FAKEAV Programs Trouble Computer Users

According to the Web security company 'Trend Micro,' while people look for quarantining their PCs with the help of antivirus software that can be obtained online, an invisible threat from 'FAKEAV' (i.e. fake anti-viruses) seems to be rising.

While it isn't so difficult to spot malicious programs in suspicious attachments or spam mails, FAKEAVs pose real problems for end-users to overcome such programs, as pop-ups associated with FAKEAVs commonly claim that they can clean viruses off a contaminated PC. But when the user tries to access an antivirus program from the website, he normally lands on a malicious site that pretends to be a genuine antivirus company.

The so-called AV website starts scanning end-user's PC and displays a number of errors that are actually non-existent. Subsequently, it suggests that by paying a fee, the user can download antivirus application. Thereafter, once the fee is paid, the bogus antivirus declares that there are no more viruses on his system that actually never existed.

FAKEAV, which is also called 'scareware,' entices Internet users in such a way that they give away their hard-earned money for deceptive security software, which are really of no use, said the security experts. According to Trend Micro, these fake Internet sites are churning some $10,000 daily.

Abhinav Karnwal, Product Marketing Manager, Trend Micro (APEC), states that website creators will develop sites on any important event such as a natural disaster, a lunar/solar eclipse, prominent terrorist attack, Michael Jackson's death, or Obama's swearing ceremony, as reported by The Economic Times on November 25, 2009.

Additionally, Trend Micro's research further discloses Google's public web utility Google Trends, which shows the relation between a specific search keyword and the aggregate number of searches, are of interest to cyber criminals for determining widely-used search phrases. They subsequently utilize these search terms to connect with web-links, which lead to the criminals' malevolent sites that prey on more computer users. Evidently, online criminals adapt to the latest advances in technology, abusing freshly released software for making the maximum profit, the security company states.

Related article: FAKEAV Targeting Windows 7 in New Scam

» SPAMfighter News - 12/3/2009