Epidemic of Fake Anti-malware Products Threaten Internet Users

This post was written by admin on September 19, 2008
Posted Under: Fake Software, PC Security, Technology

As many users are aware there is an epidemic of fraudulent anti-malware products which are targeting all internet users. Some look extremely efficient in their ability to find malware traces on computers. They are delivered through various website links, pop-ups, drive-by downloads, email links etc, and in many cases, once the fake program has started to scan your machine you are infected, then it is a battle to get rid of this scourge.

The trend of rogue software sites is increasing all of the time, changing names every few days once users realise that they have been snared which reduces the chances of claiming refunds for those who have actually purchased these fake programs in the belief that they will help them.

The following is a press release through PRWeb

The latest trend of security threats against Internet users employs software products which pretend to be security tools that help rid your computer of spyware. In a new video series, WOT shows what can happen to your computer if you visit a risky or dangerous site. In the first of these video presentations, you will see examples of online scams and malware threats in action, satisfying your curiosity while keeping your computer safe.

New York, NY September 17, 2008
Fake anti-malware software, marketed under hundreds of different names, scares users by giving false spyware alarms and then tries to deceive them into paying for removal of non-existing malware. The goal of these criminal software makers is to make people pay for the “full” version of their bogus anti-malware product and to collect financial information that can be used for phishing.

The fake security product often installs malicious software to download itself or executes other unwanted actions. The user is shown fake messages such as, “Warning! Your computer is infected with spyware”, followed by a promise that the chargeable version of the tool will remove this non-existing threat. These tools are promoted using hundreds of different names, such as XP Antivirus 2008 and XP Antivirus 2009.

“Web of Trust offers Internet users a common platform for sharing their experience with websites and companies, making Web 2.0 work for a safer Internet,” said CEO Esa Suurio, from the Web 2.0 Expo in New York City this week.

How to get protection from these threats
WOT, Web of Trust, provides Internet users with preventive protection against online threats. The WOT security add-on warns users about dangerous and suspicious websites to help them avoid spyware, browser hijacking, identity theft, phishing and other Internet scams. Website rating information is updated continuously by the user community and numerous trusted sources, such as listings of malware and phishing sites. The free security add-on works with Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers and can be downloaded at http://www.mywot.com/

Supporting Facts of WOT

WOT has been downloaded by over 1 million users
Information on over 20 million websites
Based on WOT statistics, 1 out of 20 sites is dangerous WOT users can contribute by rating and commenting on websites
WOT also receives information from a large number of trusted sources, such as PhishTank, hpHosts, DNS-BH Malware Domain list and Artists Against 419