Few things scare a computer user more than seeing the words "you have a virus" pop up on your screen. There's a good chance that warning is coming from something called "scareware."

Scareware can compromise your identity and it can harm you financially. The Federal Trade Commission says there are millions of scareware victims already.  That's why they want you to know how to avoid the pitfalls.

If a message pops up offering a "free security scan" of your computer while you're surfing the net, beware - it could be scareware.

"Scareware is a series of fake security alerts that tries to redirect users to a site that can, in turn, sell them bogus software to fix a problem that they don't really have," said Joe Ridout, Consumer Action.

The pop up tells you to run a free scan.  Click yes and it inevitably finds an error, which the software then tells you it will fix - for a fee - when really there was no virus at all.

"The scan is entirely bogus. There is nothing wrong with your computer and you've just wasted your money," said Dan Salsberg, Federal Trade Commission.

In some cases, it may actually infect your computer, putting you at deeper risk of identity theft or financial fraud.

"Many of these viruses could have keystroke logging software that captures your financial and personal information," said Ridout.

There are legitimate companies offering computer protection software, but the FTC says it's hard to tell which is safe. So if you see an offer, it's best to shutdown your browser immediately.

"This doesn't mean clicking the little x box, it doesn't mean clicking no. All those can be programmed by the purveyor to actually install the scareware," said Salsburg.

You should go straight to the shutdown button and simply restart your computer. Some experts say one generally safe bet is to use the security software that came with your computer and keep it current.

source: king5.com

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