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Computer security scams promote useless software
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Computer security comes at a price - but it shouldn't be one that rips you off and harms your computer in the process.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a consumer alert entitled "Free Security Scan" Could Cost Time and Money
The alert warns computer users that scammers are using fake "security alerts" to sell useless software. The free scan will claim to find a host of problems, and within seconds, you'll get urgent pop-ups to buy security software. In reality, there was nothing to fix and the program now installed on your computer could be harmful.
The FTC also announced that a U.S. district court has issued a temporary halt to a massive "scareware" scheme, which falsely claimed that scans had detected viruses, spyware, and illegal pornography on consumers' computers. According to the FTC, the scheme has tricked more than one million consumers into buying computer security products such as WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus. The scammers use names that sound like they could be associated with legitimate companies, but they are not.
To get other alerts and advice on consumer issues from the FTC, visit FTC Consumer Information
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