Scareware is a malware type that uses fear tactics to trap users and trick them into installing malware unknowingly or disclosing private information before they realize they are being scammed. Generally, the scareware attacks are disguised as full-screen alerts that spoof antivirus warnings.
Scareware aka Tech Support Scam
One infamous example is the “tech support scam,” where a fake warning tells the user their device is infected with malware and they need to reach out to contact support number (fake) or install fake anti-malware software to restore the system and clean up things. Over the years, users have noticed a few Microsoft IT support fraud pop-ups.
Realizing the threat, Microsoft is combating the issue with its new Scareware Blockers feature in Edge, which was first rolled out in November last year at the Ignite conference.
Defender SmartScreen, a feature that saves Edge users from scams, starts after a malicious site is caught and added to its index of abusive web pages to protect users globally.
AI-powered Edge scareware blocker
The new AI-powered Edge scareware blocker by Microsoft “offers extra protection by detecting signs of scareware scams in real-time using a local machine learning model,” says Bleeping Computer.
Talking about Scareware, Microsoft says, “The blocker adds a new, first line of defense to help protect the users exposed to a new scam if it attempts to open a full-screen page.” “Scareware blocker uses a machine learning model that runs on the local computer,” it further adds.
Once the blocker catches a scam page, it informs users and allows them to continue using the webpage if they trust the website.
Activating Scareware Blocker
Before activating the blocker, the user needs to install the Microsoft Edge beta version. The version installs along with the main release variant of Edge, easing the user’s headache of co-mingling the versions. If the user is on a managed system, they should make sure previews are enabled admin.
"After making sure you have the latest updates, you should see the scareware blocker preview listed under "Privacy Search and Services,'" Microsoft says. Talking about reporting the scam site from users’ end for the blocker to work, Microsoft says it helps them “make the feature more reliable to catch the real scams.
Beyond just blocking individual scam outbreaks” their Digital Crimes Unit “goes even further to target the cybercrime supply chain directly.”