06/03/2026
đ¨ New Scam Alert: âClickFixâ Is Exploiting a Simple Keyboard Trick
If a website ever tells you to press Windows Key + R, close the tab immediately.
This is a major red flag tied to a fast-growing scam called ClickFix, which has driven a surge in infostealer malware infections this year.
Hereâs whatâs happening: A user clicks a seemingly legitimate search result â lands on a compromised site â sees a fake CAPTCHA.
Instead of verifying you, it instructs you to:
⢠Press Win + R
⢠Paste a command (Ctrl + V)
⢠Hit Enter
That final step?
Youâve just executed malware on your own system.
No download.
No warning.
Nothing for antivirus to scan.
From your computerâs perspective, it looks like you willingly ran a commandâsomething that happens every day in IT environments.
đ Whatâs at risk? Infostealers are designed to quietly collect:
⢠Saved passwords
⢠Browser cookies & session tokens
⢠Stored credit card data
â
What you can do right now:
⢠Train your team: If ANY website asks them to open Run (Win+R) or paste a command â close it immediately and report it.
⢠Limit PowerShell access: Use AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control to restrict script ex*****on for non-IT users.
⢠Ensure behavioral monitoring is enabled: Modern EDR tools (like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint) can detect suspicious activityâeven when itâs user-initiated.
đĄReminder:
These fake CAPTCHAs are designed to look legitimate. Falling for one doesnât mean someone is carelessâit means the tactic worked.
But once your team knows this trick, it becomes easy to stop.'
Stay informed. Stay protected.
