Rogue security software or ‘scareware’.
UPDATED 12-11-09
FBI: Rogue Antivirus Scammers Have Made $150M
Don’t fall for FakeAlert DefenceLab
Free Antivirus and Antispyware (great info from PC Mag)
Every computer needs up-to-date protection!
Reports say 93% of users click on these. Simply said; that’s huge! It also shows just how persuasive and believable the tactics are.
I’ve cleaned too many scareware infected computers for innocent and unsuspecting people. The threat of fake security software is real, can be damaging and difficult to remove. These threats are carefully and insidiously crafted to invoke fear and panic and tear at our very desire to keep our systems and information safe. We see them, react in haste and fall prey to the scam.
What you need to know:
Avoid (do not click them)
- You may get ads that promise to “delete viruses or spyware,” “protect privacy,” “improve computer function,” “remove harmful files,” or “clean your registry;”
- You may get “alerts” about “malicious software” or “illegal pornography on your computer;”
- You may be invited to download free software for a security scan or to improve Your system;
- You could get pop-ups that claim your security software is out-of-date and your computer is in immediate danger;
- You may suddenly encounter an unfamiliar website that claims to have performed a security scan and prompts you to download new software.
- The five most commonly reported rogue security applications during the study were SpywareGuard 2008, AntiVirus 2008, AntiVirus 2009, Spyware Secure and XP AntiVirus
What to Do
If you’re faced with any of the warning signs of a scareware scam or suspect a problem, shut down your browser. Don’t click “No” or “Cancel,” or even the “x” at the top right corner of the screen. Some scareware is designed so that any of those buttons can activate the program. If you use Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open your Task Manager, and click “End Task.” If you use a Mac, press Command + Option + Q + Esc to “Force Quit.”
If you get an offer, check out the program by entering the name in a search engine. The results can help you determine if the program is on the up-and-up.
By Vivian Yeo ZDNet Asia
Posted on ZDNet News: Oct 20, 2009 5:17:15 AM
Rogue security software, also dubbed scareware, is an “ongoing threat” that is impacting largely users from English-speaking markets, according to findings from a year-long study by Symantec.
Released Tuesday, Symantec’s report on rogue security software noted that 250 rogue security programs launched some 43 million attempts to prompt user installation between July 2008 and June 2009.
Read also: Fake ‘Conflicker.B Infection Alert’ spam campaign drops scareware
Further analysis on the top 50 most reported scareware was carried out between July and August this year, during which Symantec found that 38 of the programs had been detected prior to Jul. 1, 2008.
“The continued prevalence of these programs emphasizes the ongoing threat they pose to potential victims, despite efforts to shut them down and raise public awareness,” the security vendor said in the report.
The five most commonly reported rogue security applications during the study were SpywareGuard 2008, AntiVirus 2008, AntiVirus 2009, Spyware Secure and XP AntiVirus.
For more, read “Rogue security programs are ‘ongoing threat’” from ZDNet Asia.
Additional References:
“Free Security Scan”Could Cost Time and Money
Microsoft sues scareware scammers
Tags: internet, malware, scareware, security, spyware, virus
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