Assignment 2

Malware in disguise

Link to article: (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/159974/scam_antivirus_app_spreads_malware.html)

One of the biggest issues in the online world today is malware. Malware, also known as Malicious Software, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Hard to believe that someone or something can destroy your computer without being right in front of it. Many computer buyers know what viruses are, and how you get them. Yet the figure that there avntivirus software will catch and stop all of that stuff. Well what happens when the software you install knowingly is the actual issue. Who would install a virus or malware program knowingly on their own machine? Well when it is in disguise many people would and have been, especially in this case.

I choose this article because I like to keep people informed about the threats and issues out there and how to avoid them. This article talks about the variety of antivirus software out there on the web for download that does not do what it says, but in fact it does the opposite.

"Web users have been warned about a new scam that posts fake product reviews in a bid to encourage people to buy a rogue security application called Anti-virus-1. The app is one of a number of bogus security products which promise to provide protection against the latest online threats, but instead have been designed to spread malware or hold users' PCs to ransom."

I believe the article I choose is important because it lets people know that what they think is safe might not be truly safe. When it comes to the Internet it is always good to try and get your information from viable sources and not random websites. Sadly in the case of Anti-virus-1 the fake reviews did make their way to well know review sites.

So what can you do to try and help keep your machine and personal items safe. You can stick with the products that you know. Now I am not saying that these will stop 100% of everything out there but they will help, and running more than one on your machine at a time will help increase your protection chances.

I have included a list of antiviruse software I have used and currently use. I am not saying these are the best, because there are alot out there. I am only saying these are the ones I have used in the past and am currently using certain ones still.


Antivirus Software:

Free
Avast: http://www.avast.com/
AVG: http://free.avg.com/

Commerical
Norton: http://www.symantec.com/norton/index.jsp
McAfee: http://www.mcafee.com/us/

References:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware