PandaLabs Detects New Bogus Antivirus

According to PandaLabs' "2010 Computer Threat Trends Report," the problem of malicious software will continue to affect IT users in 2010.

The security firm has detected a fresh item of malware called 'Desktop Defender 2010,' which is a fake antivirus program. This software belongs to the same group of malware programs to which 'Contraviro,' a destructive program, belongs.

Details of Desktop Defender 2010 reveal that it works like bogus software whose main purpose is to steal money from infected users. This is accomplished through the display of bogus warnings about viruses or other harmful programs. The warnings try to frighten the user and deceive him into believing that malware has indeed infected his system and he should buy security software to remove them, apparently detected from fake scans.

In addition, Desktop Defender 2010 prevents the user from making his already installed anti-virus program up-to-date. It also prevents the user from logging into websites that help to update security software. In simple words, the malware stops updating websites from being accessed or used.

According to security specialists, given these capabilities of the fake AV, it is just not enough to have security programs running on end-users' contaminated computers. If the malicious product is not eliminated in time, it could result in the non-functioning of tools such as the System Restore and the System registry Editor.

Consequently, the security specialists have issued an advisory for users suggesting steps they could follow if their system is infected by the malicious software. Users need to download shareware or freeware applications. While these programs may have spyware hidden in them, the specialists have advised users that they should download them only from authorized and trusted websites.

They also recommended that computer users should always try to get the latest news about malware programs doing the rounds on the Web. As per the recent reports, the security company had detected 25 Million new pieces of malicious software during 2009 in contrast to an aggregate of 15 Million that it had detected altogether throughout its existence spanning 20 years.

Related article: PandaLabs Report Discusses Movie Trojan and Other Worms

» SPAMfighter News - 1/27/2010