Symantec identifies top rogue security software

Security vendor Symantec did a study of 250 fake security programs and concluded in a report that the software known as "SpywareGuard" and "AntiVirus" were the top two such software around. We ran a report about the problems posed by rogue software earlier, and another story on how this new category of malicious software has adopted affiliate methods commonly used by bloggers and web marketers.

Top of the charts at the moment appears to be SpywareGuard208 by "Pandora Software." The hefty starting price of $49.95 offers a hint to the lucrative nature of this trade. Mark Fossi of Symantec, who edited the report, noted that it is sold as a complete security suite at times, though he adds that: "it mostly does nothing."

With valid return email addresses and functioning customer service phone numbers, it is typically beyond the reach of most victims to discern the difference between these rogue software and legitimate security software.

For folks who might have fallen victim to such scams though, the folly might not be limited to a one-time pinch. Beyond the obvious problem of having purchased a botnet or malware, the victims are also cocooned in the fallacy that they are protected by security software when they are not.

An additional problem though, as noted by the report, is that "scammers also benefit from phishing personal information for users who register rogue applications." Translation: Credit card numbers and payment details used to purchase or even "register" the rogue software could well change multiple hands through the Internet underground where it is subjected to future abuse.

For more:
- check out this article at Network World

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