Scareware > Interesting article

[Biggie]

ran across this article today in Chicago Sun-Times about scareware and useless anti-virus programs


and a little about where it comes from and the money being made.


http://www.suntimes.com/technology/1647846,HOF-News-EasyScare02.article

 

[draggar]

Scareware has been a problem for a long time but I agree - it is getting worse and worse. I'm sure a lot of virus writers are moving over to this tactic - more lucrative (by far) and lasts more long term - most even deliberately disable popular anti-malware programs (Symantec, McAffee, AVG, SpyBot, etc..).

I know someone who is a prime candidate for scareware scams - his only defense is his 56K connection (but he's going to high speed now so he's more at risk - I'm going to need to write him a FAQ and tricks document just for his high speed experience.

 

[Area52]

You would think these people can be tracked down. Alot of damage is being done.
If they are making that much money, they can afford to pay people off.
That might help explain why those folks haven't been put in the goulag.

 

[draggar]

Most of them are based in other countries that don't prosecute crimes like this, it's bringing a lot of money into their economies.

US (and other affected countries) can't do much if there is no extradition (sp?).

 

[HarveyJ]

You would think these people can be tracked down. Alot of damage is being done.
If they are making that much money, they can afford to pay people off.
That might help explain why those folks haven't been put in the goulag.

AHAHAHAAAAAA!!!
The whole thing about being anonymous online is actually entirely true.
If you know what you're dong, you're impossible to track.

Use the HTTP layer using spoofed proxies, or simply only surf from public connections. FTP the same way.
Use a VPN for any kind of torrent, swarm, TELnet, Gopher, USEnet or DCC setup.
Anonymous logins for IRCs.
Register websites using false identities, paid for with a prepaid VISA debit card available at any convenience store.
Code using computers, or HDDs, you're happy to dispose of, and upload from publicly accessible locations.

A little extra effort to reap in thousands of dollars a day for doing almost nothing... and you know why? Because the scam people fall for most often is a sense of security. Make them feel insecure, and they'll buy anything, without asking necessary questions.
The U.S. Government has proved this of its own people time and again, and the stats for people buying "anti-viral" programs after a pop up, a simple, freaking javascript popup, prove this point too.

You guys that are solidly into domains need to pull your heads out and actually look around you at what's going on in IT&T from time to time.

 

[Biggie]

AHAHAHAAAAAA!!!
The whole thing about being anonymous online is actually entirely true.
If you know what you're dong, you're impossible to track.

Use the HTTP layer using spoofed proxies, or simply only surf from public connections. FTP the same way.
Use a VPN for any kind of torrent, swarm, TELnet, Gopher, USEnet or DCC setup.
Anonymous logins for IRCs.
Register websites using false identities, paid for with a prepaid VISA debit card available at any convenience store.
Code using computers, or HDDs, you're happy to dispose of, and upload from publicly accessible locations.

A little extra effort to reap in thousands of dollars a day for doing almost nothing... and you know why? Because the scam people fall for most often is a sense of security. Make them feel insecure, and they'll buy anything, without asking necessary questions.
The U.S. Government has proved this of its own people time and again, and the stats for people buying "anti-viral" programs after a pop up, a simple, freaking javascript popup, prove this point too.

You guys that are solidly into domains need to pull your heads out and actually look around you at what's going on in IT&T from time to time.

well it (scareware) generates rev because scare tactics work on the population in general.
though the more informed you are, the less fear you will have.

thus less need for a sense of security or protection.


but thanks for your perspective of how the culprits or any culprit could operate or advantage a user.

 

[JuniperPark]

This is MacAfee and Norton's BUSINESS MODEL!

 

[Theo]

Leave this thread or in 8 seconds you will be infected by the ebola virus.

 

[HarveyJ]

This is MacAfee and Norton's BUSINESS MODEL!

Not quite.
They don't have sites that actually infect your computer and then have popups notifying you about it, only to sell you software that doesn't actually clean it, but instead logs and sends back any information on an inputted character string that looks like it could be a credit card number or bank login.

Whilst their businesses do rely on fear and ignorance, they at least provide a legitimate product and service... Even if Norton does suck more than a hole in a space suit.

 

[JuniperPark]

Not quite.
They don't have sites that actually infect your computer and then have popups notifying you about it, only to sell you software that doesn't actually clean it, but instead logs and sends back any information on an inputted character string that looks like it could be a credit card number or bank login.

Whilst their businesses do rely on fear and ignorance, they at least provide a legitimate product and service... Even if Norton does suck more than a hole in a space suit.

And you got this information.... WHERE?

In the early 90's MacaFEE was "warning" everyone to buy their software to fight against viruses that nobody had seen yet... and they magically appeared a month later. Those virsuses did nothing but screw up your computer -- the only people making money from the "theat" was the virus maker, and they made MILLIONS... follow the money, as they say.

Fast forward to 2009. Norton the virus was shipped INSTALLED on my laptop, and THERE IS NO UNINSTALL! I have to click to "bypass" the "warning" that I have not upgarded to the PAID version of their shitware. That IS a virus!

On another machine, MacAfee is also giving me popup warnings that my subscription has expired -- yes, I once paid the RANSOM, but there is a problem -- there IS no upgrade for Windows2000, so now I am stuck with their popup-virus!