What Is Scareware?
If you're getting spam emails that say, "You have a virus" or "Your PC is at risk," delete them immediately. They're called scareware, designed to trick you into downloading harmful software. Scareware takes many forms: malware, adware, spyware, Trojans and viruses. It can also be disguised as a fake antivirus program or a system update notification. These emails might look like they come from your bank or another trusted source but be aware! Your bank would never send you an email that looks like this: In the above example, the sender has stolen the Royal Bank of Canada logo and used it to make their email seem more legitimate. This is called phishing, and it's widespread. It's also easy for someone with basic computer skills to do at home. That's why it's essential to be careful when opening emails from unknown senders! Scareware is one of the internet's most notorious scams. It can come in many forms, SmitFraud, crimeware, fake antivirus, rogue antivirus, rogue security and rogueware. Still, it always seems to have the same goal to make you think your computer is infected with a virus or other malware, so you'll pay for a "solution" that doesn't exist. Scareware often arrives in an email message that looks like it's from your bank or credit card company (or even Microsoft!) and warns you about a problem with your account. The message includes a link to a website that looks like an official website for your bank or credit card company, and when you click on it, it seems to open their website in an iframe (an invisible window). If you enter personal information into this fake site, it could be used to steal your identity. Please don't fall for it! Your bank or credit card business would never ask for sensitive information like this via email! Never click on links in emails from unknown senders. If there were a problem with your account, they would contact you directly by phone or mail, not via email.
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