Teen Checkup | Internet Safety

Cyber Crooks Get Crafty

Since the earliest discovery of rogue security software in the fall of 2003, that corrupt and fraudulent enterprise has continued to thrive at the expense of thousands of unfortunate and non-suspecting victims. Pop-ups get our attention with messages such as “Warning! Spyware Detected on Your Computer”. This has the effect of frightening the user into taking some predetermined action, encouraging the victim to download the perpetrator’s unique spyware remover, which can thoroughly scan the “alleged” infected computer for other malicious forms of adware spyware, and a multitude of potential viruses.

Unfortunately, in most instances, the user compromises whatever security software or firewall, that might already be protecting the computer by accepting the download and ignoring any cautionary warnings against such action. The phony software is then installed and subsequently performs its destructive scan and spyware removal. Many of these rogue applications actually copy spyware, adware and viruses onto the victim’s pc as it does the scan and then ironically reports the presence of such, as well as, the critical need to remove the same, in a valiant effort to save the infected computer.

Other pop-ups simply frighten the victim into a download of their rogue anti-spyware, which then performs a phony scan, without actually infecting victimized PC, after which it purports to discover an incredible array of harmful infections. If the victim purchases the phony remedy, the application then performs a cleansing or sanitizing procedure, supposedly eliminating all the bad stuff that really wasn’t there to begin with. Sadly, the victim is totally unaware of the scam and feels the purchase was money well spent, as it prevented the destruction and loss of precious data, photos, music and video files. And, the bad guys, in the black hats, ride off into the sunset very well paid for their crafty hoax.

The criminals pushing the rogue spyware software make money not only from the sale of the phony spyware detection, but most alarming is that the biggest part of income is derived from the sale of the credit card numbers used in the transaction. They also frequently infect the victim’s computer with a trojan virus, leaving it uniquely vulnerable to unauthorized access. The access details are then sold to yet another kind of crook, who’s looking for personal data, in the form of social security numbers, bank accounts and other credit card details.

So, let everyone be aware that unless we take measures to prevent the scams and the theft, anyone can fall victim to an awful scenario that can last a lifetime. Identity theft is no joke. The very real potential is certainly worth the time and a modest expenditure on a good quality market-tested and trusted adware and spyware protection solution. Your personal information, as well as, your computer and its contents are at high risk until you take the appropriate action.

Don’t let the bad guys win! Regain control of your PC and your personal security now by Protecting Your Identity.

Copyright 2009 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.

Harry Monell is primarily a computer, nutrition, and natural health enthusiast and writes a wide variety of articles on those topics. He also enjoys writing on a broad range of other important niche topics.