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Microsoft takes aim at fake antivirus software

Discussion in 'TechSpot News and Comments' started by Matthew, Jun 10, 2009.

  1. Matthew TechSpot Staff Posts: 5,893   +53

    This week Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool received an update to detect a fake antivirus program known as “Win32/InternetAntivirus.” By alerting unsuspecting users to false claims of detected malware, they were frightened into buying “security software.” Win32/InternetAntivirus seemed legitimate to inexperienced users because it mimics the look of Windows Security Center.

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    Matthew, Jun 10, 2009
    #1

  2. oinari Newcomer, in training

    It's kind of crazy that people are still falling for scams like that.
    oinari, Jun 10, 2009
    #2

  3. 9Nails TechSpot Paladin Posts: 624   +19

    In some that I've seen, they're using screen shots of real software and putting flash over it to make it look like it's really scanning your files. It's all convincing if you don't understand the directories that it's pretending to scan. They do this for a short while the it shows 400 bad things that you find offensive and want to get rid of right away. There's the hook - the promise that something will work better for a small fee.
    9Nails, Jun 11, 2009
    #3
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