Fake Security Programs Exploit Avira's Good Name
Avira is a company that specializes in providing virus, firewall, antispam, and recovery solutions against malware infection for Windows and Linux users. You may be familiar with their free antivirus offering, Avira AntiVir Personal. It would seem that the people with malicious intent that come up with fake security software applications (or rogues) realized they could use Avira’s good name for their own benefit.
“Even cybergangsters are aware of the good reputation and widespread use of Avira Security Solutions. Fake anti-virus solutions have now turned up that imitate the look of Avira in an attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting users. The falsified versions are called Security Antivirus Suite or Antivirus Security Suite and are offered using the promotional slogan 20 Years of Total Protection on websites that also ape the look and feel of the Avira website,” explained Avira in a statement.
Fake antivirus programs or rogue antivirus programs claim they can protect against all sorts of malware threats – viruses, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and so on. They cannot actually detect, remove and protect any malware type. It’s all nothing but a scam that starts with the rogue claiming to do all these things. Then, once it has been installed on your system, the rogue employs various scare tactics (fake system scans, browser hijacking, phony security alerts) to trick you into thinking your system is infected. It all ends with the rogue asking you to purchase a license or full version to remove the infection it detected. As in the made-up infection it detected with its phony security software capabilities.
Do not fall for specially crafted webpages that promote rogue security software applications. If you want to use Avira’s free antivirus program, make sure to download it from the official website www.free-av.com. If you want to get one of the paid security software solutions that Avira markets, visit the official website www.avira.com.
Here is how a specially crafted webpage that exploits Avira’s good name to promote rogues looks like.
As you can see, they tried to copy Avira’s logo, but didn’t quite get it right.
If you want to learn how to remove the latest rogue threats, check out our dedicated section here.
“Even cybergangsters are aware of the good reputation and widespread use of Avira Security Solutions. Fake anti-virus solutions have now turned up that imitate the look of Avira in an attempt to take advantage of unsuspecting users. The falsified versions are called Security Antivirus Suite or Antivirus Security Suite and are offered using the promotional slogan 20 Years of Total Protection on websites that also ape the look and feel of the Avira website,” explained Avira in a statement.
Fake antivirus programs or rogue antivirus programs claim they can protect against all sorts of malware threats – viruses, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and so on. They cannot actually detect, remove and protect any malware type. It’s all nothing but a scam that starts with the rogue claiming to do all these things. Then, once it has been installed on your system, the rogue employs various scare tactics (fake system scans, browser hijacking, phony security alerts) to trick you into thinking your system is infected. It all ends with the rogue asking you to purchase a license or full version to remove the infection it detected. As in the made-up infection it detected with its phony security software capabilities.
Do not fall for specially crafted webpages that promote rogue security software applications. If you want to use Avira’s free antivirus program, make sure to download it from the official website www.free-av.com. If you want to get one of the paid security software solutions that Avira markets, visit the official website www.avira.com.
Here is how a specially crafted webpage that exploits Avira’s good name to promote rogues looks like.
As you can see, they tried to copy Avira’s logo, but didn’t quite get it right.
If you want to learn how to remove the latest rogue threats, check out our dedicated section here.
