Rogue Antivirus Software

Fake or rogue antivirus software is a type of malware that pretends to have found an infection on the victim’s computer. In some cases, the cybercriminal’s objective may only be to scare the victim. However, many rogue antivirus programs also try to extract payment – for the removal of malware that hasn’t actually been detected… and may not even exist. Here are some useful tips – from Kaspersky Lab’s team of Internet security experts – to help you prevent rogue antivirus programs being downloaded onto your computer: Other articles and links related to malware and securityAvoiding rogue antivirus programs
Apply the latest security patches to your operating system
(OS) and all applications, including:
Keep your antivirus and Internet security software up to date
. It’s a good idea to select the ‘receive automatic updates’ option within your security product.
Avoid clicking on the sponsored links that feature within Internet search results. Sometimes it’s also advisable to be wary of the top search results.
Whenever possible, try to access a website directly – by typing the URL into your browser. It may take a little more time – than clicking on a link that’s been generated by a search engine – but it can be a lot safer.
Avoid surfing unknown websites – especially social networks.
If you receive an email attachment that you weren’t expecting, it might be dangerous. Don’t open an unknown attachment – unless you can verify that it is genuine and that it doesn’t contain any malware.
Don’t click on random links in emails or instant messaging (IM) – or links on social networking sites.