![\"Scareware](\"https:\/\/media.kasperskydaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/92\/2025\/01\/29052858\/what-is-scareware-1.jpg\")
<\/a>The user is not so subtly informed that no fewer than five viruses have been found on their computer. However, the window header contains a small misprint: \u201cThreaths detected\u201d Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n To display their alarming messages, scammers tend to deploy browser pop-up windows and notifications, banner ads<\/a>, and on occasion even good-old email.<\/p>\n Scareware creators use a variety of social engineering<\/a> tricks to instill a sense of danger in the user. Often, threatening messages appear at the most unexpected moment \u2014 catching the victim off guard.<\/p>\n And scammers frequently hurry the victim into taking rash actions \u2014 not giving them time to think things over. Then, when the target has been properly prepared (that is, put into a state of panic), the attackers offer a simple solution to the problem: just install such-and-such software and all your troubles will be gone.<\/p>\n Fake antiviruses pretend to search for malware in the user\u2019s system. Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Upon receiving a scareware notification, in the best case scenario the victim will install a useless but harmless program on their device and pay a relatively small sum for the pleasure. But sometimes an attack can have more serious consequences. Under the guise of an \u201cantivirus\u201d or \u201csystem optimizer\u201d, the victim may be fed proper malware that encrypts data or steals money from online bank accounts.<\/p>\n Sometimes scammers employ a hybrid scheme: scareware combined with sextortion<\/a>. It may go as follows: the user receives an intimidating email saying they\u2019ve been caught in a compromising video.<\/p>\n To see for themselves, the victim is invited to visit a website where they can watch the footage. However, to view the video, they first need to install a special player. This, of course, is malware in disguise.<\/p>\n In a new variant of the scareware scheme, the user is told that a virus has infected their smartphone. Nothing unusual so far\u00a0\u2014 mobile versions of scareware have been around for ages. Here, however, the focus is artfully placed on what perhaps all smartphone owners fear the most: a faulty screen:<\/p>\n The scareware simulates screen damage caused by a virus that must be removed.Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Curiously, the \u201cfaulty\u201d display \u2014 which also blinks for added alarm \u2014 is capable of clearly showing the message about the supposed virus infection. How this window is able to float above a damaged screen is a mystery\u2026 To \u201cfix\u201d the screen, you just need to tap the button in the box and purchase the offered \u201cantivirus\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/a>Sextortion scareware<\/h2>\n
Faulty screen caused by a virus<\/h2>\n
<\/a>How to protect against scareware<\/h2>\n