Fake browser updates actually open the front door to viruses
Notifications about browser updates are a good thing — unless they’re part of a recent scam such as the one involving Google Chrome.
The whole point of such updates is to offer better protection against viruses and other threats, as well as to patch any security holes.
But one notification message that says you need to update Chrome is “a straightforward trick that could easily lure you into compromising your device …,” according to Scam Detector, a fraud prevention website. www.scam-detector. com/
It happens when you’re looking at the internet using the Chrome browser. A popup on a laptop or smartphone warns, in large letters, that you’re using an older version of Chrome. It says, “Update now to keep your Chrome browser running smoothly and securely. Your download will begin automatically. If not, click here.”
You are presented with a green — or sometimes red — button that says “Update Chrome.”
Says Scam Detector: “As you can assume, clicking that button won’t update your Chrome browser. Instead, it will infect your machine with one or more dangerous viruses. It happens all the time these days, so beware.”
Get rid of the popup by closing the browser, reopening it and clearing Chrome’s browser cache. You can do that by opening Chrome, clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner and choosing “clear browsing data.”
You will get options to select a time range and the types of information you want to remove; then, click “clear data.”
Know before you donate
There are so many good causes that deserve donations — and, sadly, there are some that do not.
One of the latter has been targeted with a federal lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly deceiving people who donated because they wanted to help women battling cancer and their families. The suit filed by the Federal Trade Commission names Cancer Recovery Foundation International, also known as Women’s Cancer Fund, and its operator, Gregory B. Anderson.
The fund collected more than $18 million, but only a penny of every dollar went to provide the promised support, the FTC alleges. The majority went to pay for-profit fundraisers and Anderson, the FTC says.
The complaint cites phone solicitation pitches and letters that it says are deceptive. For example, fundraisers for the organization told prospective donors their gifts would “help save lives” and “directly help patients with basic living expenses,” the suit says.
It says that between 2017 and 2022, the fund paid Anderson $775,139 — nearly four times as much as it gave all the cancer patients it supported.
Here are some things to keep in mind when an unexpected donation request comes your way by letter or phone:
Don’t feel rushed to make a donation, even if it grabs you emotionally. The FTC lists these resources: BBB Wise Giving Alliance (give.org/), Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org/), Charity Watch (charitywatch.org/) and Candid (candid. org).
Find out how much of your donation goes to the program you want to support. If donating locally is important to you, ask how your donation will impact your area.
Don’t donate to anyone who insists you pay by cash, gift card, money wire or cryptocurrency. If you decide to donate, pay by credit card, which gives you more protections.
Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-2559210, prompt 5. Complaints can be filed electronically at nmag.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint/