No more frights: Microsoft Edge is getting scareware protection [Video]

You’re on the web, minding your business—and then out of nowhere, you lose control of your screen. Pop-up windows flash warnings that your PC has been compromised or you’re being spied upon. However, if you take the remedy suggested, like downloading so-called antivirus software, you’ve actually fallen for a type of scam known as scareware.

To combat this old form of malware, Microsoft will soon upgrade Edge with a new form of protection. Announced during the Microsoft Ignite conference, the company will use machine learning to identify scareware within Edge tabs and warn users of the danger. The browser will contain the perceived scam attempt unless you give the green light—so if you know the site is safe, you’re still able to proceed.

Scareware protection will first become available to organizations, who must …