How to find it

Key takeaways Fake Google Chrome alerts mimic legitimate system notifications to trick users into running harmful scripts. To spot a fake Google Chrome alert, look for suspicious requests, unexpected popups, grammatical errors, unfamiliar URLs, offers that seem too good to be true, etc. Protect yourself by avoiding urgency, cross-checking alerts, using your browser's security features, avoiding suspicious attachments, and keeping your software up to date.

Fake Google Chrome alerts are becoming more and more sophisticated, tricking users into running malicious scripts and putting their systems at risk. Learn how they work and what you can do to protect yourself.

What are fake Google Chrome alerts and how do they work?

Fake Google Chrome alerts are deceptive messages that mimic legitimate system notifications with the main goal of tricking users into executing harmful commands.

These alerts typically appear as follows:

System Error: A message informing you that a serious system error has occurred and that you need to take immediate action. Update Notification: An alert informing you that your browser or other software is out of date and needs to be updated urgently. Virus Warning: A fake warning informing you that your device has a virus and needs to be scanned or repaired immediately.

The fake Google Chrome alerts use several different techniques, suggesting that different hacking groups use similar approaches. For example, according to Proofpoint, the ClearFake attack uses a series of compromised websites and blockchain scripts to infect devices, while the ClickFix variant uses compromised sites and iframes to deliver malware to machines. Similarly, another attack uses malicious HTML attachments and fake error messages to trick users into copying dangerous commands to compromise machines.

Proof Points

In each attack type, users are asked to open Windows PowerShell and copy and paste the code provided in the fake alert. As you've probably guessed, once this happens, additional malware is downloaded and installed on the device, resulting in data theft, malware, and ransomware such as DarkGate, Vidar Stealer, Matanbuchus, NetSupport, and more. Additionally, while the fake Google Chrome alerts were a big issue, ProofPoint noted that in addition to Outlook, there are also fake alerts in Microsoft Word and other Office programs.

How to spot a fake ProofPoint Google Chrome alert

Fake Google Chrome alerts can be convincing, but there are some ways to spot them.

Suspicious requests: If the alert window makes unusual requests, such as running a PowerShell script or installing a root certificate, that's a clear sign of infection. For example, Proofpoint has observed attacks where users were tricked into copying and pasting malicious scripts into PowerShell, which then installed malware. Unexpected popups: Genuine Google Chrome alerts never appear out of nowhere. So be wary of sudden Chrome popups, especially those that prompt you to take immediate action. Grammar and spelling mistakes: Fake alerts often contain grammatical errors, which are rare in legitimate notifications. However, with the advent of generative AI, spelling and grammar mistakes in malware are on the decline. Unfamiliar URLs: Fake Chrome alerts usually contain strange and unfamiliar URLs. And in most cases, the URLs are not secure and use HTTP instead of HTTPS. Unbelievable offers: Suspicious Chrome alerts often claim to offer free software, such as malware removal tools.

Spotting fake Google Chrome alerts is surprisingly similar to spotting phishing websites, and often results in the same issues.

How to protect yourself from fake Google Chrome alerts

You can proactively defend against fake Google Chrome alerts and other types of phishing and malware by taking the steps below.

Avoid threatening tactics: Fake alerts often use urgency language and threatening tactics to get you to take immediate action. So, be sure to take a moment to evaluate the alert before responding. Double-check with Google: Search for the alert message online to see if it has been reported as legitimate. If you can't find it anywhere online, that's also a red flag. Use your browser's security features: Enable browser security features, such as Enhanced Safe Browsing mode, to protect you from malicious sites and downloads. Avoid clicking on suspicious attachments: Be wary of links and attachments in suspicious Chrome alerts. These often lead to malicious websites or harmful software downloads. Keep your software up to date: Regularly update your browser and other software to make sure you have the latest security patches.

It's not always easy to spot a malicious Chrome alert (or any other alert) — they're designed to look as genuine as possible, otherwise they won't work — but taking a moment to double-check your alerts can save you a lot of pain in the future.

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