Bogus Anti-Virus Websites and Emails
by webmaster | 27 May, 2009 - 14:18
There are an ever increasing number of websites and emails that claim that they have detected that your computer is infected with a number of viruses. They usually then go on to ask you to download their 'tool' to remove the infections.
Don't do it!
These websites and emails are almost certainly bogus, and downloading the above mentioned 'tool' will usually infect your computer with a virus or spyware.
If you think you have a virus then you can download one on the 'free' anti-virus programs that is listed in our 'Free Links' section (see here). If you are unsure about what to do, give us a call and we can talk you through the process or use our 'Remote Support' software.
How to Spot a Fake Virus Alert
Here are some tips for spotting a Fake Virus Alert
- It "detects" multiple infections. It's unusual for a real alert to find more than one at a time.
- The "online scanner" pops up in a second or so. It takes time to scan your computer -- ten minutes or more. Anything that finds multiple viruses on your computer in only a couple of seconds is lying to you.
- If you're using a web-based scanner, you must install software before it scans. If you haven't done this, it won't detect any viruses. So if you haven't deliberately downloaded the software first, no scan will work.