Stay Ahead Of Scammers: Introducing Microsoft’s New Scareware Blocker
Did you know it is estimated that online scams have taken 1.03 trillion dollars in 2024 from people across the globe? Scams also tend to target seniors and kids, who are some of the most vulnerable age demographics when it comes to the world of online scams. With an increasing number of scams occurring daily, it is becoming more difficult for users to avoid phishing, malicious emails, suspicious links, and scam messages without being taken advantage of. Luckily, companies like Microsoft have recently developed software known as Scareware blocker, that helps combat scammers and protect user’s personal information.
What Is Scareware?
Scareware is the act of using tech support as a cover to lure users to engage with scammers. The ‘scare’ part of scareware comes from using scare tactics such as urgency or fear to elicit a response from users.
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Scammers will make you believe that your device has a virus or malware downloaded onto it.
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Ask you to take immediate action and resolve the issue by calling a fake tech support number. By calling that number, you are directly communicating with the scammers, believing they are a trustworthy source for help.
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While talking to them you may reveal sensitive information about yourself or your device that could compromise your safety. In most cases, they will request payment.
Scareware appears randomly as pop-up ADs, spam emails, and malvertising. Scareware commonly uses full-screen mode, making it difficult to ignore the message and navigate out of the pop-up. Scammers can also manipulate your computer’s audio and keyboard by having automated voices through your speakers and/or gaining access to your keyboard and mouse, causing you to lose control over your device. They can even make the X in the top right corner very hard to see or have it execute the download once you click it to close the pop-up.
How Does Microsoft’s Scareware Blocker Work?
Microsoft’s Scareware Blocker uses a machine-learning model to spot scams. Machine Learning (ML) models learn from the information you provide and can then optimize the data into something useful to you. The simple design makes it easy to use and allows you to report scams as soon as they appear on your screen, providing immediate feedback to Microsoft. To learn more about how the software works, check out Microsoft’s blog post for a detailed explanation.
Advantages Of Scareware Blocker
How To Install On Microsoft Edge
1. Go to the right hand corner of your browser screen and click the three dots
2. In the drop-down menu, scroll down and click ‘Settings’
3. Within settings click on the ‘Privacy, Search and Services’ button
4. Scroll down to the security section where you will see ‘Scareware Blocker’ and toggle ‘On’
Want To Test Out The Software Before Using It?
Scareware blocker allows you to preview the software before downloading. For PC users, you can preview by updating Edge and viewing the scareware blocker under ‘Privacy Search and Services’.
Other Well-Known Companies Are Catching On
Microsoft isn’t the only company that has developed scam-blocking software. Google is creating software for Android 16 beta 2 that protects against scams over Telephone-Oriented-Attack-Delivery (TOAD). This type of scam persuades you to call fake numbers and give away personal information through SMS messages or over the phone.
If you are in a call with a suspected spam number, Android will send you an automated message saying,
“Scammers often request this type of action during phone call conversations, so it’s blocked to protect you. If you are being guided to take this action by someone you don’t know, it might be a scam” (Ravie Lakshmanan as cited in The Hacker News).
It protects you and your device from unknowingly providing access to your settings by delivering a verbal warning and preventing you from giving app access to scammers.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft’s Scareware blocker is an effective scam-spotting software that provides immediate feedback and protection against scammers. With its machine-learning capabilities, it will learn to spot scams, block them from your computer, and protect you from clicking on malicious pop-ups. Continually using this software will also help others avoid scams and report new emerging scams each day.
Additional Resources
To learn more about Microsoft’s Scareware blocker visit their website.
Interested in learning more about general online safety practices? Check out our Cyber Safety For Everyone course. This course is structured into three parts and focuses on protecting your device, your information, and spotting scams. It’s a great foundational course and introduces key concepts you can use in your day-to-day life.
We have also created a designated email course for seniors to help them learn important scam-spotting skills. Our KnowledgeNet scam spotting course provides realistic phishing scam simulations (that are completely harmless) and bi-weekly red flag breakdowns of that week’s phish. The course is FREE and has applicable information for any age. Click here to sign up today!
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