Microsoft has started testing an innovative ‘scareware blocker’ feature for the Edge web browser on Windows PCs, using machine learning (ML) to identify tech support scams.
Scareware scams are often referred to as tech support scams that have been a significant menace for years. Scammers have deployed aggressive landing pages to convince unsuspecting victims that their devices are infected with malware.
Subsequently pressuring them to call a fraudulent tech support number to gain remote access to their systems. Defender SmartScreen, which also protects Edge users from scams, springs into action when a malicious site is identified. It swiftly adds it to its index of harmful web pages to protect users all across the world in a few minutes.
However, the new AI-driven Edge scareware blocker which was launched by Microsoft at the 2024 Ignite conference in November is now available in preview for users in the stable channel.
It offers an additional layer of defense by detecting signs of scareware scams in real time through a local machine-learning model.
Microsoft explained, “The scareware blocker introduces a vital first line of defense, helping to protect users from emerging scams that attempt to take over the screen. It employs a machine learning model that operates directly on the user’s computer.”
If further added, “This model utilizes computer vision to analyze full-screen pages against thousands of scam samples shared by the scam-fighting community. It functions locally, ensuring that no images are saved or transmitted to the cloud.”
After identifying a scam page, the blocker alerts users, providing them the option to move ahead with loading the webpage if they believe it to be safe.
Microsoft advised users on Monday, “To activate this feature in Edge, ensure that your administrator has allowed previews and that your Edge browser is fully updated. A quick restart of the browser may be necessary to ensure the preview is enabled.”
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