Security Experts Raising Warning over Anti-Virus Software ConsAccording to the UK's national security internet security initiative 'Get Safe Online' and the Serious Organized Crime Agency, cybercriminals are utilizing several channels to scan security conscious netizens into downloading and paying for malicious software, with illegitimate call centers controlled by several scammers alleging to be from reputable software providers. According to security experts that there are numerous techniques that cybercriminals and data hackers try to steal users' personal information and consequently money and the utilization of anti- virus program is quite far from being a original and creative method but it is actually becoming rampant again. Commenting on the operation of fake anti-virus products, security experts stated that, a small pop-up window arises on the computer screen and warns netizens that they have been infected by lots of cyber threats. Further, users are prompted to sign up using credit card details to get rid of those threats. Usually, the threats mentioned by the pop- up window doesn't exist at all and no anti-virus software has scanned the computer. As a matter of fact, the only threat is the warning pop-up window only. These warning alerts or pop-up messages are usually financed by large scale cyber gangs, who invest around £150,000 monthly to run these pop-ups. According to investigators cybercrooks pretense as legal IT firms, who cold call innocent users offering them bogus anti-virus software that can be downloaded by paying a sum of around £30. Afterwards, criminals merge credit card details from the sale with stolen private information to con the netizens or committing further frauds. The researchers revealed that 22% of the Scotland people reported they have received calls from someone asserting to be from an IT helpdesk. On the other hand, authorities claim that the scam is becoming more prevalent and they are worried of the fact that a great amount of netizens are unaware of it. They further revealed that around 76% of Scotland residents are not aware of IT helpdesk frauds. Experts highlighted that as this Internet trend continues to bang, so too do the criminals searching to make simple and dishonest money. Unfortunately, as people are becoming more conscious and aware of the fact that they need to protect themselves against malware and other threats phishers are getting greater chances and probabilities to hock rogue anti-spyware and rogue anti-virus software to innocent netizens. Related article: Securities Push Up A Must For Web Companies » SPAMfighter News - 11/23/2010 |
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