However, if the message is not from your AV software, then you are being scammed. Bruceb gives these tips.
- If a web site brings something up on your screen that might be malware, turn your computer off with the power button. Get your hands off the mouse and do not click on “OK,” “Cancel,” or the X in the upper right corner! Anything that you click might lower the defenses on the computer and install malware.
- Antivirus software & UAC will not always protect you against malware if you click OK at the wrong time. The bad guys are liars. They will say anything to get past your defenses, without conscience or remorse. Use your common sense. Read and think before you click OK.
- Don’t click on links to web sites unless you know exactly where you’re going.
- Follow links with carefree abandon to and from legitimate sites, but don’t click on links that arrive in spam e-mail, instant messages, web forums, or IRC chats, or that start from an untrustworthy web site.
- Don’t click on links in email messages unless you deeply trust the judgment of the person who sent the message.
- Don’t click on links in forwarded messages.
- Shortened links are becoming popular in Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and social networking sites. You can’t tell where they lead by looking at them. Don’t follow them unless you trust the person who created the link. (Ed Bott has an article today about a URL shortener run by McAfee that turned up in a yucky spam comment. McAfee and the other URL shortening services don’t check the bona fides of a link! Just because a shortened link has “McAfee” in it – http://mcaf.ee – doesn’t make it safe!)
- Just because something is listed in a Google search doesn’t mean it’s safe. Make a judgment about where you’re going before you click.
