Thursday, April 7, 2011

Identifying and Protecting Yourself from FAKE Antivirus Software

The best way somebody can get you to install fake software on your PC is  to trick you into believing you’re getting something you need. The biggest threats in terms of computer security are scammers, identity thieves and hackers. How to identify the fakes antivirus software packages you should try and avoid at all costs.Scam creators or Malware designers sponsor and promote fake antivirus through diffrent websites in order for financial benefit.
Hackers play malicious tactics in the name of a free virus scanner. Fake antivirus software force users into purchasing the legal version of fake scanners.These programs attack your computer and take your personal information from your PC for various purposes.

How to Identify Fake Antivirus?

These tips will help you identify a fake antivirus software
- Software pops up asking you to scan your computer.
- You haven’t installed that software.
- If you have clicked “Scan” button it will show a lot of viruses.
- It won’t help you clean your computer instead it will ask you to purchase security software to clean your computer.

List of Fake Antivirus Software

Following is the list of some common antivirus software.
- CleanUp Antivirus
- Dr Guard- Antimalware Defende
- XP Guardian 2010
- XP Internet Security
- Antivirus XP 2010
- XP Antivirus Pro 2010
- Security Antivirus
- Advanced Defender

How to Protect From Fake antivirus

- Do not use your credit card information to buy a antivirus you are not aware.
– Never scan your computer online with a antivirus you are not familiar.
- For more details about that product please search over the Internet to find out details.
– If you are affected with a fake antivirus, immediately clean your computer with a real Antivirus product (list of top 10 FREE ones can be found here)


-original article: Cybervally

31 comments:

  1. Your best bet is to clean your system with a program like Malwarebytes Anti-malware. Sometimes those fake AVs will pretty much mark every single program as a "virus". It's best to boot into safe-mode and get rid of these nasty things via your real anti-virus software. I've had at least half a dozen people come to me with a problem like this. It can be a real headache, that's for sure.

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  2. This is a great post. People really need to be more aware of the fact that a lot of anti-virus scans that appear on your computer are in fact virus' themselves.

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  3. You really give me good insight on how to stay safe! THANKS!

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  4. I actually was infected with defender, got it from a site with flash. Thing was a pain to get rid of.

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  5. I haven't ran into those in a long time, but they were really annoying..

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  6. Oh man, I had to deal with a fake AVG a while back. It was a pain to remove but I did it

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  7. Most of the time you can prevent yourself from getting a virus just by using common sense when surfing the web.

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  8. Thanks for the information! I got infected with a fake antivirus a few years ago and it sucked.

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  9. It's pretty nasty that they can get away with these fake programs. Really though, it just takes researching something before dling it to protect yourself.

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  10. I didn't really like my AVG, so this helped a lot!

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  11. This is such a great blog. I am trying to become more 'computer aware' and subscribing to things like this is really helping out. You should have a donation button!

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  12. Is Security Essentials any good in your opinion?

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  13. Great post! I hope you keep up this excellent blogging! :)

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  14. Nice tips and tricks. I always find it difficult to explain how to tell the difference and how to tell if something is "fake". Not so long ago I had a friend's parent who fell foul of a trap of installing one of these fake anti-virus softwares, only to have it effectively lock her computer until a sum of money was paid.

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  15. This is a huge problem for my father, he just doesnt get it. Im sure ive had to sort out this sort of problem at least 10 times for him.

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  16. You could also use linux :P

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  17. Good tips, Thanks for posting and giving it to us heads up.

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  18. this is great advice, thanks for the antivirus info!

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  19. One of these found its way on my old computer once

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  20. Glad this has never happined to me. I tend to be sceptical of commercials that talk about scaning my comp for free.

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  21. great post
    helped a lot
    +following
    keep the good work

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  22. All of those fake names sound real! Its crazy how easy it is to get tricked.

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  23. I have had such horrible problems, such as when I download something and it is a fake Antivirus trying to steal my info!

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  24. Sort of obvious things for the big computer nerds, but I'm sure helpful for the other spectrum.

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  25. Thanks for the info! Will keep this all in mind and bookmarking this page

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  26. Hard to believe these people can stay in business without getting shot or thrown in jail.

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