT support fraud pop-ups.
Realizing the threat, Microsoft is combating the issue with its new Scareware Blockers feature in Edge, which was first rolled out in November last year at the Ignite conference.
Defender SmartScreen, a feature that saves Edge users from scams, starts after a malicious site is caught and added to its index of abusive web pages to protect users globally.
AI-powered Edge scareware blocker
The new AI-powered Edge scareware blocker by Microsoft “offers extra protection by detecting signs of scareware scams in real-time using a local machine learning model,” says This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents