Beware of fake ransomware

It’s amazing how creative people can get when they're trying to scam you. If only they put that creativity to better use! Well, they haven't, so get ready for another creative threat to your money. This one is pretty unique.

It's called fake ransomware. The "fake" part might make it sound like it isn't a big deal. If you don't know what it is and how to stop it, though, it's a very big deal.

We all know about what ransomware is. This powerful virus locks you out of your computer or takes control of your precious data and demands that you pay to make things right.

Many types of ransomware display a fake message from law enforcement. The message could say you were caught downloading illegal files or looking at child porn, etc. To clear things up, you need to pay a fine.

In other cases, it's a straightforward ransom demand. Either way, your best defence is to keep it off your computer. Strong security software is a good first step. However, if you do get ransomware, there are ways to get your computer back without paying. 

While ransomware is effective, it's a lot of work for hackers. They have to trick people into downloading it or find computers that are vulnerable to attack.

That's why some scammers came up with fake ransomware. You would think a fake virus wouldn't be a problem, but it's actually very clever.

Every browser allows sites to trigger new tabs and popup windows. You've seen them used for advertising, and they're annoying. Well, scammers are using the popup system to make it look like you have ransomware.

The popup in question displays a fake website. A message on the site gives a few reasons why you might be seeing the message. You were downloading illegal porn, illegal files or your computer has a virus.

What makes it scarier is that you can't close your browser. When you try, you just get a warning message.

Of course, you can make the problem go away if you pay a hefty "release fee." Before you shell out any money, though, there's something you should know. While this scam looks like ransomware, it's much easier to fix. You just have to restart your browser.

While the scammers make this tough, it isn't impossible. The easiest way to do this is with the keyboard shortcut ALT + F4. This is the Windows shortcut to close whatever program you're using.

If that doesn't work, hit CTRL + ALT + DEL. In the Applications or Programs tab, find your browser name, select it and hit End Task. It might take a few moments.

On a Mac (yes this scam works in Mac as well), use CMD + Q. Or go up to the Apple icon and choose Force Quit. Then select your browser from the list.

You can also just restart your computer. It will warn you that your browser is still open, but you can tell it to restart anyway.

After the browser closes, start it up again. Everything should be back to normal!

If you're ever the victim of a ransomware attack - real or fake - contact The Computer Guyz immediately. We can assist you where you need help and have you back on track in no time!