Fake Anti Virus Prevention Tips
1. Use Firefox as your
browser
rather than Internet Explorer.
2. Keep your computer updated with the latest
anti-virus and anti-spyware
software, and be sure to use a good firewall.
3. Never open an email attachment unless you are
POSITIVE about the source.
4. Do NOT click on any pop-up that advertises
anti-virus or anti-spyware software, especially a program promising to provide
every feature known to mankind. (Also remember: the fakes often mimic
well-known brands such as
Microsoft Security Essentials
5. If a virus alert appears on your screen, do NOT
touch it. Don't use your mouse to eliminate or scan for viruses, and DON'T use
your mouse to close the window. Instead, hit control + alt + delete to view a
list of programs currently running. Delete the "rogue" from the list of
running programs, and call your computer maker's phone or online tech support
service to learn if you can safely use your computer.
6. Do not download freeware or shareware unless you
know it's from a reputable source. We use
Download.com and
VersionTracker.
Unfortunately, freeware and shareware programs often
come bundled with spyware, adware or fake anti-virus programs.
7. Avoid questionable websites. Some sites may
automatically download malicious software onto your computer.
8. Reset your current
security
settings
to a higher level.
9. Although fake software may closely resemble the
real thing, it's rarely an exact match. Look for suspicious discrepancies.
10. Check out this list of rogue/fake anti-virus and
anti-spyware products.
If your computer is infected by rogue software, stop
work and contact your computer manufacturer's tech-support hotline. Don't keep
using the computer. This may further damage your machine and provide identity
thieves with more information about you.
Use of fake anti-virus, anti-spyware software is a
fast-growing scam, especially as more people become aware of the dangers of
spyware, adware and malware. By following the tips above, however, you'll
better protect yourself from becoming the next victim of scammers, identity
thieves and hackers.
Here is a list of different types
Fake alerts
Internet Protection
is not legitimate security application, its is a clone
of fake antivirus software named Security Defender. The program is totally
scam that displays false information, detects fake infections in order to
trick you into thinking your computer in danger. The fake antivirus will say
that all you have to do in order to remove viruses, malware and trojans is
purchase its full version. Important to note, the program is unable to detect
and remove any malware and viruses, so do not pay for the bogus software!
Simply ignore all that it will display you and remove Internet Protection from
your PC as quickly as possible!
Internet Protection promoted through the use of
advertisement which pretends to be an online malware scanner. This
advertisement will state that you computer is infected and all you have to do
in order to cure your computer is install the software.
Win 7 Security 2011
is a rogue antispyware program, clone of Win 7 Anti-Virus 2011. The program
reports false infections, displays numerous fake security alerts and blocks
legitimate Windows applications from running in order to trick you into
purchasing its full version. So, do not trust anything that this malware will
display you and remove Win 7 Security 2011 from your system as soon as
possible. Read below what you’ll want to know though is what does this malware
do and how to remove the rogue from your computer for free.
Like other rogues, Win 7 Security 2011 is installed
via trojans without your permission and knowledge. Immediately after launch,
it will register itself in the Windows registry to run automatically every
time when you start an application
Windows Fix Disk
or WindowsFixDisk
is a malicious program that pretends to be a computer
defragmenter and system analysis software. It hijacks your computer, blocks
Windows legitimate applications from running, presents various fake critical
errors alerts that the computer’s hard drive is corrupt in order to frighten
you into purchasing this useless application. Do not pay for the bogus
software! Simply ignore all that it will display you and remove WindowsFixDisk
from your computer as quickly as possible!
Windows Fix Disk from same family of malware as
Windows Restore, Windows Repair, Windows Recovery, Windows Diagnostic, etc
which has already caused much damage to many computes. It is promoted and
installed itself on your computer without your permission and knowledge
through the use of trojans or other malicious software. Moreover, the scammers
may also distribute this malware on Twitter, My Space, Facebook, and other
social networks.
Good Memory is a fake computer optimization
tool. The program pretends to be a legitimate software that is used to check
and repair your computer but, in reality, it is a totally scam. The rogue
detects numerous false problems and displays various critical errors alerts on
the computer in order to trick you into thinking your computer has a lot of
serious problems. GoodMemory hopes that you will next purchase its full
version to fix these problems.
Good Memory is distributed through the use of trojans
or other malicious software. Moreover, the authors of of the fake program may
also distribute it on social networks (Twitter, My Space, Facebook, etc) and
spam emails. Please be careful when opening attachments and downloading files
or otherwise you can end up with a rogue program on your computer.
Antivirdial.com
is a new misleading site which has been created to promote and distribute a
malicious program called “Security Suite”. The program is a known rogue
antispyware tool that detects a lot of false infections and displays fake
security alerts to trick you into buying the so-called full version of the
software.
Like other rogue antispyware programs, Security Suite is installed onto a
computer without your permission and knowledge through trojans. During
installation this malware configures your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox,
etc) so, that it will redirect you from sites that you want to visit to the
antivirdial.com.
Network
Control or NetworkControl is a malicious program that pretend to be
a firewall software, but in reality the program only imitates firewall
functions and unable to protect you from any attacks from the Internet. It
performs only one – displays a lot of various misleading security alerts to
scare you into thinking your computer under hacker/virus attack. It will offer
to purchase one of Advanced Net Firewall, Shield EC, Personal Network Protect,
IP Blockator, and Network Defender to protect your computer. Most important,
don`t purchase anything!
NetworkControl uses two methods to distribute itself. First, fake online
malware scanners which reports that your computer is infected with a lot of
infections and then offers to install an “antivirus
Antispycraft.com
is a fresh misleading web site that used to promote and distribute a program
called “Security Suite”. The program is not a legitimate security application.
It is a malware which classified as rogue antispyware tool because detects a
lot of false infections and displays numerous fake security notifications, nag
screens and popups as a method of scaring you into buying the software.
Security Suite is installed through the use of trojans. During installation
the fake security program changes browser proxy settings, so that it will
display an antispycraft.com fake warning page instead a sites that you want to
visit.
If
you are seeing a Microsoft Security
Essentials Alert box that states that
Unknown Win32/Trojan was detected on your computer, then you have become
infected with a trojan FakeAlert that uses this fake alert to trick you into
thinking your PC is infected so that you will then install and purchase one of
5 rogue antivirus programs: Red Cross Antivirus, Peak Protection
2010, Pest Detector 4.1, Major Defense Kit,
AntiSpySafeguard.
The “Microsoft Security Essentials Alert” trojan come
from fake malware online scanners or malicious websites that ask users to
download an Adobe Flash Player update or player needed to view a movie online.
My
Security Shield is a rogue antispyware
program which very dangerous and can lead to a complete paralysis of your
computer. It created only for one – to trick you into buying the so-called
full version of the software.
AVDefender
2011 is a not a legitimate security
application, it is a new rogue antivirus which installed onto your computer
through various malware. During installation, the rogue will register itself
in the Windows registry by changing value of SHELL key from explorer.exe to
filename of its core component. It helps the rogue to run automatically when
Windows loads.
Once started, AVDefender 2011 perform a system scan
and detect a lot of infected files, trojans, worms, and so on, that will not
be fixed unless you first purchase the full version of the program. Of course
this is not necessary. The scan results, as well as the scan, is nothing but a
fake
Antivir
Solution Pro is a new fake security tool from
the same family of rogue antispyware programs as
AV Antivirus Suite, AV
Security Suite, Antispyware Soft, Antivirus Suite, etc. Like other rogues, the
program is promoted and distributed with the help of trojans. When the trojan
is activated, it will install this malware onto your computer and configure it
to run automatically when Windows starts.
Once Antivir Solution Pro started, the rogue will
perform a system scan and “detect” a lot of infected files, trojans, worms,
and so on, that will not be fixed unless you first purchase the full version
of the program. Of course this is not necessary. The scan results, as well as
the “system scan”, is nothing but a scam. In reality Antivir Solution Pro
cannot detect and remove any infections, as well as not be able to protect you
from possible infections in the future. Thus, you can safely ignore all that
the rogue antispyware will show you
