Rogue anti-virus software points to fake reviews
IN A NEW TWIST INTRODUCED BY INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED purveyors of dodgy anti-virus software, hapless computer users are being directed to convincing clones of review sites which offer glowing reports on the malicious software.
Hacks from Bleeping Computer discovered that, during the process of deliberately installing a well-known rogue anti-spyware programme called Anti-Virus-1, the installer added a series of mysterious entries into the Windows Host file.
The entries redirect Internet browsers to fake versions of review sites including the likes of PC Pro and Revoo.com which are directly under the control of the hucksters and, of course, recommend that you cough up your cash to download the useless software.
Theres's a full list of the sites being turned over here.
We're almost upset that we weren't included. µ
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I hate to say it, but from experience, these kind of scams work even on the semi-computer aware. My gf has fallen for more than her share of virus-scams, so instead of just saying "don't trust anyting that pops up" (which never seemed to work) I used an analogy she'd understand, since she loves cars: "If a man ran up to you on the street and offered you a Caterham 500 for 100 quid, what do you think you'd find under the bonnet? An engine or a big bag of anthrax?" She got the message.
What's the difference between fake reviews and 99% of the rest of the so-called legit review sites out there that won't write anything bad about key advertising partners? The difference seems academic at best.