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If you’ve ever been hit with a full-screen pop-up screaming “Your computer is infected!”, you already know how convincing online scams have become.
Flashing warnings. Urgent language. A fake phone number pretending to be Microsoft Support.
It’s designed to make people panic — and it works more often than we’d like to admit.
This type of attack is called scareware, and it’s one of the fastest ways cybercriminals trick users into handing over money, passwords, or full access to their device. Even cautious employees can be caught off guard when the pressure feels real.
The good news? Microsoft is fighting back — hard.
Microsoft has introduced a powerful new scam protection tool in Microsoft Edge, designed to shut down scareware attacks before they ever reach your screen.
This new feature uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect fake system alerts in real time. Instead of relying on known threat lists alone, Edge can actually recognize the behavior and visual patterns scammers use — especially those full-screen pages that impersonate Windows security warnings.
When Edge spots one of these scams, it blocks it instantly. No clicking. No panic. No damage.
For most newer devices, this Scareware Blocker is already enabled by default, making Edge one of the most secure browsers available for both Windows and Mac users.
What makes this even more effective is how Microsoft shares threat intelligence.
When a user reports a scam, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen learns from it and can block the same attack for others — sometimes hours or days before it would normally show up on global threat databases.
In testing, a single report helped prevent around 50 additional people from being targeted.
There’s also a new scareware detection sensor built directly into Edge. It helps identify brand-new scams as they emerge, without collecting screenshots or personal data. Microsoft plans to automatically enable this feature for anyone using SmartScreen in upcoming updates.
Scams aren’t just annoying — they’re dangerous.
One wrong click can lead to stolen credentials, drained accounts, or even ransomware shutting down an entire business. And while these attacks often look like they’re aimed at individuals, small and midsize businesses are increasingly in the crosshairs.
Cybercriminals know that it only takes one employee slipping up to open the door.
Tools like Edge’s new scam protection help close those gaps. AI reacts faster than humans ever could, stopping threats before your team even realizes something is wrong — and letting them focus on real work instead of fake emergencies.
If your business uses Microsoft Edge, make sure it’s fully up to date so you’re benefiting from this new protection.
And if you’re not confident your systems are prepared for modern scam tactics, it may be time for a security audit. Identifying weak points now is far easier than dealing with the fallout later.
If you’d like help reviewing your security posture, my team and I are ready to help. Reach out any time.
You’ve got a business to run. We’ve got your back. We help teams stay strong with fast, flexible IT—95% of calls answered in 20 seconds or less. Let’s make sure your tech works as hard as you do.