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Yes, and you could also be paying for it without receiving any services whatsoever. And that’s not all.

Rogueware is a type of cyber-crime that involves offering fake antivirus products, with prices ranging from €35 to €56, designed to simulate detection of viruses on victims’ computers.

One of the most common variants of rogueware involves running fake scans of users’ computers from a Web page. 

The interface of the fake antivirus is practically identical to that of genuine programs. 

The names also have a genuine ring to them: Advanced Virus Remover, PC Security, Smart Defender Pro, System Security Protection, Antivirus XP 2009… 

Scan results are always positive, and the application will ask users if they would like to disinfect their computers. If users agree, the fake antivirus is downloaded, and victims are asked to pay for the license in order to remove the (nonexistent) threats.

In some cases, users will have simply wasted their money on buying a license for a program that will leave their computer just as it was in the first place. For the criminals this is a profitable business, and for users a serious security problem. 

In the worst cases, victims will have revealed confidential data, including bank details and credit card numbers which can then be used for identity theft or for stealing directly from accounts.

How to avoid downloading fake antivirus programs.

• Always use an antivirus from a recognized vendor. We don’t just mean ours, but any of those from familiar names among security providers.

This post has been written in collaboration with PandaLabs.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Why not tell us about it? By identifying fake antivirus programs we can prevent this fraud from spreading further.

Posted by David San José September 22, 2009

On checking your mail you could find messages with enticing names of famous people, e.g. “Angelina Jolie porno Video Free”, “Barack Obamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!”, “Brad Pitt naked video!!!”, “Michael Jackson free video!!!”, etc.

Sometimes the email subject begins with popular social network names; “Facebook….!!!”,  “Twitter…!!!”.

The common feature is that they use interesting subjects to temp users into opening them. From then on, the door is open to E-crime, which could install unauthorized programs on your computer.

Here is an example of the spam detected, related to Angelina Jolie:

Hackers are becoming increasingly crafty. For example, who wouldn’t open an email which allegedly contains flight tickets? or an invoice? Cyber-criminals try and get as close to victims’ daily lives as possible (at work or at home).   

Once open, these emails are designed as Trojans that steal information from your computer without you noticing.

To prevent these emails from accessing your mailbox you must install an antivirus and enable the automatic updates. This way, Panda Security protects you against identified E-crime.

This post has been written together with PandaLabs which has a mailbox you can send suspicious emails to (virus@pandasecurity.com) and will inform you whether it is spam or not.

David San José

Posted by Blanca Carton September 17, 2009

Although the Internet is a great source for job offers and other opportunities, it is also frequently exploited by hackers to defraud users quickly and anonymously.

A typical example of this comes in the form of junk mail –or spam- that will no doubt have reached your mailbox at some time. This junk mail offers many things:

• Easy money for taking part in a competition by dialing a premium-rate number.
• Information from your bank, promising a gift or asking for your login details (or credit card number and password).
• Job offers promising incredible salaries… asking you to dial a number or send your CV together with a certain amount of money (supposedly to cover administrative costs).
• Tax returns… claiming they need the user’s credit card number and password to complete the transaction.

Remember:

1. No company/bank would ever request your account number and password by email/phone. This data is confidential. 
2. Follow the safe online purchase/payment procedure we have outlined before Some Safe Online Shopping Tips.
3. Never be rushed into a decision. If you have any doubts, contact your consumer advice office.
4. Keep your antivirus up-to-date. This will help you prevent spam.

Tell us about your experience.

Blanca Carton

Most of us will accumulate all kinds of obsolete technology at home or in the office:

• Computers that are no longer used.
• Laptops with missing keys or that have simply been replaced with a newer, lighter one.
• Mobile phones replaced by others with more features.

What can you do with these obsolete elements?

Below we offer several ideas that will benefit you and society.

Let us see how:

Dump them in the bin? No, to start with, that is not ecologically responsible. 

If you dial public service inquiries in your area, they will probably be able to tell you where to deposit any such devices so they can be correctly disposed of or recycled. And by doing this:

1. Many materials in your computer or laptop can be reused, preventing the release of damaging elements into the environment, such as nickel, cadmium, lithium, cobalt, copper, coltan, iron, aluminum, titanium, etc.
2. You will be responsibly disposing of other potentially toxic and dangerous waste.
3. You will have more free space at home.

We would like to draw your attention to initiatives such as Oxfam’s, which consists of collecting computers / mobile phones to be reused in developing countries. And at no cost! Oxfam can even sell these devices in order to purchase tools, schoolbooks, etc.

You’ll find more information on their website:

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/recycle/index.html
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/recycle/computers.html

Not a bad idea, is it?

Would you like to share this kind of initiatives with us? Please send them to us and we will discuss them.

Blanca Carton

Posted by David San José September 10, 2009

Look!

1. Your children need a bit of peace to use the Internet. Let them shut themselves in their room to search for information online and don’t dare interrupt them, they are probably studying and you surely don’t want to disturb them, do you?
2. Encourage your children to socialize with other people in chats, forums, social networks… but give them their space, you have nothing to fear, pedophiles don’t use technology…
3. Don’t install Web filtering software, let them access everything without restrictions. You are no dictator and your children are responsible enough so as to know which pages they should visit and which they shouldn’t.

No, we haven’t gone crazy… but if on reading this you have realized what you sometimes do regarding how and when your children access information online, we have achieved our goal.

We are not suggesting total Internet restriction for children. In the same way you teach them how to study, manage their money, use the telephone, etc. you should also teach them this aspect.

Remember:

1. The computer must be in the living room. The child should be accompanied by an adult that supervises the sites accessed every day.
2. In the same way you know their friends, get to know their Internet contacts. Tell them not to give out personal details, banking details, etc. 
3. Keep your antivirus up-to-date and the parental control enabled with the restrictions you think appropriate for their age.

In previous posts you can see the information we have published regarding Children’s security on the Internet:

• How safe is your password

Tell us about your experience and if you would like us to focus on a specific subject.

David San José

Posted by Blanca September 7, 2009

September will see the return to school or university, stocking up of the house again after the holidays… and many other activities with a common denominator: we will all be using our credit cards more than ever.

Skimming credit and debit cards, also known as cloning, involves making a duplicate card without the consent of the owner. The criminals involved in this activity use a series of electronic devices in order to clone the cards and the rightful owners of these cards will not realize until they receive a bank statement or the genuine card is rejected for having exceeded the limit.

How can cards be cloned without your realizing?

This is normally done by using two card readers: one is the real one in the restaurant or store and the other is secretly used to make the copy.

The skimmer then copies the data onto the magnetic strip of a blank card, and therefore has a copy ready to use for spending your money.

How to avoid falling victim to skimming

1. When you have finished eating in a restaurant don’t just hand over your card, take it over to the pay counter yourself. 
2. When you pay for anything in a store or restaurant with your card, pay attention, don’t lose sight of the card and check the card reader looks like the familiar device provided by financial institutions (you will probably recognize the colors, the stickers on the device,…).
3. When you are withdrawing money from ATMs, check there are no strange devices installed where you insert your card. If you suspect anything, immediately notify the personnel in the bank or area where the cash machine is installed.
4. When entering your PIN, cover the keyboard with your other hand, as skimmers have been known to hide small cameras pointing at the keyboard. 
5. Ask your bank if it operates an SMS service to notify you when purchases or withdrawals are made over a certain amount. 
6. Make use of the online services offered by banks so you can monitor your account without having to wait for the monthly statement. 
7. Make sure your Panda solution is up-to-date, we’ll take care of protecting you while you use your bank online.

As you can see, the criminal mind is quite creative, but you can avoid falling victim by paying attention and implementing the necessary security measures.

Have you ever had any experience of this kind? Would you like us to mention any other information that can help people avoid these crimes? Why not tell us about it?

Posted by Blanca September 7, 2009

September will see the return to school or university, stocking up of the house again after the holidays… and many other activities with a common denominator: we will all be using our credit cards more than ever.

Skimming credit and debit cards, also known as cloning, involves making a duplicate card without the consent of the owner. The criminals involved in this activity use a series of electronic devices in order to clone the cards and the rightful owners of these cards will not realize until they receive a bank statement or the genuine card is rejected for having exceeded the limit.

How can cards be cloned without your realizing?

This is normally done by using two card readers: one is the real one in the restaurant or store and the other is secretly used to make the copy.

The skimmer then copies the data onto the magnetic strip of a blank card, and therefore has a copy ready to use for spending your money.

How to avoid falling victim to skimming

1. When you have finished eating in a restaurant don’t just hand over your card, take it over to the pay counter yourself. 
2. When you pay for anything in a store or restaurant with your card, pay attention, don’t lose sight of the card and check the card reader looks like the familiar device provided by financial institutions (you will probably recognize the colors, the stickers on the device,…).
3. When you are withdrawing money from ATMs, check there are no strange devices installed where you insert your card. If you suspect anything, immediately notify the personnel in the bank or area where the cash machine is installed.
4. When entering your PIN, cover the keyboard with your other hand, as skimmers have been known to hide small cameras pointing at the keyboard. 
5. Ask your bank if it operates an SMS service to notify you when purchases or withdrawals are made over a certain amount. 
6. Make use of the online services offered by banks so you can monitor your account without having to wait for the monthly statement. 
7. Make sure your Panda solution is up-to-date, we’ll take care of protecting you while you use your bank online.

As you can see, the criminal mind is quite creative, but you can avoid falling victim by paying attention and implementing the necessary security measures.

Have you ever had any experience of this kind? Would you like us to mention any other information that can help people avoid these crimes? Why not tell us about it?