Phishmael & Friendsscary pop-ups
Your Computer Has 47 Viruses!
A siren, a flashing screen and a phone number: "Your computer has 47 viruses!" Professor Shelldon calls the number, and we see the other end of the line, where Sharkley runs the fake ShellNet Support. On Ask Octavia, the scary pop-up is shown for what it is: a noisy picture.
Today's rule: Scary pop-up? Close it, don't call.
What kids learn
- Real protection never shows a phone number
- Never pay or let a stranger into your device
- Won't close? Ask a grown-up
Quiz time
Play the gameCan you get them all?
A pop-up screams "47 viruses! Call now!" What is it?
What should you do?
🚨 Pop-Up Panic
The screen is screaming! What’s the calm thing to do?
For parents & teachers
Talk about it together
- Explain that a scary pop-up with a phone number is a fake alarm, not a real virus warning.
- Real security software never asks you to call a number, pay, or let a stranger control your device.
- Show children how to close a tab or the whole browser, and to come and get you if it won't close.
- If anyone in the family did call or let someone in, disconnect the device, change passwords and get trusted help.
Read more
Scary Virus Pop-Ups: What Kids Should Do
Fake virus warnings, sometimes called scareware, use sirens, flashing colours and countdowns to make people panic and phone a "support" number.
Read the full guide →
