A user reports that their computer has been presenting frequent pop-up alerts claiming that the antivirus has expired and needs immediate renewal to protect against a detected virus. However, the user verified their antivirus subscription is current. What is the most likely explanation for these pop-up alerts?
Pop-up alerts that falsely claim an antivirus has expired and that urgent action is needed when the subscription is actually current are indicative of scareware. Scareware is false security warnings designed to alarm the user into taking unnecessary and potentially harmful action, such as installing malicious software or providing personal information to an untrustworthy source. These types of alerts aim to exploit the user's fear of security threats to gain compliance.
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What is scareware and how does it differ from legitimate antivirus notifications?
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What steps can I take to investigate and remove scareware if my computer is showing these alerts?
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Why are scareware tactics effective against users, and how can I protect myself from them?