Cyber Dost warns the public to be aware of fake pop up notices and to clean their computer using antivirus program.
Hyderabad: A call or message from the police is usually the most annoying, especially if it says you’ve done some mischief, more so if it’s something like visiting an adult content site. And this is the fear that cyber crooks are now exploiting as ‘Fake Police Virus’ or ‘Police Trojan’. It comes in the form of a pop-up, often with the official logo and name of the local law enforcement agency, either on your desktop, email, or sometimes in Facebook or Messenger. The message usually says ‘Your computer is being blocked for viewing pornographic content and you will have to pay a fine’.
Cyber Dost, the cyber-security and cyber security awareness handle maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has now issued a warning asking the public to be aware of such fake pop up notices and clean their computers using an antivirus program. It also asks to avoid any payment and to refrain from clicking on untrusted links or downloading pirated operating systems or software.
According to internet security reports, Fake Police Pop Up is a ransomware attempt that masquerades as Police Notification and has stolen data and money from tech users around the world. It’s mostly scary stuff, which scares you and makes you click on links, or popup notices, downloading malicious software to your system, and in turn, enabling ransomware.
Security firms say that if you get a pop-up window with such a message on your PC, there is no need to panic, even if at some point you have actually visited naughty websites! Even a link that redirects to a website containing adult content or even gambling-related content may result in such pop-ups. Just remember, this is a scam and it’s not the police. do not pay.
