How to avoid getting scammed by fake "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" websites

What kind of scam is "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT"?

Our researchers discovered the "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" scam during a routine investigation of suspicious websites. It claims that users' operating systems have experienced failure, and the antivirus must be updated to restore standard functionality. Typically, scams of this kind aim to deceive victims into downloading or purchasing software.

"SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" scam overview

This scam comprises two pop-up windows. The one in the middle of the page is presented as a "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT". It claims that system failure has been detected on the user's Windows OS. The user is pressured to update their antivirus to restore their computer's operation back to normal. The small pop-up at the bottom right states that immediate action is required since system stability is at risk.

At the time of research, this scam redirected to the official McAfee site. It must be emphasized that all the information provided by this webpage is false, and this scam is not associated with the McAfee Antivirus, its developer – McAfee Corp., or any other legitimate products/entities.

During our investigation, "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" operated as an affiliate scam. Scammers sought to obtain illegitimate commissions by abusing the affiliate programs of a genuine product. Remember that there are no guarantees that these scams will continue promoting official websites.

System threat/infection themed lures are commonly used to distribute untrustworthy and dangerous software, such as fake antivirus tools, PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications), adware, browser hijackers, trojans, ransomware, etc. These lures are also utilized in phishing and technical support scams.

To summarize, by trusting a scam like "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" – users can experience system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Similar online scam examples

We have written about thousands of online scams; "McAfee - Built-in Antivirus Has Detected A Threat", "McAfee Online Scan Completed", "Avast Detected 18 Viruses", and "This Software Must Be Installed To Avoid Problems" are merely a few examples of ones similar to "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT".

Aside from device threat/infection themed lures, other commonly used false claims regard critical updates, shipping issues, product promotions, giveaways, lotteries, etc.

Scams are incredibly prevalent on the Internet. They can differ greatly in appearance and modus operandi, yet the end goal is the same – to generate revenue at their victims' expense. Therefore, we strongly recommend exercising caution when browsing.

How did I open a scam website?

Online scams are predominantly promoted via sites using rogue advertising networks (redirects), spam (e.g., browser notifications, emails, social media/ forum posts, DMs/PMs, cold calls/ robocalls, SMSes, etc.), malvertising (intrusive advertisements), typosquatting (mistyped URLs), and adware (adverts or redirects).

How to avoid visiting scam websites?

Caution is essential to ensuring your online safety. Therefore, be wary of websites, ads, and communications that warn about severe threats or make unbelievable promises. Pay attention to URLs and enter them carefully. Do not use sites offering pirated programs/media or other dubious services (e.g., illegal streaming/downloading, Torrenting, etc.), as these webpages are usually monetized through rogue advertising networks.

Do not enable suspicious pages to deliver browser notifications; ignore or deny their requests (i.e., select "Block", "Block Notifications", etc.). Be vigilant with incoming emails and other messages; do not open attachments or links found in questionable/irrelevant mail.

Download only from official/trustworthy sources and be attentive when installing (e.g., study terms and options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of additional apps, extensions, features, etc.) – to prevent hazardous software (like adware) from infiltrating the system.

If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate all threats.

Text presented in the main "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" pop-up:

SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT

Windows system failure detected!
Please update your antivirus immediately to restore normal PC operations.

Update Antivirus

Press ENTER to update your antivirus

The appearance of "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" pop-up scam (GIF):

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:

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.

Quick menu:

• What is "SYSTEM SECURITY ALERT" pop-up?
• 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?

Pop-up scams are deceptive messages that aim to trick users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be scared/enticed into downloading/installing software, purchasing products, subscribing to services, calling fake support lines, allowing cyber criminals to access devices remotely, making monetary transactions, disclosing sensitive information, and so on.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

Profit is the motivation behind pop-up scams. Cyber criminals primarily generate revenue by promoting content (e.g., websites, products, services, etc.), obtaining funds through deception, selling/abusing private information, and spreading malware.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

The most prevalent promotional techniques include: spam (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, social media posts, browser notifications, calls, SMSes, etc.), webpages using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, and adware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan visited websites for deceptive and malicious content. Therefore, should you happen upon such a webpage – Combo Cleaner will immediately warn you and block all further access to the site.