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Some Windows 10 users are complaining that ads from Microsoft’s own apps invite them to use deceptive applications. These ads would appear in native Windows... Fake ads on Windows 10 apps lure victims

Some Windows 10 users are complaining that ads from Microsoft’s own apps invite them to use deceptive applications. These ads would appear in native Windows 10 applications such as the News app.

Specifically, these ads are disguised as false warnings that warn users of non-existent security threats.

The security blog Ghack gives this example:

False Windows alert

We can see a false alarm window that alleges that the computer has been infected with X malware. The ad invites the user to click on the scan button. Most likely, this button will redirect you to a phishing scam or some online trap to download deceptive software.

There have also been other types of misleading ads, that suggest users won a new iPhone or give the opportunity to fill out a survey. It’s almost always a trick designed to reveal our private information to criminals.

Using this bait is nothing new. The alarming thing is that these ads appear within Microsoft apps. In theory, these applications should be secure.

The German page of Microsoft Answers, a kind of user service page, already has this problem registered. A representative of Microsoft has already reported that it is a fraudulent ad campaign that has managed to sneak into the company’s ad network.

If you ever discover something like this, close the window and don’t click on it. There’s not much more users can do except wait for Microsoft to deactivate this campaign and kick its creators out of its ad network.