FALSE ALARM

People are only just realizing you can’t trust all Android notifications – how to spot a fake

ANDROID users have been warned about fraudulent notifications that claim their devices have a virus.

Fraudulent pop-ups have been appearing on Android users' devices telling them they need to clean their software.

This can happen when a user is browsing the internet and stumbles upon a malware-laden website.

Because of this, it is possible to get bombarded with fake virus alerts or pop-ups.

Such pop-ups will falsely insist that your device is infected and require you to take action.

This type of activity is known as "scareware" and consists of advertisements that are meant to steal your information.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN?

If you fall victim to a scareware attack, a number of things can happen.

You could end up downloading malware that attacks your device and steals your data.

Other times, it could lead to a more intricate cyberattack that could take control of your device.

Oftentimes, victims are unaware of the fact that there is no way for these web pages to determine the status of their mobile device.

There are a few ways to mitigate your risk of scareware attacks.

First, be aware that a website cannot possibly know if your device is infected with a virus.

Second, don't click on strange pop-ups, even if they look legitimate – you could also go a step further and close the webpage.

In the event that you cannot close the web page or the pop-up persists, you will need to clear the cache of the web browser.

To do so, go to Settings on your device > tap Apps, Applications, or Application manager.