Malware Researcher’s Content Exploited by Rogue Affiliates

S!Ri, a malware researcher and Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) at Malwarebytes, recently posted a blog when he spotted that his content had been ripped off by some rogue affiliate websites to boost their rankings on search engines.

The researcher commented that this act gave a good glance of the scareware or rogue security software distribution world, as per the news published by Sunbelt Blog October 19, 2009. To examine the entire scenario, he posted a fake report regarding a made-up rogue security application. He then observed that others began to promote the software.

According to S!Ri, cyber criminals place their websites just like legitimate businesses in order to sell their counterfeit security products online. trojans and other malicious codes are used by them in spam e-mail attachments to frighten victims. They very easily make innocent users believe that their systems are infected and then propose to sell their so-called products to fix fake issues or flaws.

In an attempt to hike their ratings to draw innocent web browsers, these affiliates use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) technique and post their counterfeit security products on those web pages.

S!Ri in the beginning of October, 2009 reported about the wildly distributed rogueware called "Secure Shield" in his blog. It is a latest rogue of the WiniSoft family.

He added that downloading security software from such affiliates was not the right option. These affiliates get retribution, if the linked downloaded cleaner is installed and registered. Whether the infection can be removed or not by the tool, is none of their business; they don't even analyze the infection. Their only agenda is to attract maximum traffic and an attempt to be listed on Google's first page.

According to other security analysts, rogue security software developers generally use an affiliate-based, pay-per-install distribution model. Some security experts studied the distribution site and found that a small amount was paid to the affiliates. These small amounts accumulate to huge profits, said experts.

Another security firm Symantec in a latest report viewed the underground rogue security software market. It was noted that in Symantec's 12-month study, some of the sales affiliates made astounding profits; top earnings averaged to $23,000 a week.

Related article: Malware Authors Turn More Insidious

» SPAMfighter News - 11/7/2009