How to spot scams like "Your AVAST AntiVirus License Has Expired!"

What is "Your AVAST AntiVirus License Has Expired!"?

Our team has examined the page and learned that it shows deceptive messages to trick visitors into believing that their Avast Antivirus license has expired. Usually, such websites are generated by affiliates seeking commission by endorsing legitimate software.

However, it is important to exercise caution and not trust websites that utilize scare tactics, even if the software they promote is legitimate.

"Your AVAST AntiVirus License Has Expired!" in detail

The messages on this page appear to inform visitors that their Avast Antivirus license has expired. The site emphasizes the vulnerability of their computers to viruses, malware, and identity theft without an active license. It urges visitors to protect their computers and family from evolving threats and highlights a discount of 70% if they renew their license to reactivate their protection.

Overall, the page utilizes scare tactics to manipulate visitors into taking immediate action. It is important to mention that Avast Antivirus is legitimate computer security software. Its developers do not use deceptive pages or other methods to promote their software.

Affiliates who utilize websites employing scare tactics earn money through commission-based arrangements with product or service providers. When visitors to the website take the desired action, such as renewing a license or making a purchase, affiliates earn commissions.

The scare tactics used on these websites are aimed at creating a sense of urgency and fear, compelling visitors to act quickly, often without thorough consideration. Affiliates benefit by leveraging these emotions to drive conversions and generate revenue through the commission structure in place with the product or service provider.

Threat Summary:

Name	Your AVAST AntiVirus License Has Expired! scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Avast Antivirus license has expired
Disguise	Legitimate offer to renew the antivirus software
Related Domain	defendnowonline[.]com, landerhq[.]com
Detection Names (defendnowonline[.]com)	AlphaSOC (Suspicious), Netcraft (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan.
Distribution methods	Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Similar scams in general

These websites utilize alarming messages and fear-inducing statements to create a sense of urgency and provoke immediate action from visitors. They may make false or exaggerated claims about the visitor's system or security being compromised, intending to manipulate and coerce them into taking action.

In order to entice visitors, these websites often highlight special discounts or limited-time offers, suggesting that taking immediate action will provide them with financial benefits. Examples of similar scams are "Your McAfee Subscription Is Out Of Date", "McAfee - A Virus Has Been Found On Your PC!", and "Your NordVPN AntiVirus License Has Expired!".

How did I open a scam website

Users might click on deceptive or misleading online advertisements or notifications from dubious pages that lead them to these pages. Also, scammers may send phishing emails or messages that contain links to these pages. Sometimes, users may unknowingly download malware or browser extensions that modify their browser settings and redirect them to these pages.

Furthermore, cybercriminals can compromise legitimate websites and insert malicious code that redirects visitors to these scare tactic pages without their knowledge or consent.

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Do not agree to receive notifications from suspicious websites. Avoid clicking on ads and links appearing on shady sites. Download apps and files from reputable sources such as official websites and stores. Regularly update your web browser, operating system, and security software.

Stay informed about the latest scams and techniques used by cybercriminals. Be aware of the tactics they employ and the warning signs of scam websites. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

The appearance of "Your AVAST AntiVirus License Has Expired!" pop-up scam (GIF):

The message displayed by this scam site:

Your AVAST AntiVirus license has expired!
Your AVAST AntiVirus license for Windows recently expired, date: July 2, 2023.

Once your AVAST AntiVirus license expires, your computer is vulnerable to viruses, malware, and identity theft.

Protect your computer and your family from constantly evolving threats targeting computers...
Discount applied (July 12, 2023)
Your computer and your current license entitle you to 70% DISCOUNT

RENEW YOUR LICENSE AND REACTIVATE YOUR PROTECTION

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Your AVAST AntiVirus License Has Expired! scam?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a pop-up scam?

A pop-up scam is a deceptive technique employed by scammers to trick users into taking certain actions.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

The goal is to manipulate users into taking immediate action that benefits the scammers, such as disclosing sensitive information or making financial transactions.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

You may encounter fake pop-ups due to visiting shady or compromised websites, clicking on unreliable ads or notifications from shady sites, having malware infections, or falling for phishing attempts.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner is designed to scan all websites you visit, including those that may host malicious content. It can detect and identify websites that are involved in pop-up scams or other deceptive activities. If such sites are detected, Combo Cleaner will promptly issue a warning and restrict access to protect you from potential harm.

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