Scareware is a type of social engineering attack where attackers use fake warnings and alerts to scare people into downloading or purchasing software and updates that they don’t need. These fake warnings often claim that the victim’s computer is infected with viruses or other threats and that they need to take immediate action to protect their device. The goal of scareware is to trick people into downloading malware or giving away their personal information.
Scareware is a common type of social engineering attack where attackers use fake warnings and alerts to scare people into downloading or purchasing software and updates that they don’t need. These fake warnings often claim that the victim’s computer is infected with viruses or other threats and that they need to take immediate action to protect their device. Scareware can be distributed via spam emails, pop-up windows, and may involve scaring users into paying illegitimate sources as well¹.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 10/05/2023
(1) What is scareware? A definition, examples, removal tips | Norton. https://us.norton.com/blog/online-scams/how-to-spot-online-scareware-scams.
(2) What is scareware? – Microsoft 365. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-life-hacks/privacy-and-safety/what-is-scareware.
(3) What Is Scareware? Examples & What to Know – InfoSec Insights. https://sectigostore.com/blog/what-is-scareware-and-scareware-examples/.
