Rogue Computer Security Software is one of the biggest growing threats for the security of your PC. They are nothing but online scams. They basically try to sell you a crap piece of software in the name of selling a genuine security software and run away with your money.
The Mechanism of Operation of Rogue Security Software
These rogue software exploit some weaknesses in your computer security. They also take help of some Trojans hidden in your system to slip in their installers, which take command of your computer by modifying your system files and making illegal entries to your Windows registries.
As soon as the machine is rebooted, it starts displaying lots of fake warning messages and alarms, which tells you that your computer is infected with lots of spyware and malware. Most of these warnings are about the malware infections, which may actually not present there in your system. Sometimes it even labels perfectly legitimate files as malware and reports them. And in worst cases, it even installs malware files and reports them.
Whatever be the case, the purpose is to ultimately scare the innocent user and create a sense of urgency by repeating the warning. The frequency of these warnings is so large, that it makes it virtually impossible for you to carry out any useful task. The performance of your computer gets crippled and you are forced to think over the next course of action.
At that time, it offers you to clean your system, if you agree to purchase the full licensed version of this fake security software. You purchase the software, and a crap piece of code is given to you, which is simply incapable of providing any sort of security to your computer. And the fraudsters repeat the process with the next victim.
Remember, with the purchase of this crap piece of software, not only you are throwing away your money, but also exposing your computer with some malicious code, which may provide a backdoor to your computer for further malware infections.
This is apart from your risking your private information like credit card details and personal data from landing into the wrong pair of hands.
How to Protect Yourself against These Scam Security Software
The approach is simple. Be cautious and exercise retrain. Before making any purchase decision, remember to use your favorite search engine to read a few reviews about the product.
Let us consider two names – Super Antispyware and Vista Antispyware.
Which one is fake and which one is genuine. If you have not heard anything about them, then you might not tell the difference. But a Google query reveals the truth. See the screenshots below.
You can clearly see the difference. Most of the websites occupying first few places on Google SERP’s for the term Vista Antispyware tells that it is a rogue security software. Just click on any of those, you will find the details of how to remove it from your computer.
On the other hand, the search results for Super Antispyware tell you that it is worth its salt and can do the job.
See, how easy it is to distinguish the ugly from the beautiful. Such simple thing as using Google is not used by many before making their purchase decision, and this is the one of the reasons for the growth of these Rogue Security Software.
Do not be part of this vicious cycle. Be Alert and be secure.
This is a Guest Post from Silki Garg. Check out her popular posts on 192.168.1.1 passwords and several others on security issues on her Internet Security Blog. Contact us if you want to guest post on this blog.
17 comments
We’ve fallen victim to this. Actually, not us, but our children. To rectify, we were able to go back to a ‘restore point’ (we use Windows) when the Trojan (or whatever it’s called) was not on the system.
A version of this scam is when a pop-up is opened while visiting a rogue site. Once you click the pop-up to exit, it actually does the composite, installs something on the computer.
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There should be laws against the extortion these people applies to innocent web users. All is fair in love and war, and even more so in the internet world, it would seem! Why is there no protection for the innocent? And why do these criminals continue to operate without impunity?
One feature I like to tell about is the google safe browsing. Just enter the web address of any website in the google safe browsing and it will tell you whether the website is safe or not.
Also I would like to mention about virustotal.com which is a free site to check online whether our programs are safe or contain virus.
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Thanks for the informational article. I’ve never had this on my computer but I believe my sister did and she did the same thing as mentioned above. She was able to restore her computer to a previous date before the virus got in.
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First of all thanks for the attention. People should have to come against this kind of scams so that many people save their money from being threat.
we should use “real” anti virus software, a “real” spyware blocker and a “real” firewall. And we should regularly update our antivirus software, spyware blocker, operating system, browser, and email client. Avoid surfing on websites that contain illegal or questionable content. Make a backup copy of your work files and system configuration. If an ad appears on your screen and prompts you to download a security solution or analyze your computer, do not click on it.
People should have to come against this kind of scams so that many people save their money from being threat. Thanks for this informative read.
According to the most recent Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, rogue security software is the most prevalent trend in malicious software today.It has become a growing and serious security threat in desktop computing.It is also known as fake anti-virus.
Just enter the web address of any website in the google safe browsing and it will tell you whether the website is safe or not.Thanks for this informative read.
Rogue security software is also known as “scareware”. It has become a growing and serious security threat in desktop computing. This software might also appear in the list of search results when you are searching for trustworthy antispyware software.
I like to tell about is the google safe browsing.Thanks for this informative read.hese information are really helpful. Again thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Such kind of softwares are help full for those who are called hackers or spammers. But it will create problem for the common people who don’t have that much of knowledge & be in problems.
For these softwares we usually go for some good anti viruses with full version not traial which will scan the entire code & then alert us not to scan. It is good to scan some Software online if you are suspicious.
For such things we go for original softwares which can reduce the chances of being used. As we go for pirated software to save money causes problem.
The rogue software exploit some weaknesses in your computer security. They also take help of some Trojans hidden in your system to slip in their installers, which take command of your computer by modifying your system files and making illegal entries to your Windows registries.
The frequency of these warnings is so large, that it makes it virtually impossible for you to carry out any useful task. The performance of your computer gets crippled and you are forced to think over the next course of action.
Rogue software security programs can infect your computer. with the help of trojans they get into their installers and take command of your system.