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Fake antivirus software a growing online threat, Google says

Google said April 27 that fake software security programs rigged to infect computers are a growing online threat with hackers tricking people into installing nefarious code on machines, AFP reports. An analysis of 240 million web pages by the internet search giant during the past 13 months revealed that fake antivirus programs accounted for 15 percent of malicious software it detected. “The Fake AV threat is rising in prevalence, both absolutely and relative to other forms of web-based malware,” Google said in its findings. Fake antivirus peddlers rig web sites to frighten visitors with pop-up messages warning that supposed scans have found dangerous malicious software on their machines. The scam goes on by selling victims programs that hackers claim will fix the purported problems but in fact plant nefarious computer code on their machines. Such transactions also leave credit card information in the hands of cyber crooks. “Surprisingly, many users fall victim to these attacks and pay to register the Fake AV,” Google said…

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