Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Web-Users Fall For Fake Anti-Virus Scams

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-use-magnum-xl-av dept.

jhernik writes "Fearing their computers may be prone to viruses, many web-users download fake anti-virus software, only to find later that their bank details have been hacked. According to the latest research by GetSafeOnline.org, the UK's national internet security initiative, a rising nunber of organised criminal gangs are tricking security-conscious intenet-users into purchasing anti-virus software to access their bank details. Posing as legitimate IT helpdesks, these fraudsters target internet users concerned about protecting their computers. By offering free virus checks, they normally tell consumers that their machines are infected and offer fake security software protection – usually costing around £30 – which is actually malicious software in disguise." The fact that there is such a thriving market for fake AV scams really says something about the present state of the legitimate AV market.

2 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. Re:PEBKAC by EdZ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's already pretty damn easy to identify fake AV software. Just follow this simple flowchart:

    Is it advertised through a popup or an unsolicited email? > Yes > It's a scam!

    Simple! This works for all products, not just fake AV.

  2. AV companies scare their customers by benjfowler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Colour me surprised.

    I recently had to install Windows 7 at home, and decided to put Norton AV on my machine. I boot up on Windows roughly once every couple of weeks to run a specific application. So I notice Norton AV popping up loads of windows, running it's intrusive update process about bombarding me with scary looking crap prompting me to read about the "latest security threats from cyber-criminals". Hair-raising stuff, especially if you're not a computer specialist.

    I'm an IT professional, and _I_ find this behaviour sleazy, unethical, annoying and slightly alarming. This is a product I paid GOOD MONEY FOR. I'm PAYING to be bullied, essentially.

    So I can just imagine the average user being bullied and terrified by this crap... which is not only enriching the AV vendors, but also making regular folk like lambs to the slaughter for the forces of evil out there.

    I'd say that the consumer, criminals and the AV companies are really inhabitants of one ecosystem: prey, parasites and predators respectively.