This is a very clever, yet disastrous, criminal enterprise.
The goal of this enterprise is to quietly install a fake anti-virus software onto your computer without your knowledge or approval. It will then quietly suppress your current anti-virus program and invite viruses, spyware and trojan horses into your computer. We say “quietly” because it wants to put itself in place before it takes over your computer (just like a trojan horse). Once in place, it then acts and looks like a legitimate virus scanner, alerting you that you are infected and popping up repeatedly to buy the removal tool. Eventually, t will slowly lock you out of common tasks and alert you to enter your credit card so it can remove the infection. Completely bogus.
Simply put, this is a ploy to steal your credit card information.
If this happens to you, quickly turn off your computer and call us immediately.
What does it look like?
Though they go by many names, it all has a very legitimate look. A popular name is “Internet Security 2010,” like the image below. However, they all go by a large list of names (see name list further below).
Can I remove it myself?
The internet is loaded with removal methods on any kind of virus. Be warned: doing so involves editing of the system registry, Windows System files, Temporary directories, proxy settings and much more. Even then, many removal methods usually involve one type of virus and your computer could be crawling with multiple forms.
The List
This is the current list of Fake Anti-Virus names that we are aware of (with help from Wikipedia). Please note that the goal of some of the names is to mimick the name of real products, including legitimate ones from Microsoft, SpyBot and others. We are currently working on keeping this list updated, so please let us know if we miss any.
| * Advanced Cleaner * AKM Antivirus 2010 Pro * AlfaCleaner * Alpha AntiVirus * ANG Antivirus * Antimalware Doctor * Antimalware Pro * AntiSpyCheck 2.1 * AntiSpyStorm * AntiSpyware 2009 * Antispyware 2010 * AntiSpyware Soft * Antivir Solution Pro * Antivirus 7 or Antivirus5 * Antivirus Soft * Antivirus Suite * Antivirus System PRO * AntiSpyware Bot * AntiSpywareExpert * AntiSpywareMaster * AntiSpywareSuite * AntiSpyware Shield * Antivermins * Antivirus 2008 * Antivirus 2009 * Antivirus XP 2010 * Antivirus 2010 * Antivirus 360 * Antivirus Pro 2009 * AntiVirus Gold * Antivirus Live[4, * Antivirus Master * Antivirus XP 2008 * Antivirus Pro 2010 * AV Security Suite * Avatod Antispyware 8.0 * Awola * BestsellerAntivirus * ByteDefender also known as * ByteDefender Security 2010 * Cleanator * ContraVirus * Control Center * Cyber Security * Data Protection * Defense Center * Desktop Security 2010 * Digital Security * Doctor Antivirus * Doctor Antivirus 2008 * DriveCleaner * Dr Guard * EasySpywareCleaner * eco AntiVirus * Errorsafe * ErrorSmart, ErrorFix * Flu Shot 4 * Green Antivirus 2009 * IE Antivirus * IEDefender * InfeStop * Internet Antivirus * Internet Antivirus Pro * Internet Security 2010, * KVMSecure * Live PC Care * Live Security Suite * MacSweeper * MalwareCrush * MalwareCore * MalwareAlarm * Malware Bell * Malware Defender * Malware Defense * MS Antivirus * MS AntiSpyware 2009 * MaxAntiSpy * My Security Wall * My Security Engine * My Security Shield * AV Antivirus Suite * PC Defender Antivirus * MxOne Antivirus * Netcom3 Cleaner * Paladin Antivirus * PCSecureSystem * PC Antispy * PC AntiSpyWare 2010 * PC Clean Pro * PC Privacy Cleaner * PerfectCleaner * Perfect Defender 2009 * PersonalAntiSpy Free * Personal Antivirus * Personal Security * PAL Spyware Remover * PCPrivacy Tools * PC Antispyware * Protection Center * PSGuard * Privacy Center * Rapid AntiVirus |
* Real AntiVirus * Registry Great * Registry Patrol * Registry Defender * Reg tool * Safety Alerter 2006 * Safety Center * SafetyKeeper * SaliarAR * SecureFighter * SecurePCCleaner * SecureVeteran * Security Master AV * Security Scan 2009 * Security Tool * Security Toolbar 7.1 * SiteAdware * Security Essentials 2010 * Smart Antivirus 2009 * Soft Soldier * SpyAxe * Spy Away * SpyCrush * Spydawn * SpyGuarder * SpyHeal * SpyMarshal * Spylocked * SpySheriff (a.k.a PestTrap, BraveSentry, SpyTrooper) * SpySpotter * SpywareBot * Spyware Cleaner * SpywareGuard 2008 * Spyware Protect 2009 * SpywareQuake * SpywareSheriff * Spyware Stormer * Spy Tool * Spyware Striker Pro * Spyware Protect 2009 * SpywareStrike * SpyRid * SpyWiper * SystemArmor * SysGuard * Sysinternals Antivirus * System Antivirus 2008 * System Live Protect * SystemDoctor * System Security (Rogue Antivirus) * Total Secure 2009 * Total Security * Total Win 7 Security * Total Win XP Security * Total Win Vista Security * TrustedAntivirus * TheSpyBot * UltimateCleaner * VirusHeat * VirusIsolator * Virus Locker * VirusProtectPro * VirusRemover2008 * VirusRemover2009 * VirusMelt * VirusRanger * Virus Response Lab 2009 * VirusTrigger * Vista Antispyware 2010 * Vista Antivirus 2008 * Vista Internet Security 2010 * Vista Smart Security 2010 * Volcano Security Suite * Win 7 Antivirus 2010 * Win Antispyware Center * WinAntiVirus Pro 2006 * WinDefender * Windows Police Pro * Windows Protection Suite * WinFixer * WinHound * Winpc Antivirus * Winpc Defender * WinSpywareProtect * WinWeb Security 2008 * WorldAntiSpy * XP AntiMalware * XP AntiMalware 2010 * XP AntiSpyware 2009 * XP AntiSpyware 2010 * XP Antivirus 2010 * XP Antivirus Pro 2010 * XP Guardian * XP Defender Pro * XP Internet Security 2010 * XJR Antivirus * XP Security Tool * XP-Shield * Your Protection * Zinaps AntiSpyware 2008 |
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 4:55 am and is filed under Web Articles . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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