Fake anti-virus software hacks PCs for cash

Posted on 19 Oct 2009 at 14:17

Online criminals are infecting their victims' PC with fake anti-virus software and conning them into handing over their credit card details.

Security firm Symantec estimates that the criminals behind this scam are netting over £850,000 per year. The company claims that the vast majority of victims (93 per cent) actually download the rogue security programs intentionally, believing that it will help keep their computers safe from viruses and other internet threats.

PCs can also fall foul of the threat by visiting malicious or hacked websites that install the software automatically. Computer Shopper's own virus testing lab has frequently encountered fake anti-virus programs 'embedded' into websites ranging from 'honeypots' (such as pornographic sites designed to ensnare victims) to legitimate but hacked sites including some belonging to a bank, a Chinese tea importing business and a well-known author.

Symantec claims that is has identified over 250 types of the rogue software. These are spread across the internet by a network of criminals who earn commissions from the big players. Con Mallon, Product Marketing Director for Symantec, told us that "we found a number of affiliate networks that we were able to monitor and see how they were operating. We know how much the affiliates are paid per installation. Some people earn $23,000 per week, which comes to over $1m dollars per year."

In the UK affiliates can earn 30 to 40 pence per installation. This may not seem like much but Mallon points out that PCs belonging to thousands of people are being infected. This is a lucrative business for the criminal con artists. "People go looking for security software and end up on fake sites. Pop-ups fool them into thinking there's a problem and they panic-buy the software."

Fake anti-virus software looks incredibly convincing. Computer Shopper has infected a system in its dedicated virus testing lab and created some video footage so you'll know what to look out for. Click on the video image below to view it.