'IP address & personal information might be exposed' Pop-Ups

The 'IP address & personal information might be exposed' pop-ups is an online scam scheme that is being conducted by dubious websites. The goal is to prey on less tech-savvy users by employing fake scare tactics and push them towards downloading and installing a promoted app, typically a barely-functional PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). Keep in mind that even though in some rare cases the promoted program may be legitimate, the means through which it is being advertised are still misleading and deceptive.

Landing on one of the sites carrying out this scam will trigger a message stating that various personal and sensitive information about the user could be unprotected. The message will list the visitor's geolocation and IP address, ISP (Internet Service Provider), web browser, and some value described as 'status.' To further push its fearmongering agenda, the scam page will claim that the displayed information can be accessed by anyone on the Internet. To protect themselves, users are directed towards downloading an app described as the '#1 trusted' VPN program for safe and anonymous browsing. If the website can be believed, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

In short, you should never follow the instructions displayed by random sites on the Internet. Furthermore, if you find yourself being redirected to such deceptive places quite frequently, this could be a sign that a PUP has already managed to infiltrate your computer system or device. Perform a thorough scan, preferably with a professional security solution, and see if any suspicious apps will be detected in the process.