"SCAREWARES" Free security scan could cost your time and money!
Have you experience surfing the web and then all of a sudden a 'popup' message appears offering a free virus scan?
Aside from being free, unsuspecting users will say yes to the offer just to make sure that their computers are free from viruses.
This kind of free virus scanning offer is called "SCAREWARE" because they exploit a person's fear of online viruses and security threats, and make money out of it.
Once you click YES to the offer, the free scan begins and it will claim that it found a host of problems, and within seconds, you're getting urgent pop-ups to buy security software. After you agree to spend around PhP2,000 (US$40) or more on the software, the program tells you that your problems are fixed. The reality: there was nothing to fix. And what's worse, the program now installed on your computer could be harmful.
If you're faced with any of the warning signs of a scareware scam or suspect a problem, shut down your browser. Don't click "No" or "Cancel," or even the "x" at the top right corner of the screen. Some scareware is designed so that any of those buttons can activate the program. If you use Windows, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open your Task Manager, and click "End Task." If you use a Mac, press Command + Option + Q + Esc to "Froce Quit."
The good news is that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has requested a U.S. district court to issue a temporary halt to a massive "Scareware" scheme. 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 court also froze the assets of those responsible for the scheme, to preserve the posibility of providing consumers with monetary redress.
@ Kids Corner
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