These cyber criminals try to fool users by executing exaggerated reports of threats on the computer. The user is then prompted to pay for a full license of the application in order to remove the threats.
According to the Antiphishing Working Group, the number of fake security programs skyrocketed from average of around 2,500 per month to 9,287 in December. The group’s latest report, covering the second half of 2008, says that while rogue AV has been around for years, it wasn’t until the middle of last year that crooks starting turning the fake apps into a serious money-making machine.
The Washington Post’s Security Fix recently showed that dirty affiliates who help spread the junk apps can earn more than $330,000 a month in commissions. Maybe crime doesn’t pay, but it seems that crimeware just might.
Here are several rogue programs finding there way into users pockets:
- Antivirus2009
- AntiVirusXP2008
- SpySheriff
- WiniGuard
- TheRegistrySentinel
- VirusRemover2008
- VirusDoctor
- WinFixer
- Ultimate Defender
- MalwareWipe
- DriveCleaner
- AVSystemCare
- 1stAntiVirus
- VirusBurst
- SpywareQuake
- AntispywareSoldier
Here are some recent articles about Misleading Applications, also known as Rogue Software:
https://www.techjaws.com/systemguard2009-misleading-application/
https://www.techjaws.com/beware-of-threatnuker-a-misleading-app/
https://www.techjaws.com/beware-of-this-misleading-application/
https://www.techjaws.com/beware-of-this-misleading-application-2/
https://www.techjaws.com/beware-of-misleading-applications/
Only purchase Antivirus programs from trusted sources listed below:
Symantec, TrendMicro, McAfee, Computer Associates, Avast, AVG, or Kaspersky
It’s also important to see what others are saying about the product by visiting sites like CNet.com and checking reviews.
Sadly these are all on the increase, and made worse by appearing in Google Search results as ‘Sponsored Links’ and also sold through Clickbank.
Using such methods blinds many users and gives them a certain amount of credibility, which is bad news for everyone.
They soon get discovered but do an awful lot of damage to infected PC’s, then disappear and return on new servers or with new names.
As always, for many the hunt for these rogues continues.
As mentioned above, Google and Yahoo need to find a way to not index these sites or serve them up in SERP.
These suck! friends, family and clients keep getting them and even though they’re easy enough to clean up. they’re really a problem for productivity. I guess the race will never end huh?
Crime does pay, but Google and Yahoo need to come together and not allow these sites to be indexed, period!