How to Detect and Avoid False Virus and Malware Alerts | Free Antivirus

While using your computer and browsing the web, you may occasionally come across infection warnings that seem legitimate. Commonly referred to as “scareware,” these anti-malware warning messages are designed to trick you into installing fake antivirus software, which is actually malware in disguise.

While scareware can be intimidating, let's take a look at how to determine if a virus alert is real.

3 Alerts about the most common fake viruses

While in theory, advice about fake viruses can appear in any way, past shows that three kinds often appear. Therefore, if you can learn to identify them, you should be safe.

1. Advertising sites disguised as antivirus scanners

Advertising designers sometimes use behind-the-scenes tactics to convince you to click. Some questionable free antivirus companies will let you visit their website by displaying a false alert. For example, the image above shows a web page modelled as an antivirus scanner.

Malicious ads are known as " ads " are not new; however, they can still be intimidating. When you browse the webpage, you may see flashing advertisements claiming that you know your IP address, where you live and that there are thousands of virus infections on your computer.

It's important to note that malicious ads that claim to know your position are nothing special. After all, your IP address is reported by every website you visit, from where you connect. This is why, if you walk into a store in the US, they might ask if you would like to visit the UK version instead.

The only solution is to ignore these advertisements. No reputable anti-malware company will ever be able to communicate its warnings through website advertisements, nor can a company know what type of infection is present on your system simply by visiting a web page.

2. Browser pop-ups that claim to be virus scanners

Banner ads are certainly easy to spot and avoid, but there is another form of advertising that is more convincing.

These pop-ups often copy the actual appearance of alerts from real antivirus software. To make matters worse, these pop-ups often disguise their "X" buttons and show fake buttons. If you click on the fake X, it will be counted as if you clicked on the ad itself.

You can usually tell the popup is fake because it will be exaggerated in its scarcity. He will tell you that you must "act immediately" to prevent the destruction of your computer or the loss of your data. The urgency is only there because they want you to act without thinking.

3. Taskbar notifications that look like OS alerts

A rarer but more serious form of bogeyman appears on the taskbar as a notification, which usually informs you that there is a massive infection on your system that needs to be eliminated. Unfortunately, this can be pretty compelling.

Windows 8 and 10 use both toast notifications instead of cartoon notifications but are still vulnerable to false messages. Full-screen videos or browsers can show false alerts as well.

Ultimately, fake popup warning signs apply here as well. Look for excessive incongruity and a sense of urgency that makes you want to act immediately. This is a good sign that the warning is not real.

What to do if there is a false warning

If you've ever encountered one of the types of alerts mentioned above, don't worry. This is not the end of the world. Here's a simple checklist of what you should do to make sure you navigate the alert safely.

Don't click on false alert

The worst thing you can do is act quickly and accidentally do something that you regret. Even if the alarm flashes with alarming words, do not press right away. This is how spyware works best, amplifying your fear and reacting before you know what you are doing.

Make sure this is a false warning

Then make sure the alert is actually fake and not legitimate. Common prizes include abnormal product names, features, vague promises, and frequent warnings more than once a day.

Also, watch out for traits like poor English. Any reliable antivirus software will ensure their English is perfect. For example, take a look at this false antivirus warning and see how many grammatical errors you can find:

The biggest giveaway is a notification that demands money immediately. For example, they might ask you to buy a security product, upgrade a product you don't really have, or transfer money somewhere. While reliable free antivirus programs can nudge you into purchasing a product or subscription, they are not as overt as malicious ads.

Search by name of antivirus product

If you don't recognize the name of the product, look for it. If it's legal, it will be posted somewhere on the first page of the results. If you cannot find any mention of it, or if there are many other people asking the validity of the same product name, this is probably a lie.

Close your browser and check the warning again

If a warning was displayed while browsing the web, do not press X to close it. Instead, close the browser completely (via the task manager or by right-clicking the browser in the notification area). If the warning is closed by the browser, it is false.

Run a full virus scan on your system

Finding a false malware alert does not necessarily mean there is malware on your system; however, malware infection can result in fake virus scanner ads. Therefore, it is recommended to perform a virus scan; doubly if you haven't checked the hygiene of your computer recently.

Fortunately, there is no need to pay for an effective virus scan these days. Just grab one of the free antivirus programs we recommend for your daily use.

If you find that the malware won't go away, you may need a more advanced solution. Check out our complete malware removal guide for tips on how to properly clean your PC.

Protect yourself from online threats

Scareware, as its name suggests, can be scary to the user. If you see, do not refuse their requests; after all, this is how they fall into the trap. Luckily, you now know how to tell if a virus is fake and what to do if you see one.