{"id":23153,"date":"2020-09-09T11:34:53","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T19:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=23153"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:23:50","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:23:50","slug":"what-is-scareware-and-how-is-it-used","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/what-is-scareware-and-how-is-it-used\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Vulnerable to Scareware Attacks?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is scareware?  You may not have recognized it at the time, but you\u2019ve certainly seen a pop-up ad offering to scan your computer or mobile device for viruses.  True to the name, scareware is intended to frighten you into taking action that could potentially harm your computer, steal your personal information or cheat you out of your hard-earned savings.  Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Scareware? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scareware is a type of malicious software that tricks computer users into purchasing and downloading software.  You’ll first see an official-looking pop-up window telling you that your computer has been infected.  Or, the window may inform you that pornography has been found on your hard drive.  An ad offers to remove the threat or the offending material \u2014 for a fee.  If you fall for the ruse, you will not only hand over your email address and credit card number, you might also lose dollars on the deal.  But that’s just the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Scareware is Used<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A scareware pop-up can be difficult to get rid of.  You may receive dozens of pop-up messages that resist your attempts to close them or back out of the website.  You might even see what appears to be a status window, showing a real-time live scan of your hard drive, identifying hundreds, if not thousands, of bogus threats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t click anything in the window, follow any links or call phone numbers provided.  Actual security protection messages do not give a phone number.  You may see an X or a close button.  There may also be a link, an OK or a button for more information.  The pop-up window might display logos from legitimate companies, or names of companies you recognize.  These are all traps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve fallen into the popup trap, at the very least you’ve granted scammers access to your computer via the software.  If you’re lucky, the software is useless.  But odds are you’ve just installed a virus or a malicious program on your hard drive that can now access your personal files, hijack your email account and track your online activities.  This could put your personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers and medical insurance \u2014 and your very reputation \u2014 into the hands of scammers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scareware Tactics that Reveal the Scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like most scams, scareware tactics follow predictable patterns<\/a>.  Be aware of the following dead giveaways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n