Significant Decline in Fake AV Software: McAfee

According to a revelation by the security firm, McAfee a remarkable reduction of fake AV software, known as scareware is noticed considering the shake-up to credit card processing and data security, as per news published in August 8, 2011.

McAfee also claimed of noticing a spectacular drop of customers complaining against spotting of scareware during July 2011. Noticeably, more than 60% reduction in customers confronting fake AV was noticed since May 2011.

Craig Schmugar, a Security Threat Researcher for McAfee denoted a reduction in detection of scams both from the customers' end and the detection of latest FakeAV variants, from the perspective of vantage point, according to the news published in KrebsonSecurity on August 4, 2011.

Schmugar also revealed that several antivirus programs have caused hindrances in their operations, inviting difficulties in the processing of credit card transaction from victims.

The researchers however detected a typical credit card processing pattern much similar to these scams and a pattern that could most often be used by Visa and MasterCard for detecting and enlisting fake AV processors.

It appears that the card issuers must have been quietly fastening down towards fraud AV transactions, due to which many of the firms are even going out of business.

The legacy of these kinds of scams continues as criminal hackers make fast money of US$ 25-35 on every instant of providing a credit card number. However, it is for certain that if the forged AV distributors are not paid for dispersing the ilegit software they will ensure some other fake methods of making fast money.

Further, Schmugar added that fake AV gets on to the nerves of users by intimating false alerts on safeguarding their systems and saving them from hijacking of the same till the user give up into paying a huge amount to get freed of this unwanted virus.

The shortage of credit card processors that serves the fraud AV industry has however reduced the first choice for a lot of people who deal with infections.

However, the data security threat from malware still holds according to the security experts as even though the fake AV software has shown a decline they are not completely abolished. The security industry still requires continuing in its efforts towards combating these kinds of threats.

Related article: Significant Rise in Cyber Threats are Expected in 2008

» SPAMfighter News - 8/19/2011