Online scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with “scareware” emerging as a particularly deceptive threat. Scareware involves malicious websites that mimic legitimate system alerts, often going full screen and playing alarming audio messages to convince users that their computer is infected.
The objective is to create panic, prompting users to call fake support numbers or download harmful software, potentially leading to data theft or financial loss.
To combat this menace, Microsoft has introduced an AI-powered Scareware Blocker in its Edge browser. This feature employs a machine learning model that operates locally on Windows PCs, analyzing full-screen pages and comparing them to a vast database of known scams.
When a potential threat is detected, Edge automatically exits full-screen mode, stops audio playback, and displays a warning to the user. Users can then choose to report the site, contributing to the enhancement of Microsoft’s Defender SmartScreen service.
It is important to note that while Defender SmartScreen already provides real-time protection against known scams, the Scareware Blocker adds a layer of defense, especially against new and emerging threats.
The machine learning model uses computer vision to compare full-screen pages to thousands of sample scams, ensuring proactive protection. Notably, this model runs entirely on the local computer, without saving or sending images to the cloud, thereby maintaining user privacy.
How to Enable Scareware Blocker in Edge
To enable the Scareware Blocker in Microsoft Edge and enhance your protection against deceptive online scams, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge Settings
- Launch Microsoft Edge on your computer.
- Click on the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
Step 2: Navigate to Privacy Settings
- In the Settings menu, click on “Privacy, search, and services” from the left-hand sidebar.
- Scroll down to the “Security” section.
Step 3: Enable Scareware Blocker
- Look for the option labeled “Scareware Blocker.”
- Toggle the switch to “On” to activate the feature.
Step 4: Ensure Your Browser is Up-to-Date
If you don’t see the Scareware Blocker option, your browser might be outdated. To update:
- Go to Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
- Edge will automatically check for updates and install them if available.
- Restart the browser to apply the changes.
Once enabled, Microsoft Edge will proactively detect and block scareware scams, providing an extra layer of security.
In addition to utilizing browser features like the Scareware Blocker, users can protect themselves by pressing and holding the ‘ESC’ key to exit full-screen mode when encountering suspicious behavior. Staying informed about common scam tactics and maintaining up-to-date security software are also essential steps in safeguarding against scareware attacks.
