New ‘Whitelist’ Help Netizens Avoid Fake Antivirus

Internet security companies are creating a catalog of lawful programs and vendors to help common user to fight against the ongoing menace of fake antivirus software circulating online.

Reportedly, this catalog will appear on the website of the CCSS (Common Computing Security Standards) Forum, an organization established by the Internet security company 'Comodo' during March 2009. Melih Abdulhayoglu CEO as well as Chief Security Architect of Comodo says that the purpose of the list is to provide common Internet users certain standards to verify publishers and programs prior to purchasing software.

The idea of crafting the list is a result of considerable growth in scareware programs during recent times. The programs, which are so-called anti-malware products, trick end-users into trusting that malware has infected their computers but that isn't true. Typically, the fake anti-malware programs demand license money for clearing off the malware, and sometimes even load actual malicious program on the victim's computer.

A frequent ruse ensnares unwary or unsophisticated computer users. Short messages appear on the screens of users' computers alerting them of possible infection and therefore it is necessary to get their systems scanned instantly. A web-link also appears that points towards the scanning program. Thereafter, when the scanning is completed, the program informs users that infection has set on their PCs and so they may buy antivirus software, the program offers.

A number of vendor names are provided in the list, counting some top providers' like Microsoft, Trend Micro, McAfee and Symantec, and others of smaller vendors like Check Point, Kaspersky, Sunbelt Software, Panda, Webroot and Fortinet. The CCSS claims the list has 95% of the lawful software security companies' references.

Abdulhayoglu says that users might be using security software that they either bought or downloaded for free, notwithstanding that they are justified to know if their software safeguards them rather than puts them at risk, as reported by PRLog on July 14, 2009.

Abdulhayoglu adds that the CCSS Forum would help every computer user by giving a sound reference list containing names of legitimate software products that will enable them to distinguish the valid products against the rogues.

Related article: New Zealand Releases Code To Reduce Spam

» SPAMfighter News - 8/6/2009