Bogus "spyware protection"
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 0
From: Chichester, UK
Bogus "spyware protection"
There's a useful list of dodgy anti-spyware software here.
Tactics seem to range from 'false positives' to encourage you to buy, to browser hijacking, aggressive advertising and even installation of trojans, spyware and adware. Domain name games seem common, too - for example, if you go for the well-regarded Spybot Search & Destroy, the the .com domain contains something very different to the real http://www.safer-networking.org/ domain. And there's even Google advertising to point you to the bad guys...
Tactics seem to range from 'false positives' to encourage you to buy, to browser hijacking, aggressive advertising and even installation of trojans, spyware and adware. Domain name games seem common, too - for example, if you go for the well-regarded Spybot Search & Destroy, the the .com domain contains something very different to the real http://www.safer-networking.org/ domain. And there's even Google advertising to point you to the bad guys...
The Oracle
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 0
From: Naples, Florida U.S.A.
Evo,
Preying in the uninformed seems to be the norm these days.
I hope people do their homework and keep up with is real vs what are scams.
Take Care,
Richard
P.S. With more and more ISPs putting Spam and Virus blockers on their Mail Servers and all the work forums do to point out scammers, we just might have a chance.
Preying in the uninformed seems to be the norm these days.
I hope people do their homework and keep up with is real vs what are scams.
Take Care,
Richard
P.S. With more and more ISPs putting Spam and Virus blockers on their Mail Servers and all the work forums do to point out scammers, we just might have a chance.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Scam virus/ Spyware protection
Yes, it is best to go with a name you know and trust. I like Spybot.. I think they did a real good job on the program.. but yes I have seen the placebos.
Anyway... Do a search on the program you are thinking about installing.. see what the common chat is... If it is crap.. there will be word on it.
Be careful on any pop up or ads trying to "protect" you, they are almost always a scam.. do not install any program that you have just "found" on the net. In my early days.. I tried that.. The freeware, shareware et cetera... Cost me a world of headaches...
Now I keep all information off my computer except for the programs I am using. I clear my internet files, cookies et cetera every time I disconnect from the internet and I reformat my computer once a month.
I am out here for a lot of hours.. thus all of the above are needs. However, if everyone were to take these simple steps.. they would have one clean machine. It is like an oil change every 3000 miles..
Wink
Anyway... Do a search on the program you are thinking about installing.. see what the common chat is... If it is crap.. there will be word on it.
Be careful on any pop up or ads trying to "protect" you, they are almost always a scam.. do not install any program that you have just "found" on the net. In my early days.. I tried that.. The freeware, shareware et cetera... Cost me a world of headaches...
Now I keep all information off my computer except for the programs I am using. I clear my internet files, cookies et cetera every time I disconnect from the internet and I reformat my computer once a month.
I am out here for a lot of hours.. thus all of the above are needs. However, if everyone were to take these simple steps.. they would have one clean machine. It is like an oil change every 3000 miles..
Wink
