Scare Ware "Fake Anti-Virus Alert"

A client was browsing the internet recently when suddenly

she got a pop up on her screen that said “Warning your computer may be

infected, click here for a free security scan”. She clicked on the link and a

scan began and this scan told her she had over one hundred infections on her

computer and that to remove them she would need to pay $60 to remove them. She

entered her credit card information and like magic the errors went away.Two weeks later she again received a message saying that her

computer was yet again infected, whoever the software was not the same as the

one that gave her the previous warnings. This time after completing the scan a $19

dollar payment was required to remove the errors.She had now spent $80 to remove threats to her computer. She

was shocked when I informed her that the threats to her computer found by these

software’s never existed. She was a victim of a scare-ware scam using “Fake-Antivirus

Software”.Fake Anti-Virus software—software that displays false or

misleading alerts about infections or vulnerabilities on the victim’s computer

and offers to fix the supposed problems for a price—has become one of the most

common methods that attackers use to swindle money from victims. These are

programs that masquerade as legitimate security programs offering protection

from malware, spyware, viruses and other threats, but actually use social

engineering to obtain money from victims, and offer poor or nonexistent

protection.Fake antivirus will take it upon itself to run a scan of

computers belonging to unsuspecting users. Of course that the scan itself and

the results offered are both fake. Fake AV doesn’t actually analyze machines,

nor is it capable of detecting any malware, or to remove it. It’s all smoke and

mirrors, a show put on to trick users into thinking that their computers is

infected with malicious code.“Fake security software programs typically mimic the general

look and feel of legitimate security software, claiming to detect a large

number of nonexistent threats and urging the user to “activate” the software to

remove them. Some copy the appearance of the Windows Security Center or

unlawfully use trademarks and icons to misrepresent themselves. Fake security

software spreads through familiar malware distribution mechanisms, like spam

and exploits, and through customized tactics, like a fake Web based security

scanner. After installation, some fake security software take other actions to

evade detection or to frighten the user into paying. If you think your computer is infected with a Fake

anti-virus software “do not enter your credit card information”, do not

download some “quick fix software” from the internet to try to remove it. Some

Fake anti-virus will block your access to the internet to prevent you from

downloading removal software. I have

heard from quite a few Computer Techs that they prefer not to deal with

removing these threats since they are time consuming to remove and as such not “cost-effective”.

At Computer Pro 4 Hire we specialize

in the removal of any type of threat to your computer and it is done at a flat

rate cost of $50. If your Pc or laptop is infected contact us immediately at SDeVore@CP4H.com or call 980-297-2403

Steve DeVoreComputer Pro 4 Hire