Ultimately, your data is put at risk, leaving you susceptible to malicious acts. Once you’ve engaged with the pop-up, malware is downloaded on your device, perhaps by yourself or via a drive-by download on a fake website.When you do, it might redirect you to an alleged solution for your cybersecurity problem, such as antivirus. The pop-up continues popping up until you click the call to action, perhaps a “download,” “visit website,” or “close” button.A pop-up warns that your device has been compromised, perhaps by a virus or dangerous file, inciting feelings of shock, anxiety, or panic.But what causes scareware is all the same - scare tactics.Īlso known as deception software, rogue scanner software, or fraudware, scareware generally works like this: As with all malware, it can be delivered in a few different ways. If you’re still wondering “what is scareware” the answer also lies in the question “is scareware a malware attack?” And the answer is yes. Between 2009 - 2016, Office Depot and OfficeMax customers were manipulated into buying repair services after a PC Health Check insisted their devices were ridden with threats.

In 2010, newspaper readers were lured by Best Western ads to fake websites that downloaded malware on devices.In 2009, a Russian online payment processor, ChronoPay, approached Mac users with scareware that encouraged them to buy fake antivirus software.In 2006, Microsoft and the Washington state attorney general filed a joint lawsuit against the software vendor Secure Computer, alleging it peddled Spyware Cleaner to Microsoft users that was scareware.And they do this using a few common techniques, like virus removal scams, clickjacking, peddling fake antivirus, and tech support scams.įor perspective, here are some of the earliest real-world scareware examples: There’s a reason why cybercriminals turn to scareware so often: It’s an effective way for them to steal your credit card information, trick you out of your money, and gain access to your computer. Thankfully, there is less need to fear over this cyberattack if you know just what is scareware, how to spot it, and scareware removal tactics - and that’s what we cover here. As the name suggests, it scares users into handing over their confidential data to what they believe is a legitimate solution to their cybersecurity problem.Īnd the consequence of downloading scareware can vary and can include credit card fraud or identity theft. In simpler terms, scareware is a scam, one that reveals itself in the form of pop-up ads encouraging users to act fast to address an alleged cybersecurity problem. Scareware is a type of malware that leverages pop-up ads and social engineering tactics to manipulate online users into believing they need to buy or download software that’s indeed useless or malicious.

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