Bogus Anti-Virus Still Active: Kaspersky

In the last few months, the number of cyber attacks selling bogus anti-virus programs has declined significantly, but the business is still alive and active, with fresh assaults keep on being released, according to security researchers' remarks published online in Techworld on October 31, 2011.

The occurrence of false anti-virus attacks has dropped to under 10,000 a day, approximately between 50,000 and 60,000 per date in June 2011, thanks to the stringent law enforcement efforts, development in search engine sorting algorithms, and safety personnel's actions to interrupt web-criminal delivery networks, says anti-virus software seller Kaspersky Lab's latest report.

However, the business of such fake programs still exists actively despite the fall, the professionals at Kaspersky Lab comment, adding that they had spotted a forged anti-virus program using the 'cloud' trend in the recent times.

The cloud services are those which are offered over the cyberspace, and these may comprise electronic mail and online storage of music and other files.

By mentioning about the cloud protection, these false anti-virus programs try to enjoy the benefit of a stylish novel concept. If the user gets into the trap, he can found another con. While the price apparently appears to be $52.95 in the middle of the screen, it moves stealthily in the small print as $72.85 for the 'lifelong protection,' Kaspersky Lab expert Vyacheslav Zakorzhevsky said in a Securelist's online report published on October 27, 2011.

The security firm said its software identifies the fresh spiteful program as Trojan-FakeAV.Win32.OpenCloud, which bangs up and recognizes few main MS Windows applications, like Notepad, Media Player, Paint and Calc as 'malicious', and then offers help to clear the hypothetical virus.

The firm has also identified an associate program which tries to lure the users, offering them money for helping in spreading the false anti-virus.

As per a Gma TV news report dated October 28, 2011, the Kaspersky has advised that if one finds warnings regarding 'Windows errors' or 'system infections,' one should move further with care. Instead of paying for any product appearing impromptu over the Internet, one should fix an authentic security solution.

Related article: Bugs Swell In Browsers in 2006

» SPAMfighter News - 11/7/2011