Article Blog 6: Fraudulent Antivirus Scams (February 21, 2010)

As technology continues to become a major aspect of our lives, there are always chances that technology will have its downsides and faults, especially for internet users. The internet is getting more and more popular everyday as people use it to connect with others, pay their bills, and simply for entertainment. The problem is that users are at risk of viruses and scams if they are not cautious. In the article, “Bogus Antivirus Scams,” (see link: http://www.examiner.com/x-30526-Charlotte-Internet-Safety-Examiner~y2010m2d19-Bogus-antivirus-scams) Lisa McCormick discusses how there are becoming more antivirus scams, but not all of them are safe. McCormick writes, “Be weary of pop-up messages that claim your computer is infected. These messages are fake antivirus scams that target web users by prompting them install a virus disguised as a virus scan application.” These false antivirus scams will pop up on the screen showing that the user’s computer is infected and needs to be protected. As a result, users will often times make the mistake of being tricked into downloading this fake antivirus software that is actually a malicious program that can infect one’s computer.

This has a major negative impact on society, primarily because society today is so dependent on the use of the internet. In the article, “Dyna Sis Warns of Fake Anti-Virus Software, Releases Prevention Tips,” (see link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/02/prweb3624304.htm) Dyna Sis writes, “Fake antivirus programs, or scareware, are very common and provide a way for scammers to make easy money. The scammers prey on the fears of Web surfers who are misled into believing their systems are infected and then pay, typically, $50 for a program that not only doesn't protect their computers, but often turns out to be malicious.” This causes a major concern for internet users because not only can these phony virus scans actually infect their computers, it can also cause them to be a victim of scammers, hackers, and even more worrisome, identity theft. Although the internet allows people to do a variety of convenient things, they must be weary of the risks that are involved. Never is one completely protected while using the internet. Although there are virus protection programs on computers, there are still ways for hackers to get into one’s computer and find out personal information, account records, as well as harming the computer. As a result, I think it is important for people to be more aware of the dangers connected with the internet as society becomes even more reliant on technology.