Thieves Winning Online War, Maybe Even in Your Computer

Chief Geek — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:51:54 +0000

Mugging someone at knife-point is so old-school. The bad guys have moved on to more elegant cons, where you may not even realize you’ve been ripped off.

This recent article in the New York Times does a good job of capturing the current threat environment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/technology/internet/06security.html? _r=1&scp=2&sq=computer%20security&st=cse

Fake Antivirus Software

Chief Geek — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:06:32 +0000

Beware of rogue security software

The bad guys are smart. They will do just about anything to steal your passwords, harvest your identity and make a quick buck.

What’s the motivation? Money. And that’s why the problem won’t go away anytime soon. The cybercriminals are very well funded by organized crime., thus ensuring they procure the best talent.

The lastest attacks entail ‘scareware.’ And we’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of computers infected with such rogue programs.

Here’s how they scam you:

You’re using your computer, minding your own business, when suddenly an alert pops up on your screen.
The alert says there’s a virus on your computer and urgently requests you take action.
You click ‘OK’ or ‘Yes’ or whatever seems like the right thing to do and then you’re prompted to purchase the software to remove the virus.
Wanting to take care of the problem, you pay for it and download the ‘software.’
The end.

Well, unfortunately, it’s not a happy ending. In this case, the wolf is dressed in sheep’s clothing. The cybercrimal simply masquerades as a legitimate antispyware or antivirus company, encourages you to take action, and takes advantage of your and your computer in the progress. It works well. Many people have fallen victim to this kind of attack.

What’s the damage?

Worst case: Your computer may now have real viruses, you may have purchased a bogus piece of software, and your credit card number may have been compromised.

What should you do if you get one of those pop-ups?

View it with suspicion. Press Alt+F4 to close the Window and then run your own antivirus and antispyware programs. Make sure they’re updated before running them.

What should you do if you fell for the scam?

Get in touch with us. We will scan the computer free of charge and make recommendations as-needed.

For more info about rogue security software, please go here: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx

For a growing list of fake programs masquerading as the real thing, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_software

Be careful of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be skeptical of everything you find online. Educate your family, friends and colleagues.