ClickFix is a social-engineering pattern: a page claims something is broken and instructs the user to paste or run a command as the fix. The user becomes the execution path.
What the evidence supports
A joint CISA advisory on Interlock ransomware describes ClickFix as a technique that uses fake CAPTCHA prompts to trick users into executing malicious PowerShell. That evidence supports training and execution-control recommendations; it does not mean every browser error or CAPTCHA is malicious.
Why it matters to a Connecticut operator
Fast-moving retail and operations teams are conditioned to resolve interruptions quickly. A clear rule—never paste a command from a webpage into a terminal or Run dialog—gives employees a useful stop signal.
Operator checklist
- Teach the exact behavior: no legitimate CAPTCHA or meeting page should require a pasted system command.
- Restrict script interpreters and command execution for users who do not need them.
- Log suspicious PowerShell activity and preserve the URL, screenshot, and command when reporting an event.
- Give employees a fast support channel so stopping to verify is easier than improvising a fix.
Scope note: This briefing separates documented facts from practical recommendations. It is cybersecurity guidance, not legal advice or a statement that every recommended control is expressly required by Connecticut cannabis regulations.