Microsoft will block misleading ads

As of June 1, Microsoft will tighten the criteria it uses to block malware. One of the most important parts of that adjustment is the SmartScreen Filter blocking misleading advertisements.

That writes the company on its security blog. Advertisements that are intentionally misleading usually try to trick the user into doing something the consequences of which are not immediately obvious. For example, a user is tempted to visit a malware-infected website or to download a program that causes the computer or browser to function less well.

Microsoft says it will block misleading or confusing ads with its SmartScreen Filter starting June 1. Another reason Microsoft mentions for labeling an advertisement as misleading is if it can hardly be distinguished from a website. When redirecting to a downloadable file or if there is malicious code in the ad, the ad will also be blocked. The stricter blocking will work after June 1 if the SmartScreen Filter is enabled in Internet Explorer.

Examples of misleading advertisements