Those of us that use the internet on a regular basis it’s probably think it is easy for us to see through a pop up ad telling us we have some obscure problem with our computer that needs fixing for only 29.99, but a recent study at an American university showed that 63% of people can not tell the different between a real and a fake alert.
Also, for the very many people that only use the internet now and again or are new to browsing these now quite well designed messages can catch them out easily and either convince them to buy software they simply do not need or hack into their personal computers.
These messages often look very similar to the pop up boxes seen when you get an error within windows XP, complete with blue frame and 3D shading. However there are a few ways you can check if this message is real:
- Is there more than one “X” (close button) on the box? If there are two close buttons on the alert box it is not going to be real. Always click the one on the outside, as the one on the inside will simply take you to the link.
- Does a “hand” icon appear when your mouse cursor goes over any part of the alert box, or just the buttons on it? If the cursor icon changes when you place it over even the background of the box, it isn’t real. Microsoft alert boxes will only cause the cursor to change when you go over a button to click.
- Does the top left corner hold a title related to what you where doing on your computer (Such as installing or opening a document) or is it a product name or completely unrelated to your activities? If it is suspicious – check for the other tips shown above.
More tips to follow!
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