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Protection Against Rogue Anti-Spyware Desktop Scams

Protection Against Rogue Anti-Spyware Desktop Scams

*Do you often see virus/spyware security alerts popping up from the system tray?

*Do you only later realize that you don't have any anti-virus/anti-spyware program installed?

*Do you turn on your PC only to learn that your desktop wallpaper has been changed into a blue screen-like security alert?

*Are you redirected to some non-Microsoft web page after clicking the alert?

*Have you been asked by the alert message to buy a security program?

*Does your anti-spyware program detect threats all the time, but there are still a lot of pop-up ads (and it seems that there are more and more of them every week)?

If you experience even one of the problems mentioned above, you are probably a victim of a rogue anti-spyware desktop scam. This is a relatively new category of spyware/adware Trojans that prey on the people's fear of adware programs.

Protecting yourself against rogue anti-spyware desktop scams is relatively easy, provided that you know exactly what you should do. If you suspect your system may have been infected by rogue anti-spyware:

DO NOT:

*click on the alert windows, no matter how professional or harmless it looks. Such alerts should always be treated with utmost caution, especially if you don't have any anti-virus installed.

*follow any instructions provided by the alert message or displayed on the hijacked desktop. All of them lead to further compromising your security,

*panic. Even if the messages are very alarming, there are much worse things waiting for you if you install rogue anti-spyware.

YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY:

*stay calm - even if the message mentions that it is a personal message from Bill Gates himself and it tells you that your hard drive is melting right now,

*download and run a reputable anti-spyware program such as ParetoLogic's XoftSpySE or Spyware Doctor. Follow the instructions and remove all detected threats,

*improve your system protection against rogue anti-spyware desktop scams and other security threats. If the desktop hijacker has managed to install on your computer, your security is incomplete. Get or update your firewall, anti-virus software and all spyware scanners you use.

Any spyware removal tool such as ParetoLogic XoftSpySE or similar software gives you 99 percent protection against rogue anti-spyware desktop scams. All you need to do is install the spyware scanner and perform occasional scans.

Here is a list of 10 common rogue anti-spyware desktop scams:

1. SpyAxe,

2. SpySheriff,

3. PSGuard,

4. WorldAntiSpy,

5. SpyTrooper,

6. RazeSpyware,

7. SpywareDemolisher/SpywareNo!,

8. SlimShield,

9. Spyware Bomber,

10. SpywareQuake.

All of these programs are known to perform secret installations which lead to desktop hijacking. Remember that the list is much longer than the one posted here and scammers are known to change their products' names constantly to lure unwary users into buying them. The single most important piece of advice is to ignore the warnings posed by these programs and install a respected anti-virus program that will take care of these problems once and for all.

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