You’re in the middle of working when a sudden pop-up appears warning that your computer is infected and urging you to “click here” to scan or install protection. It feels urgent, looks official, and is designed to spark panic — but it’s actually a common scareware tactic used by hackers to trick you into downloading malware.

Even clicking “Close,” “Cancel,” or the X can activate the infection. The safest response is to shut down your entire browser, or if needed, force-quit it through Task Manager or Force Quit. Then notify your IT provider so they can run a legitimate scan and make sure nothing slipped through.

Knowing how to respond can keep a fake alert from becoming a real breach. For the full Tech Tip, visit HERE.