Rogue Security Software: Personal Security, Personal Antivirus, Antivirus 2011

The above and hundreds of other Rogue Security software is fast become a blight on the internet.

The idea of the program is to show you a phony virus scan and scare you into sending them money to remove the viruses.

Where:
Normally you will be surfing the internet. Maybe, following a link to from Google, you may even be on a trusted website.

What happens:
While on a website you will receive notice that a scan has begun because of suspected trojan, malware, or virus activity. If you let the scan complete you will see a long list of problems that the scan discovered.
You will be offered a button to click. This will supposedly fix the problems. Clicking it could actually install the bad guys on your computer, at best it will take you to a place where it will ask for credit card details so you can buy the solution.

Can this be prevented:
Yes and no. The usual always helps such as keeping your computer updated and having a good security program, but the nature of this beast makes it hard for Antivirus programs to stop it.
To help from getting to technical think of it this way. The scan you see is not really a scan. Just a phony video of a scan. The problem really starts if you follow the prompts or do any clicking afterwards.

What can I do:
Besides what is mentioned above you can become familiar with how your Security Program looks, when it scans. If you see anything else stop it. How to stop. If you can, disconnect your computer from the internet; do it as quickly as possible. Then shut your computer down. While still disconnected from the internet turn your computer back on and see if the problem is there.
Next run scans with all your own security programs.

Removing these programs are difficult and I will offer no advice on that, but I have found bleepingcomputer offers some good advice www.bleepingcomputer.com offers some great suggestions. Cut and paste the link. When you arrive at their page look for the removal list. It will list different Rogue programs and give instructions on removing them. We didn't put in a hyperlink because we do not want the bad guys hyjaicking the link and bringing you to one of their places.

What Else Can I Do:
If you fall prey to one of these scams. Notify your bank and try real hard to have them remove any unauthorized charges to your card. Once the banks have to go to the trouble maybe the crooks will have a hard time getting merchant accounts or the banks will blacklist them. If all victims did this the rogue would eventually die out.

Remember if you give you credit card info to these people your are giving the keys to the hen house to the fox.