How to recognize scams like "WARNING- Antivirus Protection EXPIRED!"

What kind of scam is "WARNING: Antivirus Protection EXPIRED!"?

We have inspected this scam and found that its purpose is to trick users into believing that their antivirus protection has expired. Typically, scammers use such scams to extract money or personal information from unsuspecting individuals. Thus, it is highly recommended not to interact with websites hosting such scams.

"WARNING: Antivirus Protection EXPIRED!" scam in detail

This scam web page claims that a device is at a high risk of being exposed to hackers and malware, and immediate action is required. It states that a device might be tracked, private data might be leaked, and some suspicious applications might be installed on a device and kept hidden.

The site urges users to reactivate protection through the provided button. Clicking this button leads to another fake message claiming that 36 security threats have been detected that can collect contact details and login credentials. Additionally, this scam page provides a fake McAfee Antivirus Protection serial number and offers an 80% discount for the security tool.

It is important to note that McAfee is a legitimate computer security software company and is not associated with this scam. The scammers behind this page probably participate in an affiliate program and try to collect illegitimate commissions. They may also seek to trick users into transferring money or providing sensitive information (e.g., credit card details or passwords).

Users should ignore websites of this type if they come across them, as the claims on such pages are false.

Threat Summary:

Name	WARNING- Antivirus Protection EXPIRED! fake warning
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Antivirus protection has expired, a computer has been infected
Disguise	Legitimate security warning
Related Domain	updatenow[.]pro
Detection Names (updatenow[.]pro)	Fortinet (Phishing), Yandex Safebrowsing (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan.
Distribution methods	Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Similar scams in general

Scams of this type often involve deceptive web pages that falsely claim a device is at risk from hackers and malware, urging immediate action to protect it. They often use the names of legitimate companies like McAfee. These scams aim to steal personal information or money or are part of the schemes utilized to earn illegitimate commissions.

Some examples of similar scams are "Virus Alert (05261)", "Error Updating Software: #009292w099738H98", and "McAfee - Subscription Payment Failed".

How did I open a scam website?

Scam websites are typically promoted using email (by sending emails containing fraudulent links), misleading advertisements and various pop-ups, notifications from unreliable sites, or adware. Web pages (e.g., torrent sites, adult pages, illegal movie streaming platforms) associated with rogue advertising networks are also used to promote scams.

Additionally, fraudulent promotions can spread through social media platforms, often through fake accounts or misleading posts that encourage users to visit the scam site.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Do not click pop-ups, advertisements, buttons, and similar content on shady websites. Avoid agreeing to receive notifications from questionable sites. Be careful with emails containing links or files - do not interact with these files (or links) if they are included in suspicious emails (e.g., unsolicited emails from unknown senders).

Download programs and files from official websites. Keep all apps (and the operating system) up to date. Regularly scan the operating system using a reputable security tool. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

The appearance of "WARNING: Antivirus Protection EXPIRED!" pop-up scam (GIF):

Text in this scam:

WARNING: Antivirus Protection EXPIRED!
10:52, 23 August 2024, Friday

Your device is at a high-risk of exposing to hackers and malware.

Immediate action is required.

The Danger is Real and Immient!

Your device might been tracked and your private data might been leaked. Some suspicious applications might been installed on your device and kept hidden.

This is NOT a test-act!

The next cyber-attack could be the endgame for your private data and network security.

RE-ACTIVATE THE PROTECTION NOW

RE-ACTIVATE

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is WARNING- Antivirus Protection EXPIRED! fake warning?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a pop-up scam?

A pop-up scam typically involves a misleading pop-up window (e.g., a fake warning) appearing on a user's screen while they are browsing the internet. These pop-ups often contain messages designed to create urgency.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

Most of these scams are used to extract sensitive information and (or) money, or to trick users into downloading malicious software.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Scam websites are promoted through phishing emails, misleading ads, pop-ups, and notifications from unreliable sites. They also spread via rogue advertising on torrent and adult sites, as well as through fake accounts and deceptive posts on social media platforms. Users encounter fake pop-ups unintentionally.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner is built to scan every website you visit and can detect malicious ones, including those designed to deliver pop-up scams. When such sites are detected, you will be alerted, and access will be blocked.

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