Updatenotification.xyz Uses Fake Virus Warnings to Spread Ads

Updatenotification dot xyz is one of the hundreds of similar misleading websites, set up with one simple goal - to scare visitors and to get intrusive ads in the browsers of as many of them as possible.

When a visitor ends up on Updatenotification dot xyz, most likely after clicking on a rogue ad on a different page, they will be greeted by a number of pop-up images and dialogue boxes. One of those is the browser's standard "allow notification" dialog box. Along with it, the page will display what looks like the window and interface of a legitimate antivirus app, along with a warning text that the visitor's computer has been infected by viruses.

To make the whole fake setup look more believable, similar misleading pages abuse legitimate antivirus software logos, names and branding. None of the misleading pages are affiliated with the legitimate products in any way and simply make illegal use of the logos and branding.

The idea is to get the user to interact with the "allow notifications" dialog box and permit the site to send push notifications. This functionality is used to push annoying and potentially dangerous ads into the user's browser. A lot of the time, misleading pages work with rogue ad networks, delivering ads that link to other misleading sites, potentially unwanted software, or questionable content.

The best course of action when you run into similar fake warnings is to just close the browser tab.

June 2, 2022
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