Fake security software in millions of computers: Symantec

[SayWhat?]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tens of millions of U.S. computers are loaded with scam security software that their owners may have paid for but which only makes the machines more vulnerable, according to a new Symantec report on cybercrime.

Symantec found 250 varieties of scam security software with legitimate sounding names like Antivirus 2010 and SpywareGuard 2008, and about 43 million attempted downloads in one year but did not know how many of the attempted downloads succeeded, said Weafer.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE59I0A520091019

[wingrider01]

actually old news, Trend Micro has been following this for a few months already.

[Nick]

actually old news...First I've heard of it so it is news to me. Trend Micro has been following this for a few months already.I don't see where you said that here a few months ago -- did I miss your post?

SayWhat?, thanks for posting.

[hdtvfan0001]

Sounds like a Symantec advertising campaign to me....:D

[Fontano]

Base on my own research (aka, the number of systems I have repaird for people with these two particular program), I think the 48 million number is grossly under-estimated.

These two are FANTASTICALLY social engineered to trick even some of the most cautious of users. And they have evolved over the last few years to really bite down hard and grip on to the system really tight.

And this is the first year, I switched off Symantec to Trend Micro. The 3 licenses for the price of 1 symantec was just too much to over look.

[WestDC]

Base on my own research (aka, the number of systems I have repaird for people with these two particular program), I think the 48 million number is grossly under-estimated.

These two are FANTASTICALLY social engineered to trick even some of the most cautious of users. And they have evolved over the last few years to really bite down hard and grip on to the system really tight.

And this is the first year, I switched off Symantec to Trend Micro. The 3 licenses for the price of 1 symantec was just too much to over look.

I thought that was the number of people I needed to buy health care for?

[wingrider01]

First I've heard of it so it is news to me. I don't see where you said that here a few months ago -- did I miss your post?

SayWhat?, thanks for posting.

why bother? All the symantec thing is a push to sell their new and updated products. The bottom line is the "ad" is written as if it is a new revelation and not something that has been reported already in the past. Cert and a number of others have been saying this for months.

[Marlin Guy]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tens of millions of U.S. computers are loaded with scam security software that their owners may have paid for but which only makes the machines more vulnerable, according to a new Symantec report on cybercrime.

Cyberthieves are increasingly planting fake security alerts that pop up when computer users access a legitimate website. The "alert" warns them of a virus and offers security software, sometimes for free and sometimes for a fee.

It's good to see that Captain Obvious has landed on his feet and is now working for Symantec.

Next assignment - See if there's anything to that rumor about there being wireless phones with built-in cameras.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp161/janewli15/captainobvious.jpg

[BattleZone]

I've gotten at least a dozen calls from friends and family concerned that they needed to download one of these bogus AV apps (2 of them had already done so). Like Fontano mentioned, the social engineering on these has been refined over the years so that these look VERY legit, and the actual code is VERY nasty.

[SayWhat?]

I don't think it's a Symantec advertisement. I see it as a public awareness campaign the same as messages about the Nigerian and Western Union scams. Most people witha brain know about them, but there are still thousands of new victims every year.

I don't like Norton software at all, but I'm OK with Symantec as a company doing detections and security alerts and announcements and some of their specific malware removal tools have come in very handy.

[Marlin Guy]

Symantec must have finally tweaked their security products so that they are able to deal with these types of attacks, and that's why they now wish to raise public awareness.
Previously, when it comes to blocking the fake AV software, their stuff has been like having Ray Charles on day watch. :nono:

[ncxcstud]

Speaking of scam 'security' software... has anyone else been inundated with "Microsoft Support" e-mails trying to dupe people into downloading fake anti-spyware support...

Sheesh...it's like they are having babies...I get at least 3-5 a day...

[Marlin Guy]

I haven't seen any of those kinds of e-mails, but I rarely get spam or scam mail anyway.
I've used the same e-mail address for years now and I might see 3-4 spams a year.

[ncxcstud]

Only reason I see it is that i use an e-mail address from my dad's website company, and he has never installed a spam filter on the server, thus relying on clients to use their own spam filters. So, Firefox catches them all, but the ones from "Microsoft Support" still get put in my inbox because Firefox still thinks it is legit...

[4HiMarks]

Only reason I see it is that i use an e-mail address from my dad's website company, and he has never installed a spam filter on the server, thus relying on clients to use their own spam filters. So, Firefox catches them all, but the ones from "Microsoft Support" still get put in my inbox because Firefox still thinks it is legit...

When did Firefox become an email client?

[Greg Alsobrook]

When did Firefox become an email client?

Firefox itself isn't.. But the company that makes Firefox (Mozilla) has an email client called Thunderbird. I'm sure that's what he was referring to.

[ncxcstud]

When did Firefox become an email client?

sorry, I meant thunderbird... not with it today :0