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Scams
Pirated Apps Scam

Free Paid Application

How it works

  1. Someone sends you a message offering you a paid application for free
  2. You install the application
  3. Your computer is now infected with malware

I've already fallen for this scam

  1. Wipe your PC (completely fresh install of Windows)

This is necessary because malware burrows itself into your system and it's hard to guarantee that you removed it.

  1. Change all your passwords (yes, every single one)

How do I avoid this scam?

  • Don't install applications from untrusted sources
  • If you're not sure if a source is trusted, do some research
  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
  • Piracy is always risky. Sometimes it's worth just buying the game or software outright

More Details

This scam has been covered by the following sources: