I recently received one of those dreaded letters that told me I had been the victim of a mass data breach. After carefully reading the letter and researching the sending organization (to make sure that IT was not part of a scam), I set up an account with their offered monitoring service, an organization called IDX identity theft protection. Since 2023, IDX has been helping victims of data breaches with best-in-class identity and privacy protection. In my particular situation, I was offered their monitoring service at no cost by the company where I was a victim of a data breach. (*Note: This is not an endorsement of IDX by myself or Cover & Rossiter.)

I am now receiving regular emails from IDX about data breaches, how to avoid them and what to look out for. I recently I received an article from IDX that I wanted to share as the cautionary email was new to me and I am sure I have seen its noted occurrence as I was browsing. Here goes:

(Browser) Problem: Fake error messages

According to recent reports, cybersecurity researchers have discovered a fake error warning in Google Chrome. Some users are seeing what appears to be an authentic Chrome pop-up window, with a message at the top stating “Something went wrong while displaying this webpage,” or similar. Below that message, the window includes a list of instructions on how to fix the “error.” It’s actually a front for malware.

If you see a pop-up like this and click through the fraudulent instructions, you’ll be essentially giving cybercriminals access to your PC, allowing them to plant malicious software designed to steal your personal information. There’s a telltale sign that this pop-up window is a scam: One of the instructions involves the running of “Windows PowerShell,” a computer program from Microsoft. Chrome never asks users to run this program as part of any legitimate fix.

Here are a few of Google’s tips for avoiding malware like this:

• Keep your computer’s operating system up to date, as each new version typically includes the latest security fixes. If available, turn on automatic updates.
• If possible, avoid clicking inside any unexpected pop-up windows, even if they appear to be from a legitimate source. Simply close the window.
• Install and use an antivirus program to run regular scans of your computer for malware.

The convenience of using PCs or Smartphones or Tablets is difficult to overlook. Cybercriminals are smart, they have sophisticated methods to contact you, and they are ruthless. It is up to all of us to protect our data as best as possible. The Google tips mentioned above are a good start.