The holidays are a time when cyber crooks hunt for victims by distributing Trojans and or Malware in hopes that users will click on links inside an email to read their greeting card. The links in these emails will take users to malicious web sites that install Trojans and or Malware on the user’s computer.
The Trojan installs itself without the user’s knowledge or consent. Once installed, the Trojan will execute a fake security program that will alert users with false or exaggerated threats on the computer. Like many of these rogue or fake antivirus programs, a user will need to purchase a full license of the program in order to remove the false threats. These malicious exploits also install Keyloggers that record user keystrokes to obtain sensitive data such as banking and credit card credentials.
This distribution of rogue antivirus programs is a money making machine for cyber crooks. The holidays are the most popular time when cyber crooks are active.
If you receive an Easter E-card or greeting, you should delete immediately.
The Easter e-card we received installed the rogue antivirus program called “Windows Security 2011”. If your computer is alerting you about threats and or virus infections via a pop-up in the system tool tray, your computer is infected.
If you have Windows Security 2011 or Internet Security 2011, please read our article on “How to Remove Windows Security 2011”.
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Thanks for the heads up. I usually delete emails that are suspicious but I may have fallen for this without your warning. Sometimes we let our guards done during the holidays. The spammers just keep getting smarter and smarter.
Max,
The crooks get smarter everyday and we need to be just one step ahead. Thanks!