The FTC says that over a million consumers have been tricked into paying for computer security products based on these bogus scans.
The products involved are WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus.
Here's how the FTC describes the scam:
According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants used an elaborate ruse that duped Internet advertising networks and popular Web sites into carrying their advertisements. The defendants falsely claimed that they were placing Internet advertisements on behalf of legitimate companies and organizations. But due to hidden programming code that the defendants inserted into the advertisements, consumers who visited Web sites where these ads were placed did not receive them. Instead, consumers received exploitive advertisements that took them to one of the defendants’ Web sites. These sites would then claim to scan the consumers’ computers for security and privacy issues. The “scans” would find a host of purported problems with the consumers’ computers and urge them to buy the defendants’ computer security products for $39.95 or more. However, the scans were entirely false.
To learn more about "scareware" scams, check out this link from the FTC.
For real anti-virus software check out this post from Lifehacker.
]]>Yes.
Just don't listen to the overzealous salesperson who tells you that it protects against spyware. While it does catch SOME spyware, the majority of them unfortunately slip by.
Always run an antivirus AND an antispyware app (SuperAntiSpyware!), regardless of what AV you choose.
]]>But... did they actually pay for the licenses this time, or are they still using non-commercial-use tools and not encouraging you to purchase them?
]]>@framitz:
I've had to remove it from several PCs I'd like to sue the bastards for my time.
My employer bills $300+ per hour for my time.
I'll cut them a deal for 4 hours @ $250 per hour. Hehehe
Actually, that's not a bad idea to file a small claims complaint against them... of course just because you win in small claims court, doesn't mean you can collect the judgement.
]]>For free antivirus use antivir. For free spyware removal use MalwareBytes.
FWIW, both will completely remove AntivirusXP and its variants since about a year ago.
]]>@friendlynerd: haha I got that virus, and I just restored my computer. I was lucky to not have anything on it anyways.
]]>Also cars are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States so I am not sure on what basis cars are "safer" than airplanes. According to Time magazine "more than 500 times as many people die on U.S. roads as in airline accidents."
]]>How do we fix the problem? We can only educate so much, because malware will always be written to find a way around no matter what I teach and any advice I can give. We fix the problem by making computers that are actually usable for nojn-technical users. I have always said... the first person that releases a box with an OS on a card that can't be corrupted, that has two buttons: INTERNET and E-MAIL, and turns on and off like a TV is gonna be rich.
I always laughed when I got these advertisements while browsing on my Mac. It would claim that the registry and all these Windows directories were infected. Only problem was that I didn't have any of that.
]]>I am running two newer PC's and two laptops as well, but I love my mac, and don't wan tto replace it as long as it is somewhat good. I've thought about a processor upgrade though.
]]>I would love to corner any of those spyware/malware jagoffs into a dark alley.
]]>Wait - my computer has illegal pornography on it? Cool!
]]>Looked great loaded on Safari on my Mac.
]]>If we use the market share argument then you are saying a Toyota Camry is a better car then a BMW? Since it has a bigger market share.
You should type your comments in notepad and read them to yourself before posting. This will help you from embarrassing yourself.
]]>@mac-phisto: Point being: Everyone who fell for these are not smart.
]]>In 7 years of doing freelance computer work I have seldom seen a more insidious, sneaky program. It's like Dick Cheney, Satan, Lars Ulrich and the demon from Legend all got together and brainstormed how to make the most evil piece of scumware (yes, i'm making a new term for it) EVER.
AV 2009 not only installed a rootkit and hijacked the browser, but it also added its own DNS server so that there was no way you could get around it. Avast also didn't pick it up on an initial scan. Malwarebytes has become a new recommendation for me after this, as it basically saved me from having to do a reinstall. It really seems like every year you have to re-evaluate your security arsenal.
]]>AntiVirus 2009 is the devil...somehow I got it on my home PC. It wouldn't even allow me to start my PC in Safe Mode. It was a nightmare. I could start it in "Use last known version of Windows" but I couldn't run any programs. It took me over a month and my brother-in-law finally reading about MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to finally get rid of that little bastard.
I now keep a copy of MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware on my thumb drive just in case this happens again.
I have also switched to using Firefox on both of my home computers--my PC and my laptop. Thus far it has helped tremendously with the spyware/malware/virus problem I was having with IE.
]]>Uh huh... perfectly reasonable.
Can the Apple Fanboys go away now?
DISCLAIMER: I am a Linux user.
Please, people, can we stop making these posts about what OS is better than the other and just focus on the consumer part of it? Millions of users will no longer be getting scammed by these jackasses and that's all that matters. Leave the OS bashing off this site. Take that to Lifehacker.
@RedwoodFlyer: DING! We have a winner!
Let's think here people, there are only a bunch of viruses for Windows because it holds the majority of the market. More targets = higher rate of success. If OSX had the market share that Windows has, people would be making viruses for OSX and not Windows.
I'm going to stop before I get on a rant that will take up the whole damn page.
]]>What gets us is how much time we have to spend making sure we got this crap out of the machine.
]]>I have a cousin and niece who got taken in by this and it was a royal pain to clean up for one and the other is still trying to remove that garbage from her system.
The biggest laugh was when I got 'you may be infected' in Firefox... but I was running Linux at the time so I was fairly safe in assuming that I don't have a windows based virus. I still have a virus scanner on Linux (and windows) and ran it to be safe (I am also fairly paranoid on security).
]]>man i hate those scams with a passion....seen one too many at work over the past 3 months.
for some reason the damn thing is either sooo good or symantec corporate 10.1.5 just sucks that it wouldnt pick it up. obviously our dee-dee-dee users would be surfing at home on company laptops and come across the "software" and obviously they would scan their systems. the next day they call IT saying that there was a virus warning, ran scan, now it's even worse and it still says "viruses found". well no sh!t sherlock...if you would of thought for a second longer you might of said, let me get out of this site I just clicked on and ignore the message...but that's too much for an end user that only know how to plug in their itoy into the usb port of a computer! argh!!! sorry, a little venting.
i hate that antivirusxp2008 and another similar to it.
these attackers have the science of this crap down pat!
]]>i'll have to admit that i was almost fooled myself the first time i encountered it - it mimics win sec center very well & handles virus alerts like most mainstream virus software. if someone like me who spends all day on the tubes can get fooled, imagine your average "what's a 'browser'?" user.
]]>Over 50% of our bench repairs are for virus and spy-ware removal. The most effective message we give to our clients, that seems to work, is that it's a matter of patriotism to keep their computer security up to date. This hinders the possibility of their systems being used as bots for dos attacks.
At least 3 to 4 times a week we suggest a client to put fraud watches on their bank and credit card accounts.
As a side note, a large proportion of these infected systems have the isp's security programs. hmmm.
]]>i think i understand how slow your comp is, as i was playing with a PowerMac blue and white, which runs a 450mhz G3 with maxed out with 1gb of ram. that thing ran like a bat out of hell on the internet. I should turn that into a webserver...
]]>I'm a mac user, as well as a pc user (and linux, too...) each OS has it's own reasons for use. I'd never say that mac is better because it can't get compromised, but I will say that it is a damn sight harder to compromise a mac than it is a windows box.
Oh, and the whole "macs are more expensive" thing.. yeah... a comparable pc costs just as much as a mac. Macs issue is that there aren't any low-to-mid range macs. I'd rather pay a bit more for something that is going to work correctly.
]]>I have a Toshiba laptop with Windows Vista that I mostly use for the Net and playing old ROMS. It used to get the blue screen of death, or just plain froze! However, these programs got my laptop running like a dream...Firefox 3, Process Lasso, Avast! Antivirus, AdBlocker, Computer Cleaner and Web Of Trust. All are free and easy to install. Avast continually updates it's program to stay one step ahead, Process Lasso helps better manage memory and space usage, and Web of Trust warns you which sites and ads are 'dubious' before you get on them.
]]>Actually, I'd still be using NeXTSTEP if it wasn't for that pesky inverse hostile takeover thing.
]]>That's not it, it's more that they don't have a good mid-to-low range like most Windows PC manufacturers.
For me, when buying a notebook I compare the top-of-the-line notebooks by most manufacturers and take the pros and cons of each, and twice in a row I settled on a Mac, and in fact with my latest one it was, at the time, cheaper than an equally speced out Dell and Lenovo.
The big proponent to this myth is 'what if I want something with a 14" or 15" screen, but only want to spend $1200." That isn't top-of-the line from any company, but you can get those machines from Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus, et al. Also, Apple lacks a decent mid-range desktop. Sure you can get an iMac at an ok price, but I have a display, and I commonly like to use two or three displays. I don't need a powerhouse desktop, so the Mac Pro is flat out.
I really wish people would look and realize what can properly be compared and what can't. Apple can be more expensive, but not by more than $200-300 tops on a top-of-the-line machine.
]]>@Primate:
...and 100% overrated.
]]>NJTrout
]]>And I forgot to add NOD32 is the shit when it comes to AV software.
]]>This is a very old scam. This has been going on for many many many many moons now.
]]>Those last eleven words there are exactly what the majority of Apple users do not realize.
]]>Ad-Aware, Spybot, and McAfee (mandated on the last one) didn't get it.
]]>The same millions of people duped into buying an inferior OS are the same ones stupid enough to buy these programs.
]]>@concordia: Scan results: 1.25 penises.
1 5/27's of a vagina.
Would you like to clear these remnants?
]]>@trujunglist: Stop picking the easy fruit!
]]>My brother's computer pretty much bricked after removal using CA anti-virus, but my wife's work machine was fine after using the Malwarebytes tool. In both cases the anti-virus protection was either non-existent or out of date when the machines became infected.
]]>Gross. :)
]]>No, they are not.
]]>Agreed - some of these 'anti-virus' screens are legitimate looking enough to fool a lot of people.
]]>NOD32 is one of the best and you wouldn't even notice it running. There's nothing wrong with running windows if you know what you're doing. Granted Windows machines are much more prone hostile takeovers if a naive user is at the kerboard ;)
We all know the people I'm talking about.
]]>The problem isn't just the stuff they are selling, but the fact that they put malware on your pc that is difficult to get off. It's especially a problem for corporate or other environments, where time and effort has to be put into removing stuff that end-users have installed.
I work in tech support, and we've had a number of users install XP AntiVirus. We've had to spend a considerable amount of time cleaning these machines, not to mention user downtime.
]]>I fought this SOB for a week before giving up and re-imaging my drive (fortunately the image was only a week old). I don't know if this damned thing was working along side something else, but on my computer, the antivirus became disabled and I could install any new scanners including the malwarebyte program.
No idea how it got on my computer, although I strongly suspect it has something to do with my 15 year old daughter and music videos.
As far as the general smarts of people falling for this, I would have to say don't be to hard on them...it looks very real.
]]>ooo I don't know about that, a handful of C4 and... :-)
]]>We have PC technicians, but they depend on me for guidance, so I like to keep 'my hand in it' to stay ahead.
It was the Anti Virus 2009 scam. Ultimately what I used to get the system clean and usable was Malwarebyt's Anti-Malware free version.
The screens that the malware displays are very close to the security center look and are so persistent that I do understand how even a savvy user could fall for the scam out of frustration.
]]>Macs are better.
]]>I should note I used to HATE Macs before I started using them at work. I now love them. I run Windows at home because Macs are too expensive for me right now... I should also note I haven't paid for antivirus in years (yay for AVG and smart Web surfing).
I'm simply pointing out the lame arguments that each side keeps throwing around. All I'm saying is Mac users and A-V companies should be aware of what could potentially be on the horizon. There ARE successful attacks out there for the Mac, just like there are for Linux. The only difference is their smaller global footprints and superior permissions structures make attacks slightly more difficult. Look at your Mac updates once in a while. Those updates labeled "Security Update" aren't just for show.
]]>Yes, this.
The main problem with my parent's computer is not that they're stupid or computer illiterate, it's that the windows often mimic legitimate ones and my father can't see well enough to distinguish the difference.
I am SO glad to see at least some of this getting shut down.
]]>Meanwhile the Window fanboys can keep throwing money down the drain with their anti virus subscriptions. Antivirus subscriptions and apps will keep cutting your CPU performance AND suck $$ from your pocketbook every year.
]]>It was big news a few years ago when the Army switched its servers to Macs. Several large corporations (Northwest was an example) have largely switched over.
Depends on whose stats you look at, and where. US marketshare has been pegged as high as 14%.
]]>People will always be stupid. They will always click on inappropriate banner ads, they will always fall for the same scams over and over.
If there weren't these types of fools, these scams would disappear quickly.
]]>RurouniX:
the problem is, they disguise them to mimic legitimate Windows notifications or notices from Norton, McAfee, whatever. It's easy to click on them if you're not paying attention. And honestly, McAfee's software uses all sorts of scary pop-ups and notifications too, I'm surprised I can tell the difference at all!
]]>Microsoft still holds at least an 85% monopoly on the world's computer operating systems. Apple's market share is still at a paltry 5-10% I believe. Linux is even smaller than that. That fact alone, and the fact that Windows is primarily used in business, makes it a prime target for malware. Why should malware writers even bother writing attacks for Unix-based systems, when they can only attack less than 1/10 of the world's computers? Even then, Macs are still primarily used in educational settings. What is an attacker going to steal? Grades? Oh, little Timmy got a "D" on his report. Tsk, tsk.
Mac and Linux fanboys, and anti-malware companies, need to wake up fast. As their respective market shares increase, malware writers will continue to evolve and write more and more exploits for those platforms. Besides, Microsoft has evolved as well; sealing off the kernel, including a spyware scanner, and enhancing permissions are all great steps forward.
Now if I can just figure out why Vista feels the need to thrash my hard drive repeatedly. I have disabled System Restore, Indexing, and Defragmentation, and I have few background processes runnning. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!
]]>I promptly closed the window, did a full virus scan (AVG), full spyware scan, fixed the background issue (they changed my registry settings to disable the wallpaper options!), and never went back to the site that had the advertisement.
]]>@The Name's Ash78, Housewares: LOL. I've never seen that. That is pure genius.
]]>Its so funny. I have worked on many a computer that I could have made more by blackmailing the husband because of the porn found or the sites visited. A warning popup might make people take heed even if it was fake.
]]>Just askin' ;-)
]]>Think with your brain...that's what it's for. It's been over a decade now since the public was first taught not to click on random internet ads. People seem to now take a step further by not only clicking on ads, they then giving them their credit card information.
I realize not everyone is that familiar with computers and the internet...but how about a little common sense? Would you give a panhandler your credit card? Would you buy a "mystery box" from a random guy standing on a street corner? This is *almost* the same deal...
]]>Yes, I'm referring to that company that uses fake screen shots on Macs and then says, "not available for mac".
]]>I think it's a great scam, especially "we found remnants of porn on your computer." Genius.
Because 85% of men quietly start freaking out while sitting in front of the family computer.
]]>Smart people buy legitimate products from legitimate sellers.
]]>ABOUT TIME this got shot down.
AVG finally started catching it as a "virus", since neither Spybot nor Ad-Aware could effectively get rid of it.
"AntivirusXP" has to be one of THE WORST "non-virus"-Viruses out there, at least for windows users.
Cue the "this is why macs are better" commentary in 3, 2, 1...
]]>