Shielding Your Business from Digital Threats: Microsoft Edge’s New Scareware Blocker

Online threats continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency. Microsoft has responded to this challenge with an innovative new security feature for Edge users. Let’s explore Microsoft Edge’s scareware blocker and how it can strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity posture.

 What Is Scareware and Why Is It Dangerous?

“Scareware” refers to malicious websites designed to frighten users into believing their computer is infected with malware. These aggressive web pages try to convince victims their system is compromised, pressure them to call fake tech support numbers, and attempt to gain access to their computers. According to FBI reports referenced by Microsoft, victims lose over a billion dollars per year to tech support and related scams.

These scams are particularly effective because they:

• Move quickly to evade detection, often changing locations after just a few hours
• Use full-screen mode to appear legitimate, similar to video websites
• Employ audio warnings and keyboard/mouse manipulation tactics to create panic
• Specifically target vulnerable populations, including elderly communities

 Microsoft Edge’s Scareware Blocker: How It Works

Microsoft Edge’s scareware blocker serves as a “first line of defense” against these scams. While Microsoft Defender SmartScreen already helps protect users from known malicious sites, scareware blocker adds protection when you encounter new scams not yet identified by SmartScreen.

The technology works through:

• A machine learning model that runs locally on your computer
• Computer vision technology that compares full-screen pages against thousands of known scam samples
• Local processing that doesn’t save or send images to the cloud

When the system identifies a potential scareware attack, it:

• Exits full-screen mode automatically
• Stops aggressive audio playback
• Displays a warning to the user
• Shows a thumbnail of the suspicious page

 How to Enable Scareware Blocker

The scareware blocker is available in preview for all Edge users on Windows PCs. To enable it:

1. Ensure that previews are allowed by your administrator
2. Make sure Edge is fully updated (you may need to restart the browser)
3. Navigate to “Privacy Search and Services” in Edge settings
4. Look for the scareware blocker option and enable it

According to the Microsoft Edge release notes, administrators can control the availability of this feature using the ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled Policy.

 Reporting and Improving Protection

The scareware blocker also allows users to report malicious sites to help protect others. Users can share screenshots and diagnostic information with Microsoft, which helps the Defender SmartScreen service detect scareware outbreaks across multiple machines.

Users can also report false alarms when legitimate pages are incorrectly flagged, helping to improve the system’s accuracy.

How CinchOps Can Help Secure Your Business

While Microsoft’s scareware blocker provides excellent protection at the browser level, comprehensive security requires a multi-layered approach. This is where CinchOps can enhance your organization’s security posture:

1. Managed Edge Deployment: We can help configure and deploy Edge with optimal security settings, including scareware blocker, across your organization.
2. Policy Management: Our team can implement the ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled policy through your organization’s management infrastructure.
3. User Training: We provide security awareness training to help your team recognize scams and understand how to use protective features.
4. Comprehensive Security Strategy: Beyond browser protection, we deliver holistic security solutions that address the full spectrum of digital threats.
5. Incident Response Planning: Should a security incident occur, our team provides rapid response to minimize impact and prevent future occurrences.

As cybercriminals continue to develop new tactics, partnering with security experts becomes increasingly crucial. Contact CinchOps today to learn how we can help strengthen your organization’s defenses against scareware and other digital threats.

 Discover More 

Discover more about our enterprise-grade and business protecting cybersecurity services: CinchOps Cybersecurity
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