IT firm joins global fake anti-virus warning |30 April 2010

The SPACE 95 warning follows the publication of a study by search engine giant Google, which analysed 240 million web pages over 13 months and found that fake anti-virus programmes accounted for 15% of all malicious software.

Using the malicious software, scammers trick people into downloading programmes by convincing them that their PC is infected with a virus. Once installed, the software may steal data, force people to make a payment to register the fake product or simply expire and leave the computer open to attack from other viruses.

“Computers in Seychelles are just as vulnerable to viruses as computers anywhere else in the world,” warned Jaya Nair, sales and marketing manager at SPACE 95.

“The threat posed by fake anti-virus software can come in two forms. In the first instance the fake software is not malicious itself, but, as an unlicensed copy, it will expire after a few months and will not be able to make the daily software updates that licensed anti-virus software requires to stay ahead of the latest virus threats, leaving the computer open to attack. In the second instance the fake software itself contains malware elements which can harm the computer or corrupt or steal data from the moment it is installed.”

The Google study, which was presented at the Usenix Workshop on Large-Scale Exploits and Emergent Threats in California, analysed websites between January 2009 and February 2010.

It discovered more than 11,000 web domains involved in its distribution of fake anti-virus. More than half of the fake software - which predominantly targets Windows machines - was delivered via adverts.

One of the key ways that hackers spread fake anti-virus is through “black hat” search engine optimisation techniques, in which they track trending news stories then create websites stuffed with content, which in many cases can appear on the first page of search results. Anyone clicking on the link would then be confronted with a pop-up with a link to fake anti-virus software.

“SPACE 95 has the latest versions of McAfee and Norton anti-virus software for home users and Symantec anti-virus software for corporate users. As licensed products they will automatically update themselves via the manufacturers’ websites, to stay up-to-date with the latest virus threats,” said Mr Nair.

“Computer users confronted with pop-ups telling them to download something extra or spend money to clean up their computer should be suspicious. A computer which already has anti-virus installed shouldn’t do this, so stay vigilant. And if you’re unsure, check with an IT technician,” he said.