The ultimate guide to scareware protection

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    In order to avoid the negative publicity of a particular scareware brand, cybecriminals periodically change the brand and the layout of the application. They intention however remains the same - to scam gullible users.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    A bogus report from Doctor Antivirus claiming that 40 infections have been found, which could result in system crash, system slowdown and Internet connection loss. Some of these events can also take place once Doctor Antivirus is installed at the first place.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Just like the majority of scareware domains claim, a 100% money back guarantee is in place once you purchase the software. In reality though, by the time you find out what the software's real intentions really are, you are at risk from renewal license fees on a monthly basis, that is of course unless the domain has already been suspended and the scareware re-branded under a different name.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    That fact that the front page of Power Antivirus has the same text and looks the same -- different colors -- shouldn't come as a surprise since they're using the same template under a different scareware brand.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    eAntivirus Pro is attempting to improve its authenticity by insisting its Vista and XP service pack 3 compatible. The scareware features a very professional layout that can be easily mistaken as the site of a legitimate security vendor -- which it isn't.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Antivirus XP was once the most heavily abused scarewe brand name, until it achieved a lot of negative publicity prompting its authors to re-brand it.??The scareware site features non-clickable links to to technology sites and technology partners that are definitely unaware of its existence.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Using a standard template, it attempts to brandjack legitimate Windows Antivirus brand

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Green AV attempts to establish an environmental position by promising to donate $2 of every sale of the scareware. Needless to say that this isn't going to happen.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    In early 2007, scareware vendors attempted to localize their scareware templates, by translating them to different languages in an attempt to target citizens of particular countries. The niche is left unfilled, with the most recent known localization of the most popular scareware template, the "My Online Computer Scan" to Arabic.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another localized scareware template.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Another localized scareware template.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Another localized scareware template, using the same templates as the rest of the localized screenshots.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    A vendor of four different pieces of scareware - Antivirus 2009, AntiSpywareGuard, PopupNuker Pro and XPBooster.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another scareware releases that's including "latest threats" data as well as a fake "infected computers" counter based within your netlblock.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Fake antivirus scanning dialog box in action.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Scareware featuring a static image stating that a process is trying to send your credit card details over the net.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Features a professional layout, however it's a re-branded scareware from known previous releases.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another scareware release, due to their automated approach of coming up with the brands and the domains, this one in particular is owned by a company called "Total Virus Protection". How automatic.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The scareware includes a fake "latest news" section making it look like the signatures database is periodically updated. It also claims 100% money back guarantee.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The brand itself is a blackhat SEO attempt to hijack related traffic. It also fetures a fake virus watch list.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    It's 2009, and scareware vendors are already shipping their 2010 releases. Sadly, this scareware domain used to feature a legitimate McAfee Secure check, however the 47+ million downloads claim are bogus.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The Antivirus+ scareware is featuring a fake "total downloads" as well as fake "total virus records" counters. Moreover, none of the review icons by popular software download or technology sites are legitimate.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The scareware claims to outperform major antivirus solutions on the market. Several other scareware brands using the same template also claim the same.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The scareware is once again featuring a fake "Virus Watch" section with no real data or signatures to back their claim.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The scareware is featuring fake awards, fake comparative reviews claiming it outperforms popular antivirus vendors, and has also included a fake "Internet Threats" indicator.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    This is great example when a piece of scaware is advertising itself as an application capable of removing another scareware, in this case WinPCDefender, which they claim is a scam. Ironic.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Someone must have been very bored to come up with the Cleaner 2009 brand.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Rapid Antivirus is using a CNN logo and quotes an article stating that 90% of all Internet connected users may be infected with spyware.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The scareware is also offering licenses to home users, small and medium business and enterprises. It is also offering technology licensing next to the typical fake virus alerts section.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The scareware pitches itself as the "most trusted antispyware available".

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another re-branded scareware brand.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Among the most popular scareware pop-up windows.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    This fake scareware scanning window is using an adult themed fear tactic by stating that traces of adult web sites have been detected on the PC.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Apparently the authors of this scareware brand didn't double check their claims, since in its current form the site states that "Antivirus VIP approve the virus and trojan attacks damage more than $4 million/hour."

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another scareware brand making false claims about its features.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Windows XP branded scareware, promising a typical, but fake, money back guarantee.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Standard scareware template seen in use by other brands.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Fake antivirus scanning in progress dialog claiming to have already detected 3 viruses.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Standard scareware template, seen in use by other brands.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    A well known scareware brand.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    A visual spoof of the Windows Security Center claiming that virus protection is turned off, and that a malware has been detected, which System Security Antivirus can take care of.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Fake comparative review of known scareware next to legitimate antivirus software.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Fake comparative review of known scareware next to legitimate antivirus software.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Fake comparative review of known scareware next to legitimate antivirus software.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    A default screen that appears upon clicking on the scareware executable.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The note claims to offer 85% discount for fake security software that simply doesn't exist.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Scareware window that is spoofing the IE security warning, in an attempt to trick the user into clicking on the real domain.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Google is your best friends in terms of searching for scareware domains that have already been identified by the community

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The use of custom search engine courtesy of Google's anti-malvertising.com initiative.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    The following domains have been registered in a combination with automatically registered Gmail accounts by having the CAPTCHA recognition process outsourced to a third-party.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another attempt by scareware site to spoof the IE security warning.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Yet another well known scareware brand.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Courtesy of the CCSS Forum.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    This scareware template attempts to trick the user into believing there's been a blue screen of death error due to detected security problems. It's fake.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Courtesy of PandaSecurity, illustrates the growth of scareware.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    Known scareware brand using template already in use by related brands.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    According to this fake scareware scanning dialog, 364 infected files have been found.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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    In this fake scan progress dialog, Doctor Antivirus 2008 claims to have already found 40 malware infections.

    Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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Taking into consideration the fact that 99% of ongoing scareware campaigns rely on "visual social engineering", this gallery presents some of the most popular templates used by cybercrime gangs in an attempt to trick the end user into installing the fake security software.

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In order to avoid the negative publicity of a particular scareware brand, cybecriminals periodically change the brand and the layout of the application. They intention however remains the same - to scam gullible users.

Caption by: Dancho Danchev

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