How to spot and avoid the Defender scam
If you click on the link, you’ll see a fake “alert” appearing to be from Microsoft’s Windows Defender. It’s not the real antivirus software, although it looks pretty convincing. It’ll say that your device has malware, lock your browser, and take over your whole screen. Then it’ll show you a phone number to call, saying it’s “Microsoft Windows Support.”
Don’t call the phone number or follow any instructions on the screen. It’s a scam. It’s just a way to try to trick you into paying for fake services or giving away your personal information.
Credit: BleepingComputer
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How does this happen?
Scammers have exploited Google’s ad creation system to copy official links of reputable companies and redirect them to phishing or fraudulent web pages. This way, they can trick you into giving away your personal or financial info or installing malware on your device.
How to react and report the fake Defender support scam
If you find yourself confronted by the Defender support scam, you should close your browser window immediately. Scan your device with antivirus software for any malware that might have caused the redirection.
Finally, be sure to report the fake Google ad to Google and the legitimate website that it copied, in this case, Amazon. This way, you can protect yourself and others from this scam.
How do I avoid the fake Defender support scam?
Enabling antivirus software on all your devices is t
Never call the phone number that appears in a pop-up window or an error message claiming to be from Microsoft. Real Microsoft error messages never include a phone number.
Do not give remote access to your computer to anyone who contacts you unsolicited. Scammers can use remote access to install malware, ransomware, or other unwanted programs on your device.
MORE: DON’T FALL FOR THAT DECEPTIVE EMAIL ASKING FOR HELP
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
It continues to become harder to trust anything you see on the internet. Even when all the signs point to something being safe, there is still the possibility that it is a scam or attack.
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