subject: What Is Scareware and Why Is It a Threat [print this page] Computer users are very much concerned about the protection and safety of their computers. People spend money and time just to install necessary programs that will ensure that no computer threat can breach or infect the system. Many antivirus firewall software programs, antispam, and other defensive software are in demand for free software downloads.
That is why users will feel worried once they visit a site and suddenly a pop-up window will appear warning the user about a virus entering your system. Then the same ad will offer a free quick fix for the said error or problem, which in turn will ask the unsuspecting user to install the free software without knowing that it may have spyware.
These fake advertisement or ads are known as scareware. The scareware are those ads that provide quick fix for the errors of your computer by simply downloading software. This is created to scare the user into believing that they indeed have viruses in their system. There are some software programs that actually solve the problem and are harmless, but there are some that actually do not detect any error yet has some malicious software attached to it and will infect the computer if downloaded.
In order to prevent unwanted scareware, set your antivirus firewall software and browsers to block pop-ups from third party Internet sites. There actually legitimate online scanners that will detect possible errors in your system. Refer to reliable and well-known sources such as PCWorld to know which sites have legitimate scanning. Errors are usually avoidable if you have a regular maintenance and a reliable antivirus that effectively protects and detects possible threats and errors.
If in case pop-ups do appear, they usually are featured from the computer's firewall, antivirus, anti spyware, and so on. A legitimate pop-up from your protection software provides the name of the programs and alerts the user of the possible suspicious malware or threat. These pop-ups are mere information and not cure. Do not just trust any site that provides ads promising to treat your computer from the detected "errors". Rely on your antivirus firewall software in maintaining a virus and malware free computer.
