Quantcast

Don't have an account? Register Now! Forgot password?

Related Articles
Maximum IT
SEE MORE MAXIMUM IT
News

Beware! Scareware on the Prowl

Posted 10/21/09 at 09:53:11 AM  by Pulkit Chandna

comment Commentsprint Printemail EmailDeliciousDiggStumbleUponRedditFacebookSlashdot

Millions of credulous internet users fall prey to scareware every year and voluntarily end up compromising their systems. According to a new Symantec report, more than 40 million users found themselves prey to “increasingly persuasive online scare tactics” being adopted by cyber criminals during the 12-month period between July 2008 and June 2009.

The price of a fake security software program usually hovers between $30 and $100. But the hidden costs seem to be greater. Installing rogue security software can not only wreck the system but it also makes the owner vulnerable to identity theft. Deceptive ads linking to rogue software appear on both malicious and legit sites. Cybercriminals are also using search engine optimization (SEO) and social media tricks to ensnare even more people.

Have you installed SpywareGuard 2008, AntiVirus 2008, AntiVirus 2009, SpywareSecure, or XP AntiVirus yet? Don’t! They top the list of the most reported rogue security software.

Image Credit: F-secure

COMMENTS:5
TAGS: antivirus, antispyware, report, symantec, scareware
COMMENTS
avatarI once had an ad popup with

Submitted by gendoikari1 on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:49pm

I once had an ad popup with a fake XP Explorer screen (complete with different fonts and out of place red progress bars). I was running Vista at the time (now its 7). I believe the technical term is "epic fail".

Login or register to post comments
avatarWell, no surprise there

Submitted by mikeart03a on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 1:13pm

Well, no surprise there these days, everyone panics at the mention of a virus that has been found on their systems... I see these ads all the time and get enough calls from my aunts and uncles about them too... They install these things and then wonder why their system gets hosed...

The funny thing though, I got called by a new mac user who hit one of these things and panicked because it was a rendition of the my computer window from xp (seeing as they migrated from an xp system to mac and asked the local tech shop to transfer their data) saying that a virus was detected. The lols I got from that.

- mike_art03a
Owner, Network Admin
Michael Artelle Online Solutions
http://www.michaelartelleonline.com
michael.paiement@sympatico.ca

Login or register to post comments
avatarPersonally, I don't call

Submitted by jcollins on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 9:56am

Personally, I don't call these scareware.  I call them scamware, because they do nothing to protect you, and they try to scam you out of more and more money... 

Login or register to post comments
avatarScary-wary

Submitted by The Relic on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 9:48am

I have never fallen for these, but judging from the number of people who have sent their computers to me to fix after downloading crap like Antivirus 08/09 in the last year and a half, it must be pretty prevelant.

I have told them never to download programs like these (usually they'll get some popup that claims it is "scanning" their system, then (surprise) it "finds" malware that only a download of their wonder program can remove), but unfortunatly fear seems to rule over reason when they see a popup, download, then visit me when their system inevitably pukes.

Oh well, I shouldn't complain. I probably wouldn't make half as much money if they actually listened to my advice ^_^.

Login or register to post comments
avatarMy recollection is that a

Submitted by jcollins on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 9:53am

My recollection is that a lot of the Antivirus 08 installs were using exploits in windows to install without input from the user.  Not sure on Antivirus 09.

I've also just ran into my first scamware ad where when you click the X to close the window, it pops it back up and trys to install...  Had to end task on Internet Explorer to get out of it... :(

Login or register to post comments

This Month's Issue
Maximum PC
SUBSCRIBE NOW
AND SAVE!
FEATURE How to Get FREE Programs, Services, Software & MoreFEATURE Digital Photo Printer RoundupHOW TOBuild a 3D CameraFEATUREDIY Arcade PCWHITE PAPERHow TRIM Works