More Scareware On Major News Sites
Monday, September 14, 2009
More reports are coming in of scareware coming from major news sites including The New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
As I mentioned in my previous alert about scareware via Newsweek, it's important to note that these scams can happen anywhere, anytime, even on the most reliable of sites. Please be careful, and bear in mind my recommendations on how to protect yourself from scareware.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 2:31 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, beginners, computer classes, Internet, mac, malware, pc, scareware, spyware, windows
Newsweek And Other Legit Sites May Contain Scareware
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
This article caught my attention recently, concerning a scareware scam that is being distributed via Newsweek's web site. I mention this one in particular because it's an example of how bad links sometimes come from good sites.
Scareware is when you receive a popup that insists there's something wrong with your computer. It's a scam to try to get you to click on a link, thus infecting your computer with viruses and possibly also ripping off your credit card. Don't expect your antivirus software to catch this stuff, it often sneaks through. I strongly encourage you to protect yourself through a combination of good computer security, free web site ratings software like McAfee SiteAdvisor or LinkExtend for Firefox, and plain old common sense.
Here are some of my previous articles which may help you out in this situation:
- How To Spot Bad Web Links
- Antivirus 2010: A New Low In Fake Antivirus
- Phony Web Pop-ups
- How To Protect From Cybercrime
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:14 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, beginners, computer classes, Internet, mac, malware, pc, scareware, spyware, windows
Most Dangerous Web Search Terms
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A recent McAfee study (pdf) reveals that searching for certain keywords carries a greater risk of being infected with malware.
McAfee found maximum risks associated with the word, not surprisingly, "free". Studying the U.S. in particular, words associated with celebrities or song lyrics demonstrate how malware gloms onto recent headlines and trends. "Screensavers", "free music downloads" and "free ringtones" remain popular ways to lure you into clicking malicious links. And the keywords "search engine marketing" or "search engine optimization" have become increasingly linked to sites that deliver malware or scareware antivirus scams. In short, just because a link comes up when you search for a particular keyword doesn't mean that link is where you want to go.
I recommend free programs like McAfee SiteAdvisor or the even better LinkExtend for Firefox as plug-ins for your Web browser. These programs rank search results to give you a better idea of whether or not the links are malicious. But your safest bet is to type Web addresses manually, for example going directly to www.snopes.com instead of searching for it by keyword.
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Posted byTriona Guidry at 9:18 AM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, consumers, Internet, malware, scareware, small business, social engineering, spyware, viruses, web
FTC Slaps Fake "Win Antivirus" Scammers On Wrist
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The FTC has agreed to settle with some of the scammers responsible for the repulsive "Win Antivirus" scam, in a decision that's effectively a slap on the wrist.
I doubt this will result in any kind of serious setback for the fake antivirus software industry. $116,000 is chump change for criminals who charge consumers $50 and up for these bogus products, which are known by various names including Win Antivirus, XP Antivirus, WinFixer, DriveCleaner, and ErrorSafe. Check out my previous entries here, here and here for more details on how insidious these programs can be.
There is more money still being made out there at your expense, so be sure the programs you're using are the real deal. I hope the FTC will continue to pursue and prosecute the miscreants responsible for such scams.
For bonus tips, tricks, and other computer help, subscribe to the free email version of Tech Tips.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:48 PM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, consumers, malware, scareware, small business, spyware, viruses
Profiting From Cybercrime
Friday, May 15, 2009
How much money is actually made from computer crime? Do companies lose money fighting against it? I've gathered some numbers to illustrate the burgeoning black market of cybercrime.
According to a recent report from security firm Finjan, fake antivirus software can bring in an average of $10,800 a day in profits. At $50 per user that's a lot of people being scammed, not to mention left vulnerable to viruses. Respondents to the Computer Security Institute's 2008 security assessment report that the removal of zombie or "bot" computers from their networks cost an average of $345,600 last year. The Business Software Alliance reports that piracy cost the software industry $50 billion in 2008.
Researchers investigating the Storm worm found that spam remains highly profitable. Storm advertises, among other things, pharmaceuticals, netting a potential $7,000 to $9,500 during the height of its spam campaign. This extrapolates to $3.5 million a year in revenue, with 3,500 to 8,500 newly infected computers every day.
Don't be part of these statistics. Keep your protections up to date, and subscribe to Tech Tips for the latest computer news.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:24 AM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, malware, scareware, security, spyware
Antivirus 2010: A New Low In Fake Antivirus
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
From the malcontents who bring us fake antivirus software comes "Antivirus 2010," a Windows scam so sneaky it puts its predecessors to shame. It looks horrifyingly realistic (see screenshots) and it goes all-out in pretending to be legit:
- Mimics Windows' own Security Center with warnings to register the fake software
- Mimics Internet Explorer errors to imply you need the fake software before you can visit web sites
- Mimics Windows startup screens to imply you can't start your computer without registering the fake software
- Creates phony errors in Windows to imply your computer is unusable without the fake software
- Pretends to find and fix problems that aren't present on your computer
- Offers a realistic-looking web site for download and registration
- Redirects your machine to fake web sites with fake reviews extolling the fake software!
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:30 PM 0 comments
Labels: alerts, antivirus, malware, scams, scareware, spyware, viruses, windows
Fake Antivirus On Macs
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
It had to happen. Macs are the latest target of fake antivirus software scams.
For some time I've been warning PC users about scareware scams: warnings claiming that your computer is infected and you must buy "Insert Name" antivirus software or you're doomed. Please don't fall for these tricks. There are perfectly good antivirus programs out there that don't advertise via the electronic equivalent of unwanted solicitors.
My current recommendations on Mac antivirus programs are:
- Trend Micro
- AVG
- Avast
- McAfee
- (But not Norton; here's why.)
Posted byTriona Guidry at 5:42 PM 1 comments
Labels: antivirus, mac, malware, pc, scams, scareware, spyware, windows