Cyber criminals often tend to succeed for one key reason. They imitate things that we trust 😱
And the ever-evolving nature of exploits means they are getting smarter at mimicking things that we accept without second thought…
Like Windows Update screens.
Researchers are flagging a wave of attacks that have used fake Windows Update pages. These pages appear in a web browser, and not inside Windows itself.
The key take-away is that these are cleverly designed websites pretending to be Windows, and not screens being generated by Windows💡
This approach is known as ClickFix.
It tricks users into pressing certain key combinations.
By doing so, a Windows Run box is opened in the background where a malicious command is pasted in, to launch malware.
The malware used shows a high level of sophistication.
It uses a technique called steganography, where code is hidden within innocent-looking PNG images.
A lightweight .NET tool extracts it directly into memory, which helps it evade standard detection methods.
None of this is a flaw in Windows.
Windows update itself is safe 🔐
It’s an exploit that relies on social engineering. Deceiving people, not hacking systems.
It’s the same tactic as fake login pages, fake delivery texts, and fake emails. It’s designed to get people to click on the wrong thing.
So, what’s the good news?
✔️ Law enforcement and Microsoft have acted and already taken down some of the infrastructure used in these attacks
✔️ The malware relies on tricking people to visit a malicious website first
✔️ There’s a good chance damage will be minimal due to modern Windows security features
✔️ Basic awareness will reduce the likelihood of success
Just remember that if a Windows update prompt appears in your web browser, It’s not Windows. Close the tab.
Genuine Windows Updates will never run within Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. They only run directly in Windows itself.
Businesses can also improve their protection with:
- Robust security software and firewall protection
- Consistent monitoring for unusual activity
- Staff awareness of fake prompts
- Access limited on the Run box where possible
Windows is still a very secure platform. For that reason, attackers are copying it’s look, because people trust it.
🦠 How well would your team do; would they be able to spot a fake update screen?
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