AntiVirus 2008 XP - Path To Infection
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First, don’t click on any emails claiming to be an update from MSN or Microsoft. MSN/Microsoft never sends emails about a “Free Update”. If you want to update your PC *always* go to Microsoft.com (NEVER click on any links in an email offering windows updates).
Next, I did click on this link through one of my clean Virtual Machines. Let’s see what happens, let us observe the path to infection!
1. I received an email to my personal business account. Spam Assassin does not recognize it as spam and lets it on through.
2. I click on the link. I can see the link takes me to a .swf (a flash file) hosted at imageshack.com.
3. As soon as the .swf loads (almost instantly) I am prompted to download install.exe. I choose to open the file (pretending I am non-suspecting user seeking a windows update).
4. We are now presented with a license agreement for AntiVirus XP 2008 which we can only agree to.
5. As soon as I agree, Antivirus XP 2008 is loaded almost instantly.
6. Oh WOW! 2506 infections on a clean PC! Obviously a complete lie designed to scare people.
7. …and if I try to uninstall it…oh, what a shock! The uninstaller crashes.
8. Well, I guess I’ll just remove those viruses. When I click the remove viruses button I’m sent to a website to purchase this fake antivirus program for $49.95.
Not only will I lose $49.95, but I’ll also give up my identity to a international ring of thieves!!!
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Comments
I work on fixing people’s computers as well. Alot of them have been infected with antivirus2008. Seems to be the big one now a days.
my computer was infected with this virus like 2 days ago. antivirus 2008. i had avast antivirus and i had to do a boot time scan and found a lot of malwares but when i rebooted the computer the virus was still working in my computer and next time i restarted my computer it wouldnt load. the screen was blank. so i had format my harddrive and reinstall windows xp which was a pain in the ass. i am still updating softwares and xp updates. i am currently using CA security center that came with my interent service. i was wonder what you think about CA antivirus. do you think it is good? please replay or email me back. thanks
My son got it on his laptop, I was glad it runs on Windows XP and that I learnt from this website that Combo Fix exists! It saved me a complete reinstall!
LOL its relly stupid to tink thet in your PC have 2500 viruss.. !
but some ppl buy ruges …