When you download a "trial" version of antivirus software are you putting yourself at risk? Are they purposely installing virus' on your computer so you, as a concerned and unaware "customer", buy their software in good faith. While they exploit the very cause that they so eagerly fight for?
2007-10-09 22:48:45 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
This is entirely possible, but in reality is not very likely.. Any company that did this would be very quickly caught out by security experts at competitors (the antivirus software industry is VERY competitive).
Not to mention the fact that many of the companies that release antivirus software have extremely high reputations in virus research, such as symantec and kaspersky.
However, if you download an antivirus program from a crappy website from a no-name developer, you may be putting yourself at risk. Stick to the established names if you want to keep your system safe!
2007-10-09 23:08:07 · answer #1 · answered by Alan O 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2
2016-08-29 05:29:54 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I answer this with,
WinAntispywarePro2007.
the creators of this antispyware create a trojan which lodges itself on your computer, after about a month it comes up with allerts and directs you to their website to buy a copy of the full program.
there are other companies out there currently under investigation by microsoft and some are being successfully prossecuted.
I even heard through the grapvine that Norton was cught out not so long ago, installing viruses on peoples computers that only norton software could remove, of cource, Norton was quick to sweep it under the carpet.
Why do they exploit us in such a way, well think of the dollar signs associated with selling the removal tools to the public, it is all about the money.
2007-10-09 23:04:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No reputable antivirus company does this but there are many rogue antivirus/antispyware companies who do. Some of these rogue companies create spyware/adware and then strategically placing it on the web and use different techniques to entice you install it on your computer. One installed you constantly get fake security warnings to trick you into buying their worthless and/or dangerous product.
Some tricks they use:
1) Infect your computer with adware that displays pop ups with fake warnings suggesting downloading their worthless product to remove this infection. If you do download their product you will find it will not remove anything unless you buy it but the scan will generate an extensive list infections found, most if not all are false positives to scare you into buying the product. Some especially bad ones will install additional spyware on your computer to make you truly desperate.
2) Offer a free scan/trial of the software. If you install the free trial you will find it will not remove anything unless you buy it but the scan will generate an extensive list of infections found. Often no other virus or spyware scanner can find these infections. Most if not all are false positives to scare you into buying the product. Some especially bad ones will install additional spyware on your computer.
3) Many of these companies will create hundreds of phony "independent" websites with fake testimonials and reviews stating how excellent their product is compared to others and also claim it is the best at removing the problem they created. They do this so when you Google their product or the pop up warning most of the sites listed in the search will be the websites they created.
4) Another technique is to get their worthless product to appear on any search for a virus/spyware removal problem.
When you get and infection and Google "infection name" and "removal" approximately 1/4 of the listings are flagged as "Red", dangerous, by "McAfee Site Advisor". Using any of these "Red"sites will probably employ the techniques in #2 or worse.
The Spyware Warrior List of
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Install either one not both:
McAfee Site Advisor: Internet Explorer and Firefox
http://www.siteadvisor.com/
McAfee SiteAdvisor helps protect you from all kinds of Web-based security threats including spyware, adware, spam, viruses, browser exploits, and online scams.
TrendProtect™
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/free_security_tools/trendprotect.php
TrendProtect is a FREE browser plug-in that helps you avoid Web pages with unwanted content and hidden threats.
2007-10-09 23:48:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well... i've got another story for you....
say a virus named nRTon.exe was released in June.
The virus is somewhat invulnerable and no computer programer has ever seen such a set of algorithms.
Then a company name Norton releses its Version U9 v "killer" in the market. It defeats the virus that made the computers worldwide nuts.
get it
2007-10-09 23:26:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on whose software you download. There are programs out there that pretend to be anti-virus but are actually viruses, spyware or keyloggers. Go with trusted companies like Norton, AVG, and McAfee and you won't have to worry about it.
2007-10-09 22:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by Jay 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
according to my knowledge .. most of them wont do that ..
if they do that . no one buys their stuff ..
but in some cases .. some anti viruses pick other antiviruses as a virus , coz they heve the list of scrips inside them to detect virus ..
use popular antiviruses ,so they wont cause any troubles for ur pc
eg:avg , kaspersky , nod32
y installing the trail one ?
get ur self a full one for free ,
install u torrent , and get ur self a nod32 2.xxx version ..
they are the best antivirus according to me ..and easy hackable .. so they comes with a pach .
so u can make it a full version updatable and it ve a realtime protection too
make sure u get 2.000 version ..
donn get the 3 .000 versions coz they are beta still testing
i use 2.270 its good
2007-10-09 22:56:31 · answer #7 · answered by wish 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ive often wondered this myself
Or maybe when you install their trial version, they just program it to "find" fake viruses or spyware and want you to pay to remove them....even though theyre fake
We'll never know.
2007-10-09 22:51:44 · answer #8 · answered by Josh B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Germany maked and give chemical bomb to SADDAM and all chemical injured men are nursed in Germany !
mabe it is like that .
2007-10-09 22:56:49 · answer #9 · answered by f14f21 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no such case is yet heard.it can ruin the co.
2007-10-09 22:58:58 · answer #10 · answered by nomoreiaminthisworld 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋