Don't Fall for Nintendo Switch Emulator Scams

Heads up, gamers: there's no legitimate Nintendo Switch emulator out there. If y'all see ads for them online, don't download anything, considering it's a scam.

SecurityWatch That's the recommendation of the US Federal Trade Commission, which on Tuesday issued a warning about fake emulators existence advertised online that tin purportedly run Switch games on your desktop. These ads are fake, even if they contain Nintendo branding, the agency says.

"If you can't get your hands on a Nintendo Switch gaming arrangement, y'all may think an emulator is the adjacent best matter," the FTC writes. "Think once more."

If you effort to download one of these phony Nintendo Switch emulators online, yous may actually wind up with "unwanted applications" on your machine, the FTC says. Like all scareware, "these apps requite you misleading information about computer bug that aren't actually there, then ask you to pay to prepare them," the bureau adds.

Other times, when you get to download one, you're asked to complete a survey to get a code to unlock the emulator, a red flag. "Again, the emulator doesn't really exist," the FTC writes. "Don't give personal information and don't sign up for annihilation requiring your credit menu information. You're still not getting an emulator."

If yous already fell for this scam, you tin can study information technology to the FTC here.

Nearly Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag'southward expert on fitness and smart home products. Teaching yoga for nearly 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of continued health products including fettle trackers, center charge per unit monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength grooming machines, treadmills, and more. Angela as well tests smart domicile devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.