- Microsoft reveals new scam detection software
- The tool will be available to Microsoft Edge users
- This may lead to an end to ‘Technical Support -Svindle’ if there is a widely adopted
Microsoft has officially launched a new ‘ScareWare Blocker’ feature to better protect users on Edge Browsers on Windows PCS.
The new Machine Learning threat detection software, first advertised at the Ignite Conference in 2024, recognizes the signs of ScareWare to protect users in real time, putting users back in control of their computer.
Scrueware -scam has been around for a long time and they have become one of the most harmful scams around – but what if they were not? This new technology could see the end of technical support – fraud completely – here’s what we know.
Millions lost each year
The FBI claims that technical support fraud costs victims millions a year, and it has become a rather high profile attack. The basic setup of the attack is cyber criminals will implement pop -ups or ads that fool users into believing that their device has been infected with malware, which usually fills their screen with large scary banners or alarms.
Essentially, the scam works by getting panic users with a banner claiming they have been compromised by a virus or attack, asking them to reach ‘technical support’. From there, fake support agents will request and steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting users who believe they have been compromised.
Most of us are aware of this scam and are sure to ignore these when making pop-up, but the primary target of these attacks is older adults and those who are not knowledgeable enough to spot the warning signs.
But with this new ‘Scareware Blocker’ it may make us all a little safer. The AI-driven detection controls new and unknown places, “where abuse is more likely to hide” and uses a smart screen to protect users around the world within minutes when a violent place is discovered.
The model compares screens to try scams provided by the security community – and this is running locally without having to save or sending pictures to the cloud.
When an attack is detected, Edge will ‘put users back in control’ by leaving full screen mode as well as stopping ‘aggressive audio playback’ and giving a warning to the user a miniature on the suspicious side.
From there, the user has the opportunity to report the malicious place to help protect others, and they can even share the screen of the scam with Microsoft to help train the model further.
If the alarm is a false alarm, users can report the error from the Scareware Blocking.
“While we recognize that ScareWare blocking may not catch any scam – especially when tactics develop – we are obliged to strengthen users with solutions while improving our defense,” Windows confirmed in its statement.
This tool is something that even Chrome has used and it is available when any edge user updates their browser to the latest version and restarts. You can check if this is installed during the ‘Privacy Search and Services’ label.
The protection of yourself
If you are not a Microsoft Edge user or you just want to make sure you are as secure as possible, here are a few tips to protect yourself.
The most important step is to pay attention to scam. When you know the Playbook, you will be much less panic if you encounter it. Always try to keep calm and do not be hasty to give your information to an attacker.
If a warning takes over your screen, you can always press and hold the ‘Esc’ key to escape it, which should ease the anxiety a bit. Criminals most effective tools are to push you to act quickly and without thinking, so if you can withstand this you will be much better placed to avoid scams.
Do not click on suspicious links or pop-ups. Like phishing fraud, these are designed to take your information, which can lead to even bigger problems such as identity theft.
Similarly, do not contact any phone numbers or e emails shown in a pop -up -If you think there is a real problem, you must search the contact information separately and contact through official channels. Be particularly careful not to give access to your accounts, and always remember that legitimate tech companies are incredibly unlikely that they will ever request money wired through foreign accounts, gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
A crucial part of this scam is the pop -up ad, so the best ad blockers keep you safe from these -and a big bonus is that many of them are free!
Similarly, if you have the best antivirus software already installed on your device, you can be sure your device is secure – so are much less likely to panic to become a victim of this scam.
“If you have a reputable antivirus installed, simply ignore any pop -ups that encourage you to install security fixes,” said Pierre Noel, Field Ciso EMEA at Rule.
“If not, disregard these messages, examine the top antivirus solution and install a trusted.”
