What to do if you fall victim to scareware?
Scareware is a form of cyber threat designed to exploit fear and trick users into installing malicious software or paying for unnecessary services
Hyderabad: Recognising the signs of scareware and taking steps to protect yourself is essential to avoid these kinds of attacks.
Measures to be taken:
Don’t pay for anything: If you’ve already paid for a scareware product, contact your bank or credit card company to report the fraudulent transaction and request a chargeback.
Run a full system scan: Use a reputable antivirus tool to scan your computer or scareware or other malware. Remove any malicious software that is detected.
Uninstall the scareware: If you’ve installed fake software, remove it from your system through your device’s application settings or control panel.
Change your passwords: If you entered any personal information while interacting with scareware, change your passwords and monitor your accounts for unusual activity.
Common tactics used by scareware:
Urgency: Scareware often uses alarmist language to pressure users into acting quickly without thinking. It may say things like, ‘Warning: Your computer is about to crash!’ or ‘Immediate action is required!’.
Threats: It may use frightening threats, such as ‘Your files are being stolen’ or ‘You’ve been hacked,’ to trick the user into downloading or purchasing something.
Fake system scans: The software might show a scan result with a high number of errors or problems, convincing the user that their system is compromised.
Deceptive branding: Scareware may mimic legitimate brands, using familiar logos, fonts, and design styles to appear like a trusted antivirus or system optimisation tool.
Common examples of scareware are fake antivirus software, fake system cleaners, tech support scams, fake malware detection tools etc.
