Hackers Earn Millions Through Phony Antivirus Solution

Online security firm AVG claims that hackers are acquiring control of people's systems and forcing them to purchase fake antivirus for making profit of millions of dollar.

As per AVG Chief Research Officer 'Nick Fitzgerald,' hackers are making thousands of dollars every year by duping people into purchasing goods they never get, or attacking the financial systems and stealing money by forcing people to purchase fake security applications to recoup control of their machines, as per the reports by THE NATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW on November 12, 2009.

A classic scareware scams starts with a pop-up message, claiming that an infection has been found on the system. This claim is supported by a bogus scan of the system. After this, users are asked to buy phony software that seems to fix the problem.

Instead of running viruses on a user system, several harmful codes are loaded that leaves the machine open to more attacks. Some of the victims who paid by credit card had their details sold-on and used to commit ID theft.

Mr. Fitzgerald claims that once the malware has been installed on a system, attackers can hold the machine ransom and ask for more money for fake updates and upgrades.

Fitzgerald states that attackers are good at their pursuit but only when they do it sincerely. However, they are indolent and want only money. A perfect example can be noted here - when tsunami hit Samoa, many bad sites came up disguising as authentic news. The first seven search links under Samoa tsunami were hacked. These sites came before news sites like CNN, The New Zealand Herald, The Guardian and The Times.

Unfortunately, several people are failing prey to attackers using forged antivirus solution. One firm making authentic antivirus solution has discovered almost 250 different examples of "scareware" being sold online for almost £60. It reckons that 43 Million people were attacked by the scam in 2008.

Security company Symantec suggests users to buy anti-phishing and antivirus solutions from large and reputed companies.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 21-11-2009

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