ACS Blog

 

Beware of scareware—but don’t panic!

Aug 3, 2022 | Uncategorized

With so many bad guys on the loose in the cyber world, everyone should know how to recognize bogus scare tactics that trick innocent internet users into giving away their personal info. More often than not, “virus alert” popups aren’t your friend like they want you to think. It’s important to be highly critical of any so-called warnings that might pop up on your computers—and to teach your employees to do the same.
Here are some ways you can educate your team about Scareware and other security threats, and help them recognize when something seems fishy:

  • Familiarize your team with your antivirus software and teach them to recognize red flags: Show your team the telltale signs of whether or not the “virus alert” they’re looking at matches the interface of the antivirus software that your company uses.
  • Educate yourself and your team: Make sure everyone is familiar with helpful, routine browser messages that warn against visiting suspicious pages. That way, they’ll be prepared to recognize bogus virus alerts that phish for info.
  • Whenever you feel lost, call a specialist: The professional nerds at ACS can unmask false alerts and spot a snake from a mile away.