How can you tell if a virus warning is real or fake? Here’s how to spot the warning signs and identify a fake virus alert.

As you use your computer and browse the web, you may occasionally run into infection warnings that appear to be legitimate. These anti-malware warning messages—appropriately called “scareware”—are designed to force you into installing fake anti-malware programs that are actually malware in disguise.

While scareware can be, well, scary, let’s explore how to tell if a virus warning is real.