Scareware, an FBI term for fake antivirus alert pop-ups, has been around for a while, but convincing graphics continue to trick people into giving out credit card information and installing fake antivirus software. Scareware is often embedded into popular sites or on banner ads, and creates a pop-up warning that your system has become infected.
These pop-ups offer an easy solution: simply enter your credit card information and we'll allow you to download our antivirus program! Don't get caught by these tactics; the downloads often include threats such as keyloggers, meaning that more than just your credit card information becomes compromised.
If you encounter scareware, our advice is to immediately shut down your browser and run your antivirus program to make sure you haven't been infected. Malware Scanner is another great option that will scan your running processes for malware.
You can try a demo of it here: https://www.opswat.com/products/malware-scanner. If you think the AV program might be legitimate, check for it on our OESIS OK Applications list - if it's there, it's not scareware.
To make sure your system stays protected, update your antivirus software frequently!
