Cybercriminals forcing internet users to buy rogue software
Chennai: With more people using the internet,
cybercriminals employ various online tactics to convince users
to purchase rogue security software, to gain financially,
a study has revealed.
The study by US-based Symantec Corporation said with
broadband connections increasing and number of new users
opting for internet for various purposes, cybercriminals employ
various tactics to convince users to purchase "rogue security
software", giving the impression of genuine security software.
Vice-President (Engineering) of Veritas Software India,
subsidiary of Symantec Corporation, Shantanu Ghosh told
reporters here cybercriminals place website ads that prey on
users' fear of security threats.
"It would create false claim urging the user to follow a
link to scan their computer or get software to remove the
threat. But the user will not know if his computer has been
affected,'' he said.
He said based on the study 93 percent of the software
installations for the top 50 rogue security software scams
were intentionally downloaded by the user.
Ghosh said as per the findings based on data obtained
between July 2008-June 2009, users downloaded the software
unknowingly and as a result they enabled the computer to be
accessed by a hacker who is in a remote place. "Around 800
bots (computers accessed from remote destination) are being
done every day in India," he said.
In India 33 per cent of adults don't have security
software he said, adding the country was ranked fourth in the
origin of "spam" e-mails.
Bureau Report