Microsoft is far from flattered when the topic of malicious imitation security software is brought up. In a new blog post, Microsoft is offering several tips on avoiding such software so you can stay safe online.
“For some time now, rogue security programs have been trying their hardest to look just like Microsoft security products. I suppose they figure that the more they look like us, the more likely unsuspecting users are to hand over their hard earned cash to have their computers “cleaned” by these imposters,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post. Microsoft is “far from flattered” from these imposters.
Microsoft has seen a spike in malicious threats from Win32/Defmid, which goes by the name of “Security Defender” and attempts to trick users into paying for fake antivirus software.
Microsoft offers three tips for your online security. First, Microsoft’s security products such as Security Essentials, Safety Scanner, and Windows Defender are all available for free. Therefore, if you see such a product asking for credit card information, don’t do it. Secondly, Microsoft would never create a popup that comes up every 30 seconds telling you to buy the malicious security program. Once you see something like this occur, you have most likely been infected. Finally, Microsoft will never phone call a customer telling them that their computer is infected. Microsoft recommends that you “hang up” when you receive such calls.
Of course, these tips are pretty common sense to most tech savvy folks. But for those who are not as experienced, these tips are something that you should pay careful attention to. Take a look at a few screenshots of fake security software posing as official Microsoft security software:
