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
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/opulent_rigs_0
[2] http://www.dailytech.com/Symantec+Millions+of+PC+Users+Tricked+by+Scareware/article16556.htm
[3] http://www.symantec.com/about/news/release/article.jsp?prid=20091019_01
[4] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/threat_update_spam_and_phishing_out_trojans_and_scareware_in
[5] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/malware_loves_china
[6] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/white_paper_the_evolution_viruses
[7] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/antispyware_0
[8] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/antivirus_0
[9] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/report
[10] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/scareware
[11] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/symantec
[12] http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/news
[13] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/login?&commentfragment=comments_top_anchor
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