Malware Cleaner -- Misleading (false) application

jimbo45 · 23 Apr 2009

Hi guys
One of my pet hates are those programs that you can download from the Net (such as Scan for Drivers / Registry cleaners) etc etc as even if they don't contain viruses etc are nothing more than "Sneakware". What happens is that the system does the initial scan and the poinst you to a "paid for" or "upgrade" site to actually perform the upgrade / registry cleansing stuff etc.

I've been looking at a collegues computer (bored out of my mind at the moment

) and he'd been running one of these horrible little programs called Malware Cleaner).

This is a NASTY cheat -- it reports all sorts of malware / spyware that actually DOESN'T exist on his machine - I tested this with a 100% clean install of the W7 BETA 7000 which came from the Microsoft site, having first FULL formatted the disk, wrote Binary zeros on every sector and re-installed the brand new MBR. He'd have probably gone out and bought an expensive "Malware" cleaner package.

So

1) DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE ONLINE PROGRAMS THAT DETECT DRIVERS/ CLEAN REGISTRIES etc etc whilst you are actually ONLINE.

2) DON'T BUY ANYTHING RECOMMENDED BY THESE SITES.

Now I'm not particularly keen on AV software in any case but if you use it DO know what you are doing and always check on "False Positives" before installing / uninstalling anything.

So far the security in W7 seems to be holding up but if you let stuff execute via a Browser then "all bets are off".

Cheers
Jimbo

Orbital Shark · 23 Apr 2009

Agreed, it's 1 of my pet hates too

Jacee · 23 Apr 2009

These 'fake' programs are Trojan Horses that open random ports and allow a remote user to execute commands on the affected system. Some are very difficult to clean ... those that drop a RootKit and steal critical information (identity theft), for instance.

Recommendations are a wipe and clean install, change all passwords.

SqdnGuns · 23 Apr 2009

I see crap like that everyday............

I am amazed at how stupid some people can be............

Get a random pop up that says they have problems with their PC.

"Oh, I must click on that and fix my PC"

Install it, scan................

"Oh my, I have over 200+ problems with my PC but this nice little app says that for $49.95, I can download another one of their apps to fix it. Where's my credit card..........."

Next day they are in my shop confused as to why there PC is running so slooooooowwww.

Call your credit Card company ASAP RETARD!!!!!!!!!!

Since last Friday, we have had over a dozen scenarios like this...........

Job security I guess but it just drives me nuts at how stupid some can be......

Barman58 · 23 Apr 2009

If you don't believe how stupid people can be ....

People Will Click On Anything - isc

Nuf Said

PotatoMan83 · 24 Apr 2009

Malwarebytes has saved a few client computers Ive worked with, but deffinitely not "Malware Cleaner" :P

Chappy · 24 Apr 2009

Problem is tho, that they are Extremely Effective at catching the unwary and uninitiated users who don't know any better, and they make literally millions of $$$ doing so. So from a criminal business model type of thing, it's a pretty easy money maker.

I've always firmly believed that computers should come with a detailed "Instructions" disk on the basics of computer know how, but the problem there is that most OEM;s bundled so much of this crud on their systems that it would be a lesson in futility right from the get go. They're better lately but they still come with unwanted cr@p and Adware, but back to the instructions thing, at least it could forewarn some people about these nefarious popup type things.

I remember when my nieces first started using Windows and every month I had to go over there and basically reformat the thing due to the excessive adware and other stuff they d'loaded. Anything that had a cutesy looking popup or said they were "Infected, you need so-N-so to clean this", they clicked on em not knowing any better (even AFTER I told them not too).

Some people just don't "think", they just react and that's who these things are aimed at, and they do well at it unfortunately.

Jacee · 24 Apr 2009

I've always firmly believed that computers should come with a detailed "Instructions" disk on the basics of computer know how

Why read an instructions manual? LOL!
Most people (when joing an anti-malware forum because of an infection), won't even read the important 'sticky posts'. The same has to be said about road signs when driving a car ... "caution" is thrown to the wind and the driver will do what they want, until caught. Now it's time to cry and seek free help. Let 'em off easy and they'll do it again

Chappy · 24 Apr 2009

How true Jacee...how true.