Monday, March 14, 2011

How to Identify Fake Antivirus Software


The purpose of antivirus software is to keep your computer clean from malicious software, codes, etc. On the contrary, fake antivirus programs attack your computer and steal personal information from it and use it for various purposes. They can sell your details for unwanted advertisement, spam messages, etc. It can go worse. If your computer has financial information, these rogue software can be used to steal your money from Bank account or Credit Card.

So, the question is how to identify if some program is fake. For experts, it is not a big deal but for beginners it can be a tough task. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) of these fake antivirus software looks very legitimate at first but a little research can help you find the truth behind the story.

How to Identify?

Following points will help you identify a fake antivirus software:

- Software pops up asking you to scan your computer.
- You haven't installed that software.
- If you have clicked "Scan" button it will show a lot of viruses.
- It won't help you clean your computer instead it will ask you to purchase security software to clean your computer. DO NOT BUY IT!

List of Fake Antivirus Software:

Following is the list of some common antivirus software. According to McAfee, the number of fake antivirus software has increased by 400% since 2009 and its growing fast.

- CleanUp Antivirus
- Dr Guard
- Antimalware Defender
- XP Guardian 2010
- Antivirus Live
- XP Internet Security
- Antivirus XP 2010
- XP Antivirus Pro 2010
- Security Antivirus
- Advanced Defender
- My Security Wall

Tips & Warnings

- Do not use your credit card information to buy a product you are not aware of.
- Never scan your computer online with a antivirus you are not familiar with.
- If you are not sure whether some program is legit or not, do little research over the Internet to find out details.
- The price of one software can be as high as $99.99. Do not waste your money on this.
- If you are affected with a fake antivirus, immediately clean your computer with a legit Antivirus software. Some well known security software are Kaspersky, McAfee, Panda, malwarebytes, etc.
- Always reboot your computer in Safe Mode to carry on the cleaning process. Do not start your computer in Normal mode until you are not sure that your system is cleaned.

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