TOP TEN WEB HOSTING

Steve Weigle asked:



The one thing that never changes in IT is the fact that everything is constantly changing.  In the past, people had to watch out for viruses.  Then it was spyware, and then it was browser hijackers.  Next came the Trojan, a program, that when opened would release either a virus, spyware or both.  Lastly, we heard about phishing, an attack that tricked the end user into giving out personal information that can lead to identity theft. 

Recently The Village Geek has been flooded by computers that are infected with what researchers are calling fraudware.  Fraudware is software that tries to frighten the end user into purchasing protection from… itself.  In the old days they called it extortion.

 The current rash of fraudware is called Antivirus 2008; it is available in several varieties, including XP Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009 (the latest version!), MS Antivirus and probably more.  This is an actual program that installs itself on your system in the same way spyware installs, without your knowledge or permission.  Antivirus 2008 then shows up on your task bar as a warning icon that looks almost identical to the Windows Security Center shield and it shows an “X” or an exclamation mark.  Pop up bubbles will warn you that an infection has been found.  If you ignore the pop ups the program will pop up full screen and simulate a virus scan showing multiple infections.  The program will show you all the problems and then it will explain that you must purchase the full version for $50 in order to clean these infections.

 Here are some typical warning messages:

Privacy Violation alert!

XP antivirus detected Privacy Violation. Some program is secretly sending your private data to untrusted internet host. Click here to block this activity by removing threats (Recommended).

Or

System files modification alert!

Some critical system files of your computer were modified by malicious program. It may cause system instability and data loss. Click here to block unauthorized modification by removing threats (Recommended).

The beauty of the scam is that (at least so far) none of the major antivirus and antispyware programs are picking this thing up.  Once you pay your money the program doesn’t clean anything and on some versions it will actually release a flood of spyware or Trojans into your system.  Eventually you will no longer be able to use your system as the Antivirus 2008 will not allow you to get past its interface except to follow the link where they will allow you to repurchase the software in hopes of ridding yourself of the menace.

Obviously if you have paid these crooks for the full version you will need to contact your credit card company and stop payment as soon as possible.

The early version of this fraudware had an uninstall routine, which would remove it from the “Add and Remove Programs” applet in the control panel, but did not remove the program.  The newest versions don’t bother with the extra steps, they’ve got you and they aren’t going to let go.

Below are some typical processes, files and registry entries that must be removed in order to clean Antivirus 2008 off your system.  You should be aware that editing the registry should only be done by experienced technicians, and there is no guarantee that these files are the only ones on your system.  Comparing your running processes in the Windows Task Manager against this list will help you determine if this is an issue on your system.

Associated (XP) Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009, and XP Antivirus Processes

Antvrs.exe

AntvrsInstall.exe

AntvrsInstall[1].exe

Win Antivirus 2008.exe

av2008xp.exe

Antivirus-2008.exe

xpa_2008.exe

Associated (XP) Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009, and XP Antivirus Files:

c:Program FilesXP Antivirus

c:Program FilesXP Antivirusxpa.exe

c:Program FilesXPAntivirus

c:Program FilesXPAntivirusXPAntivirus.exe

c:WINDOWSsystem32scui.cpl

%UserProfile%DesktopXP Antivirus 2008.lnk

%UserProfile%Start MenuXP Antivirus 2008

%UserProfile%Start MenuXP Antivirus 2008Uninstall XP Antivirus 2008.lnk

%UserProfile%Start MenuXP Antivirus 2008XP Antivirus 2008.lnk

%UserProfile%Application DataMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchXP Antivirus 2008.lnk

c:WINDOWSkrln32.exe

c:WINDOWSsystem32scvh0st.exe

c:Program FilesCommon Filestrjdwnl.dll

c:WINDOWSshlext32.exe

Associated (XP) Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009, and XP Antivirus Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareXP antivirus

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesXPAntivirusFilter

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesXPAntivirusFilter

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper

Objects{4e7bd74f-2b8d-469e-dcf7-f96da086b434}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper

Objects{6C6B8C69-9285-4D94-8492-9E920C8C2B65}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper

Objects{74f25a2c-22b3-4023-8f1a-ca616c30a8b5}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper

Objects{9a19966f-ae0e-4699-8cce-9b6f5f1c352c}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper

Objects{D714A94F-123A-45CC-8F03-040BCAF82AD6}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallXP antivirus_is1

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “XP Antivirus”

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “mmnext06″

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “shellbn”

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “System”

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “Windows Framework”

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “”

Typically I would refer you to links on the internet that may be helpful at this point, but every site I can find is busy attempting to sell you a solution, or worse, attempting to infect you.  At one point the top paid advertisement on the right side of a Google search was for Antivirus 2008. 

Carl Atkinson asked:



There are many fraudulent security programs out there and System Antivirus is one of them. These programs seek to take your money and destroy your computer. These fraudulent applications lie to people, try their best take their money, and then they don’t even deliver what they promised. There are ways of stopping them from completing their missions, however. If you read on, you will discover how to protect your computer from certain disaster.

System Antivirus is a rogue antivirus program. It is modeled after other antivirus programs as well as other rogue antivirus scams. System Antivirus does its best to look professional so as to try the infected user.

System Antivirus usually tends to find its way onto peoples computers through a security exploit that already exists on the user’s computer. This exploit is usually through a Trojan horse program. Trojans are malicious programs that lower security settings and download other programs onto a computer without the user’s permission.

Once System Antivirus infects a computer, it starts to harass the user with system error messages, fake warnings about imaginary infections, and pop up ads that advertise System Antivirus. The ultimate goal is to trick the user into downloading the full version of System Antivirus. That is why System Antivirus offers a free scan.

The free scan that System Antivirus offers only gives false reports about viruses infecting the computer. While it is true that the infected computer is in danger, it isn’t from the made up threats that System Antivirus tells the user about.

After the free scan, System Antivirus then tries to get the infected user to buy the full version of System Antivirus by saying that System Antivirus is the only way to remove the viral threats. If the user were to fall for this scam, the full version of the program would be a complete waste of money. It would not offer the slightest bit of protection. What is astonishing is that System Antivirus would actually download more malicious software onto the user’s computer.

This flood of malicious software would cause your computer to be ruined. The adware that would be downloaded would bog your computer down and make everything work at slug like speeds. The spyware programs would put the user’s personal information at risk. The Trojans that would be added would only help to add more malware to the PC. All of this together would result in a worthless computer that couldn’t do anything.

In order to prevent this from happening to you, you need to install a legitimate antispyware program that offers quality protection. As has been made obvious by System Antivirus, there are many rogue security programs out there, so be sure to do your research on a product before you buy it.

When looking at an antispyware program, you should always look for a guarantee to remove 100% of spyware from your computer. Without this guarantee, the product just won’t be good enough at protecting your computer. Make sure that you get complete protection or System Antivirus may make worm’s meat out of your computer.

To scan your pc for free and find out if you have System Antivirus click here.

Anu asked:



There’s an influx of antivirus software in the internet these days. Antivirus software are everywhere in the internet. Article about them are also common. The problem with having too much of one thing is that you will have a hard time selecting the good from the bad. To come up with a list of possible choices one has to compare antivirus software. Comparing is not easy, considering the number of antivirus to compare. Many website are there to help with comparison but they only compare a few. They focus their comparison to selected antivirus that are already there for many years. How about those antivirus software that have just recently started but may also have the ability to perform well? They don’t have the chance to be tested and be proven competitive with the popular ones.

Popularity

There should be a means to compare antivirus software not based on popularity but with their ability to thwart virus attacks. I have read articles that compare antivirus software and they are impressive. They test antivirus software based on how they detect known virus. Many antivirus software fared very well. Others did not do well because they were not able to detect new virus. The problem is that they limit their comparison to a chosen few. What about those that are left out? How will they be given a chance?

Who says So?

There are also those who compare antivirus software based on what the company that made them has to say about their product. I don’t know if this is reliable enough. There are people who claim to have done something but if you ask them to do it they can’t. There are just too many people who tell lies this days. I don’t say that all of them are liars but who would know the difference between an honest company from a lying one. They all write pretty good things about their products. Who would say bad things about something they themselves made?

Who’s Initiative?

The initiative to compare antivirus software should come from people other that those who made it or have any vested interest about it. The objective of the comparison should be to help people in choosing the right antivirus and not to promote one. People would love to know the truth about antivirus. There are already so much antivirus out there. It’s already difficult to know all of them. Another product profile may turn buyers off. What people need is honest, comprehensive, fair and accurate comparison of antivirus software based on performance and ability to protect computers from virus attacks.

It may take a long time before anyone can compare antivirus software comprehensively. That would be very difficult to do considering that there are so much of these products in the market today. There are also many things to consider. A definite plan should be established first before the factual, realistic and unbiased way to compare antivirus software is realized.

For now to determine which antivirus software is right for you should visit http://www.antivirusreviews.ws for honest Antivirus Software Reviews