Not only are ads a nuisance, they can also be dangerous.
Ads have gotten so common that you can’t even order a Kindle without deciding whether you want the version with ads or the version without them. They’re everywhere, and most of the time they’re just annoying. But sometimes they cross the line from annoying to risky.
That pop-up telling you your McAfee antivirus has expired could be real, but it could also be an ad or notification that was allowed to pop up on your computer. We often get asked whether it’s okay to allow notifications, especially on news sites. And of course, there are some notifications we may actually want, like email alerts, weather updates, or breaking news.
The problem is that it can be hard to tell what you’re really allowing.
Sometimes you may be allowing the website itself to send notifications. Other times, you may be responding to an ad on that site. One common attack right now involves malicious ads being placed on websites, sometimes even legitimate ones. It may take the site hours or days to realize that one of its ad networks is serving something harmful.
Once you click “Allow,” whoever controls that notification can start sending messages to your computer. Those notifications may look urgent, scary, or official, but they are often designed to trick you into clicking a link or calling a fake support number.
Android phones can have similar issues. You can be tricked into allowing notifications, installing something, or tapping through several prompts that eventually lead to constant malicious pop-ups. The goal is usually the same: make you feel like your device is compromised so you’ll react quickly.
So how do we prevent it?
The number one thing you can do is avoid saying yes to notification prompts unless you truly trust the site and actually want alerts from it. Limit desktop notifications to sites you know and use regularly.
An ad blocker can also help, but be careful there too. Some fake ad blockers are malicious themselves, so it’s important to use a reputable one. For business clients, there are also whole-network solutions that can help reduce malicious ads and risky traffic before they ever reach the computer.
The best advice is simple:
Don’t call the number. Don’t click the ad. Don’t panic.
McAfee, Microsoft, or any legitimate company is not going to ask you to call a random number from a scary pop-up ad. If something looks suspicious, slow down and ask someone you trust before clicking.
If you’re dealing with suspicious pop-ups, fake antivirus warnings, or constant notifications, SatCom & Computers can help. Give us a call at 318-256-1213 or schedule a consultation.