Clicking a normal link that sends you to a page designed to look like a "Security Scan in Progress." 2. The Anatomy of the Scam
[Name/Title] Approved by: [Name/Title]
No matter how scary the alert looks, do not call the number provided. fake virus alert
Real antivirus software and operating systems (like Windows or macOS) have very specific ways of communicating. Here are the red flags of a scam: Clicking a normal link that sends you to
Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Windows) or Command + Option + Esc (Mac) to bring up the Task Manager. Force-close your web browser entirely. Here are the red flags of a scam:
Distinguishing a real threat from a fake one is relatively easy once you know what to look for. Legitimate cybersecurity companies (like Norton, McAfee, or Windows Defender) do not operate this way.