SCAREWARE Definition & Meaning

scareware

[ skair-wair ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Computers. software that is sold as computer security or as an antivirus or other utility program but is either useless or is itself malware:
I was a victim of scareware—I got a warning that my computer was about to fail, so I panicked and purchased the advertised software, which wiped my hard drive instead of fixing it!

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of scareware¹

scare + -ware

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Example Sentences

In all five cases, Apple customers complained in the review section that they were drawn to the apps by misleading advertisements elsewhere on the Internet, known as “scareware,” which scare users into thinking their phone has been infected by a virus.

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In all five cases, Apple customers complained in the review section that they were drawn to the apps by misleading advertisements elsewhere on the internet, known as “scareware,” which scare users into thinking their phone has been infected by a virus.

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Users could have seen this notice after downloading the app, and it could have been used as scareware to get them to subscribe.

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A: Yes, there’s a big difference between actual ransomware and “browser scareware.”

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Scareware, as the name implies, simply aims to trick the user into thinking their computer is infected and that you need to contact the “repair service” to fix it.

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