Scareware pop ups are designed to panic people into making quick decisions. Flashing warnings claim a device is infected and urge users to call fake support numbers or click dangerous links. Even cautious users can be caught off guard, and a single mistake can lead to stolen credentials, financial loss or wider security incidents within a business.
Microsoft is now taking action through an update to its Edge browser. A new AI powered feature called Scareware Blocker has been introduced to stop these fake alerts before they cause harm. It is enabled by default on most newer systems and is designed to detect full screen scam pages that mimic genuine system warnings. When one is identified, Edge shuts it down immediately, preventing users from interacting with it.
This protection improves over time. When a scam is reported, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen uses that information to block the same threat for other users, often hours or days earlier than traditional threat lists would allow. Microsoft has also added a new scareware sensor to Edge that helps identify emerging scams in real time, without collecting personal data or screenshots. This feature is expected to be enabled automatically for users who have SmartScreen turned on.
As online scams continue to grow in number and sophistication, businesses are increasingly at risk. Criminals know that a single click from one employee can be enough to gain a foothold. Built in protections like those in Edge help close that gap by reacting faster than manual checks ever could. Keeping browsers up to date and reviewing security controls regularly can significantly reduce exposure to these threats and help teams focus on their work without unnecessary interruptions.
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