Anti virus is a basic security tool that protects us from any kind of viruses. There are more than 145 different anti- virus companies in the market that helps us protect our computers.
Taking an advantage of these, many people are trying to create fake versions of those that are there in the market which is actually a risk that no one can find so easily and even the anti-virus companies are facing a uphill task to update their definitions for the newly created fake anti-viruses.
HOW TO FIND AN ANTI-VIRUS AS FAKE:
- It comes in a link on a common site that people most commonly browse
- Comes with a name just modified in the end or in the beginning eg:- Anti-Virus 2010..etc
- Suddenly pops up and catches your attention and allowing you to click un-intentionally
- Spam e-mails that are being sent to you by unknown user
HOW THEY WORK:
- Once they attack the PC they start popping up every now and then and shows that there are risks on the computer.
- once you click on clean, in the initial days say for 7-15 days, it shows cleaning the computer and in the end asks us to subscribe to a full version of it, which generally you can ignore.
- By the time it is installed it will take the start up process and runs a scan as soon as the computer is started.
- There after 15 days it asks us to purchase a full version of it and displays the page where credit card information need to be filled which actually takes the card information and gives a program that is really fake.
- It may also lead to unauthorized usage of bank accounts or credit card by the criminals who steal the details when purchasing the fake program and it is called crimeware.
THREAT LEVEL:
Risk or threat level depends on the motive behind the program created. Some programs are intended to steal the bank account details or credit card details, some attack the computer processes; eg:- Thinkpoint virus attacks start up process and will not allow us to boot. It displays to boot in safe start up and starts a scan when it is clicked and follows the same process as above. This is not operating system specific, it attack all the windows operating systems eg:- XP, Vista and Windows7
The main motive behind these fake anti viruses is people try to steal the bank and credit card information which they can misuse for their personal or anti-social activities.
Others will make the PC go weird like windows update process stops and behave in an unexpected manner which result in hardware or software failures.
PREVENTION:
- Don't click on links that says free anti-virus program or protect your computer
- Delete spam mails that are sent to you by unknown senders or unrecognized companies
- Update your Internet Security program regularly
- Keep proper security level in preventing unwanted pop-ups.
SUGGESTIONS:
Use any of the Microsoft Suggested anti-virus programs and keep the virus databases or definitions updated daily.
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