March 19, 2010
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Know Your Scareware, Pt.3
A double-edged sword.Scareware has become more sophisticated over the past months having the capabilities of resisting some of the best antivirus and internet security software. Computer repair services have a double edged sword to deal with. On the one hand, they help fight credit card theft and yet on the other, they are making a bundle off repairing the infected machines. At approximately 30 percent of the business computer repair companies get $100 to $150 a crack to repair a system. Removing scareware has become one of the greatest money making tasks for most computer repair companies. Legitimate security software companies are also making money off the credit card thieves with their own computer clean-up software.
Many of these developers of fake antivirus software typically are involved with unrelated illegal activity such as selling pirated music and movies, pornography, illegal drugs, and the sales of pirated antivirus software. In the case of Innovative Marketing, the company was involved in all of these activities before trying to design its own antivirus software under the name Computershield, but the software didn't work. The company attempted to take advantage of scared credit card customers and email users in the wake of a massive computer worm attack. The venture brought Innovative over a $1 million a month from credit card customers purchasing the worthless software. Most likely, the experience gave the company the idea for its fake antivirus scam.
Another lucrative business is the development of adware software that produces pop-up windows that market travel services, pornography, illegal drugs, and other business. The companies pay hackers for each computer they infect with the adware software. Some adware gives criminals the ability to steal personal information and credit card information. Once the adware is installed on the computer, it is virtually impossible for the user to get rid of the pop-up windows.