Security experts are warning of a new fake anti-virus software scam in circulation.
A rogue program called VirusRemover 2008 has been spotted by Trend Micro who warned that though the hoax uses similar tactics to previous security program scams, the criminals behind it have tried to disguise it.
"Virus Remover 2008 seems to have distanced itself from the Windows-looking interface," said Jovi Umawing of Trend Micro.
"It no longer uses the logo which distinctly resembles the one by Windows Security Center. This was done possibly because the old Antivirus 2009 interface is already too familiar to users, and that it might give away the fact that it is a fake anti-virus program," Umawing continued.
The program, which can be found when searching the web for 'free anti-virus' or a similar term, scans your PC and then brings up warnings that it is infected with a virus.
You are then asked to buy the full version of the software, which will rid your PC of the infection. However, this is a hoax designed to get you to part with your credit card details.
Security firm Sophos spotted a variation of the scam in which surfers receive an email telling them that their PC is infected.
As Graham Cluley of Sophos pointed out, lines such as "We do not have the best coders in the world" and "Tested for 2 years, making it almost the best only for you" should make it obvious to recipients that the messages are not genuine.
Topic: Fake anti-virus scam warning (Read 1140 times)