Some threats don’t steal data or encrypt files, but they still stop work cold. Scareware is one of them.
It’s the fake alert that locks up a screen and claims your system is infected. The message tells you to call “Microsoft” or download a fix.
It looks official. It feels urgent. And it’s built to cause panic.
Scareware doesn’t usually install malware by itself. But it gets people to do risky things: call fake support lines, give up access, or download shady tools. The impact isn’t about what it installs. It’s about what it interrupts.
Work stalls. Trust gets rattled. Someone calls IT, or worse, calls the number on the screen.
Microsoft has added a tool to help stop this from happening: a scareware blocker in the Edge browser.
What it does
This feature scans for behavior common to scareware and blocks it before the page loads. That includes full-screen lockups, fake error messages, and urgent pop-ups.
It runs inside the browser and doesn’t replace antivirus or other security tools. It handles what traditional antivirus often misses: browser-based tricks triggered by ads, typos, or shady links.
Most scareware lives in the browser. That’s where this tool works.
How to enable it
You’ll need Microsoft Edge version 122 or later. It’s not turned on by default. To enable it:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the 3 dots in the upper right corner, then select Settings. From there select “privacy, search, and services” on the left.
Alternately you can type “edge://settings/privacy” in the address bar to go straight there. - Scroll to “Security”.
- Look for “Scareware blocker protection” and toggle it on.
- Additionally you should turn on “Block sites detected as scams” to ensure those sites get blocked and prevents exposure.
You can also opt to share detected scams with Microsoft if you wish.
IT admins can also turn this on across the organization using Group Policy or Intune. That avoids asking every user to do it manually.
Why this matters
When someone on the team sees a fake infection warning, it can derail the day. They might panic and shut everything down. They might give access to someone they shouldn’t. They might lose hours waiting for support. Even if no real threat lands, the disruption is real.
Many businesses rely heavily on Microsoft tools, and often running through the browser. That makes it a key point of both productivity and risk. A blocker built into the browser cuts off the problem before it spreads.
Who should use it
Anyone who works online. If your team uses the web for research, scheduling, or accessing cloud apps, they’re vulnerable to scareware.
It’s especially useful if your tech support is remote or limited. A frozen screen might not be a crisis, but it can turn into one if the response is mishandled.
The blocker doesn’t add cost. It adds prevention.
What it doesn’t do
This isn’t a full security solution. It doesn’t stop phishing emails, infected downloads, or device-level threats. It’s not meant to. It’s a narrow fix for a common browser-based nuisance.
It keeps fake warnings from causing real problems.
Scareware thrives on confusion and urgency. This blocker works because it cuts off the confusion before it starts. Quietly. Automatically. No disruption. No drama. Just one less thing for your team to lose time over.