Tech Support Scam
Microsoft Edge gets scareware sensor for faster scam detection
Microsoft is introducing a new scareware sensor for the Microsoft Edge web browser, which helps detect scam pages more quickly and ensures that Defender SmartScreen blocks them faster. In scareware scams (also known as tech support scams), fraudsters use aggressive landing pages to trick potential victims into believing that their devices have been compromised with malware […]
Paddle settles for $5 million over facilitating tech support scams
Paddle.com and its U.S. subsidiary will pay $5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) allegations that the company facilitated deceptive tech-support schemes that harmed many U.S. consumers, including older adults. Paddle, a UK-based payment processor, offers payments, tax handling, compliance, and checkout infrastructure for software and digital product sellers by acting as a “merchant […]
Google Chrome to use on-device AI to detect tech support scams
Google is implementing a new Chrome security feature that uses the built-in ‘Gemini Nano’ large-language model (LLM) to detect and block tech support scams while browsing the web. Tech support scams are malicious websites that trick users into thinking their computer has a virus infection or other problem. These alerts are shown as full-screen browser windows or […]
FTC will send $25.5 million to victims of tech support scams
Later this week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will start distributing over $25.5 million in refunds to those misled by tech support companies Restoro and Reimage’s scare tactics. The FTC will send 736,375 PayPal payments starting March 13 to consumers tricked into paying for unnecessary computer repair services. Between now and March 13, those eligible […]
Microsoft tests Edge Scareware Blocker to block tech support scams
Microsoft has started testing a new “scareware blocker” feature for the Edge web browser on Windows PCs, which uses machine learning (ML) to detect tech support scams. Scareware scams (also known as tech support scams) have been a pervasive threat for years. The scammers use aggressive landing pages to persuade potential victims that their devices have […]
LastPass warns of fake support centers trying to steal customer data
LastPass is warning about an ongoing campaign where scammers are writing reviews for its Chrome extension to promote a fake customer support phone number. However, this phone number is part of a much larger campaign to trick callers into giving scammers remote access to their computers, as discovered by GeekFeed. LastPass is a popular password […]