If you frequent certain parts of the internet, you have likely seen fake pop-ups warning you about viruses on your PC. The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against two fake antivirus sellers named Restoro and Reimage. These companies have scammed customers with fake software and have settled for $26 million USD. They are now prohibited from deceiving customers in the US.
The scam works by showing a fake Windows alert saying your PC is infected, with a timer threatening permanent damage if you don’t download their antivirus software for $27-$58 and call a number to activate it. The software does nothing, and calling the number puts you on a spam list. The scammers could even extract more money by offering fake remote support services.
These scams often target older or less tech-savvy individuals, overwhelming them with technical terms to create confusion. The scammers would show fake reports to convince victims their PC was infected. Legitimate dangers like viruses exist, but misrepresenting them is how scammers operate. Most people are fine with Windows Security (Windows Defender) for protection.
For real advanced protection, check out PCWorld’s recommendations for the best antivirus software. They have tested and compared tools to provide genuine defense against online threats.
