BBB warns computer owners about 'scareware'

Thursday, 05 November 2009 11:01

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau this week warned computer users about a wave of attacks with a new form of online risk to computers and personal information: “scareware.”

Scareware hackers hit visitors to The New York Times Web site in mid-September, after it unwittingly sold ad space to hackers posing as the Internet telephone company Vonage.

People who went to The Times’ Web site were greeted by a pop-up window warning them that their computer had been infected by a virus. Users were then instructed to go to a Web site to download software to clean out the virus.

The supposed antivirus software actually installed more viruses and malware onto the computer and the consumers’ credit card information was in the hands of the cyber-criminals.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President Paulette Scarpetti said this new menace takes advantage of people’s trust in even the most prominent Web sites.

“This is a relatively new phenomenon and a serious threat to consumers’ personal information. Well-known Web site owners are not immune to the scareware attacks and neither are visitors.”

Even Google and Twitter have been the subjects of recent scareware attacks.

Hackers are also watching the headlines — such as the death of actor Patrick Swayze and the U.S. Open — to plant infected versions of hot headlines on Google searches. Victims who click on the fake search results are presented with a scareware pop-up.

Ms. Scarpetti offered this advice to protect themselves from a scareware attack and loss of personal information:

• Never let your guard down: A scareware attack can happen on trusted sites like the New York Times, Twitter and others. If you see a pop-up alerting you to a virus infection do not click on it.
• Take immediate action during an attack: If you receive a scareware pop-up window, don’t click on it in an attempt to close it. Experts recommend forcing the browser window to close through Windows Task Manager. To do this, hold down ctrl, alt and delete at the same time, open the Task Manager; locate your open browser in the list of running programs and click “end task.” Finally, run an antivirus scan with legitimate, trusted software.
• Protect your computer: It is more important than ever to install your operating updates, obtain antivirus software from a name you trust and keep the software up to date. Also make sure security patches are up to date for your Web browser and programs like Adobe Flash Player.

If you clicked on a scareware pop-up and actually purchased the software, the prognosis is not good. The not-so-computer-savvy may have to call in a professional