View all newsletters
Have the short, sharp Spear's newsletter delivered to your inbox each week
  1. Wealth
April 19, 2010

The anti-virus virus

By Spear's

The latest internet scam is a program masquerading as anti-virus software.

The latest internet scam is a program masquerading as anti-virus software. Like so much of these so-called malware products, AntiVirus Suite is itself a virus which will incapacitate a computer. Those persuaded to buy the alleged remedy will exacerbate their loss by disclosing their credit card details to criminals.

The latest version of AntiVirus Suite, circulated in March 2010, is immune to the uninstall solutions offered such as Godzilla on, for instance, Google, and the only way to remove the contamination is to delete the entire operating system and start again from the original disks. Unless the computers programs and files are backed-up, the loss can be catastrophic, and the consequential damage immense.

Two problems arise from this scourge. Firstly, the circulation of these viruses amount to good business for Norton and the other legitimate purveyors of authentic anti-spyware. It is also good for Microsoft as victims are likely to update their systems to the latest version of Word 7.

Secondly, there does not appear to be any coordinated effort to trace and prosecute those responsible for creating these pernicious extortion schemes who presumably are based in dubious jurisdictions, far from the reach from effective law enforcement. Is it not high time there was a determined international crackdown on the internet bandits?

Content from our partners
HSBC Global Private Banking: Revisiting your wealth plan as uncertainty abounds
Proposed non-dom changes put HNW global mobility in the spotlight
Meet the females leading in the FTSE

Select and enter your email address The short, sharp email newsletter from Spear’s
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network