Anti-virus software ... Are we actually being scammed?
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Talking to someone this week with a wealth of computer experience, he told me that the big anti-virus software companies ( who create massive profits from computer users ) actually 'create' their own viruses to give end-users feelings of total security when their system actually 'catches' these home grown 'demons'. And by giving people such a reassuring 'service', they tend to keep on buying and subscribing. Apparently these companies package these as 'test' products but never advertise them as such.
Has anyone heard of this and could this be classed as 'unethical'? I have always thought that big business makes untold profits from being unethical anyway but you only have to look at the way these big antivirus companies ask us for say £50 to £60 for their products when you can pick them up for a fraction on eBay, Amazon or most online software suppliers. It seems that when you buy direct you pay top whack! And millions of people do. Hence the need to 'feed' them with a product that is always picking up viruses, by design or otherwise.
Personally I am sick of paying inflated renewal fees and have gone onto low cost or initial free alternatives and will continue to do so until my PC explodes with infection. Bit like being in the NHS really!
Any views or qualified opinions here please?
Responses (8)
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that this is true. The big anti-virus companies make a fortune and rely on the non-techs (such as me) being scared into buying virus protection. Symantic has just emailed to say that renewal for my anti-virus software this year will be £65 - no way can I afford that so back to one of the freebees I think.
Crumbs Snoopy I would hope not, we've just renewed our Norton deal, and It wasn't cheap to start out with.
Thankfully, touch wood, we've never had any probs to speak of and I would hope not to.
I hope you don't succumb to any viruses, these hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated every day, so take care and keep those germs at bay... gosh that rhymed,lol.
I would hope and probably think that it is more of a test feature than anything else. If this was actually happening surely it would have been noted by one of the many computer geeks out there and then investigated as it is basically false advertising and mis-selling.
However, by labelling it as a test to create your common and known virus / bug to test the service than that I feel would be acceptable. Afterall millions of people do still fall foul to the bugs that we already know exist but users have failed to update their systems.
If there was nothing behind these viruses and it was basically a name that they put out there like 'Virus no.1' then it should be investigated. If there is actually a virus in there that is being used as a test then I feel that they are doing what they should be.
Viruses and hackers adapt to the latest anti-virus software. It would make sense for the company to try and discover a new virus that could slip through the net before the hackers do...
I use free anti virus software anyway. By the way, anyone seen that they think they have pinched the Lulz hacker and he is to be sent to the US to face charges for hacking into the CIA. They'd best ship him off to china next for the Sony hacking he did too, then maybe bring him back for all the sites of ours he crashed. He's Going to be a busy chappy now lol!
Yes it was a scam but the people behind it have been caught. This is not done by the 'big' companies so you have not been scammed by them. I will find the link if I can but basically, similar to email scams, do not click on free system scan links.
I believe that there are more scams of this nature still to be caught,
Not the link but an extract.
About one million people were tricked into downloading antivirus software at a cost of about ?91 ($129).
The scammers would initially trick computer users into infecting their computers with the malicious software.
The fraud victims were then harassed with continuous pop-ups prompting them to buy a supposed anti-virus programme to fix their non-existent problems.
The FBI announced on Wednesday the seizure of more than 40 computers, servers and bank accounts across 12 countries including the UK, France, Sweden and Lithuania.
The public is advised to avoid buying security products which offer unsolicited 'free computer scans.'
Thank you Sealate ... what you speak of is well known and targets people by fraud. What I have heard is that it is the established companies who use subtle techniques to maintain your awareness by creating activity on their programs to retain loyalty to the product and thereafter push for maximum renewal subscriptions. Of course, it's only hearsay but I would love to hear more opinion on this.
Hi Snoopy,
I'd be amazed if the big companies were doing this, they have too much to lose and as has been said, the computer geeks would be all over it.
Having said that I should say that having 'tested' most of them at some time in the past, I am happy to use free antivirus and antispyware programs.
Just make sure you back up all important data AFTER virus checking and preferably to an external drive although a separate partition can also be utilised. An infected computer can be rebuilt, even from scratch, but softwre from firms such as Paragon* can help make that task simpler.
* Not a plug, just an example.
I've treat myself to an Apple Computer Snoopy and they assured me that up to now no one has been able to get any virus in. I wonder though where all those scam emails are coming from. I'm always getting them.
Your information is very interesting and I must say I've never paid for anti-virus up to now on any Computers I've had. My son-in-law has always set it up for me. I hope they don't get into my Apple - Sabre
Hi Sabre, Mac's are known to be less vulnerable than PC's to viruses, but because more and more people are switching to Mac's for this reason, the 'virus designers' (for want of a better phrase!) are rapidly inventing a few to get round Mac's too.
Hi Sabre
As Fruitcake says, viruses seem to be designed for PCs because they are still by far the majority of hardware sold. However it's worth making sure that you have your firewall activated against spyware, spam etc on your Mac or router and that you keep up to date with the latest security updates. As Macs become more and more popular, so the virus risk is bound to increase. My guess is that all the unprotected Macs enjoying the current immunity are going to have a very big shock some day soon - so probably worth being vigilent.
Every OS has holes in it - even the much vanted Linux - I should know I use it on a daily basis. If it was water tight it would be un-useable. The only reason for having viruses targetted at Windows software is due to their market share - the virus authors are looking for the best returns after all and the bigger the market the better the chance of spreading the virus.
Also, in the past, systems like Mac & Linux were unsed by geeks meaning the systems were used by net savvy people - there machines would be equally hard to infect even if they used Microsift software.
Indeed fruitcake is correct.
I am yet again impressed by her breadth of knowledge.
>;o)
You flatterer, Omen! I owe everything I know to learning from friends who know more than me! :-)
I use Avira AntiVir Personal software, which is totally free and appears to be as good as McAfee, who I subscribed to.
I too had heard that many companies scame users by 'infecting' your PC with a 'false' virus and then offer a solution to ridding your PC of it. Then they 'boast' about the efficiency of their service!
Of course you are.
I dont have antivirus software running to protect my pc anymore as most of the problems come from emails asking you to open attachments and social engineering.
As long as you are careful what you do - ie dont surf for porn, illegal software and are just an ordinary user using ebay , amazon , facebook etc there is little chance of you getting a virus.
If you want an antivirus the free ones along with a spyware scanner are all you need.
I thoroughly recommend a product called spyware terminator - you can add the free open source Clam antivirus to it and best of all its all for free and its pretty good at protecting your pc - once you have broken it in - you teach it what you like , what you run as in programs and once its learned them all you are pretty much protected from all manner of nasties.
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That's exactly my point Sidesalad, these on-line renewal invitations will always max the price because people are either gullible or like a quiet life. You can always source the same products on eBay or Amazon for a fraction of that renewal price and providing you remove the existing software, these products do exactly the same job. I am no expert and I worry like everyone else but there is no doubt that this is a multi-million pound industry that thrives on perceived fear.