False Security

While surfing the net, you may encounter pop ups telling you to update your anti-virus program of that your computer is infected, hence, you need to buy a new virus scanner. Many people have been victimized of this unethical practice and actually buy the anti-virus program offered, only to discover later on that they in fact bought the very “virus” that they sought to evade. Their computer will start to slowdown, malfunction, and eventually crash.
This is called scareware. A frequently used tactic is to convince users that their computer is infected with a virus, then suggest that they download, and pay for, anti-virus software to remove it. Usually the virus is entirely fictional and the software is non-functional or malware. The selling approach is designed to cause shock, anxiety, or the perception of a threat, hence called “scareware”, generally directed at an unsuspecting user.
So, how can users protect themselves? Here are some simple tips:
(1) Beware of pop-up ads alerting you to a virus infection. Legitimate antivirus companies do not use ads to tell users about viruses in their computers. If a user on a legitimate Web site suddenly finds himself or herself on an antivirus-software site, it is probably bogus.
(2) Be wary of programs that scan for viruses automatically without requiring permission.
(3) Avoid updating their antivirus software using automated pop-up warning messages, using the computer's control panel instead.