Remove Rogue AntiSpyware - SpySheriff Removal Approach
Remove Rogue AntiSpyware - SpySheriff Removal Approach
Spyware is one of the most serious problems on the Internet today. It is estimated that an approximate 95% of the world's PCs are infected by spyware. How accurate this is, I don't know. But no one can doubt that spyware poses a serious threat to system performance, system stability and user privacy.
When infected with spyware, users may experience a general slowdown of the PC due to increased disk usage and CPU activity. There may also be frequent crashes and BSODs (Blue Screen of Death). Some spyware programs may track users' Internet browsing habits and transmit the information back to their own servers. These spyware applications may also display pop-up commercial advertisements, which are likely to be intrusive and disruptive for the user. In other words, spyware causes a myriad of problems for the typical user. It is also a growing concern for corporations, where work efficiency may be compromised by spyware.
Thus it is not exactly surprising that many companies have come up with tools to detect and remove spyware applications. Many of these anti-spyware programs may also offer "real-time" protection by constantly monitoring and scanning all actions and blocking incoming threats. Anti-spyware programs are usually the first thing users turn to whenever they think their systems may have been compromised by spyware. But are all of them to be trusted?
Recently, there has been a spate of rogue anti-spyware programs spawning on the internet. Rogue anti-spyware programs, as defined by anti-spyware expert Eric Howes, are products that simply do not provide, reliable, anti-spyware protection or may be prone to ridiculous false positives. Others may use unfair, deceptive, high pressure sales tactics to scare up sales from gullible, confused users. Rogue anti-spyware programs are, in other words, of unknown, questionable, or dubious value as anti-spyware protection.
Let's use SpySheriff as a case study. According to its website (spysheriff.com), SpySheriff is "an award-winning spyware removal utility will help you fighting all kinds of spyware and adware including keyloggers, trojan horses, password thieves and on."
and
"With new and unique protection module once cleaned your machine will not get infected ever again. Do not wait, try now for free! SpySheriff is a new and unique heuristics-based spyware removal software. It not only cleans your PC but helps keeping it safe from future infections. With its stunning security system your computer will never ever be a victim of spyware. Try SpySheriff now to find out if you are infected. It's easy and free for all!"
Free sounds good doesn't it? It sure is a dependable program, as we will see now (Sarcasm fully intended). When the user installs and runs a scan with SpySheriff, it will produce several false positives - which mean that it will detect problems when there are none. Note that all anti-spyware programs produce false positives - but in this case SpySheriff does it intentionally. These multiple false positives frighten the user into purchasing the program to get rid of the spyware detected. Which means as a matter of fact that SpySheriff is useless!
This is not all the goodies that SpySheriff has to offer. SpySheriff is part of the Smitfraud trojan family, and places a red icon in the system tray which shows a false warning that the computer is infected with spyware. This warning is made to appear like a typical Windows message.
SpySheriff (and the rest of the Smitfraud trojan family) may also install other related rogue programs, as well as change your homepage to that of its own. The success of SpySheriff in generating revenue for these unscruptulous fraudsters has also spinned off other similar clones such as Adware Sheriff, Pest Trap, SpywareNo, SpywareQuake, SpyTropper, Brave Sentry, and many more.
In conclusion, these rogue anti-spyware programs are well - rogue - and certainly cannot be trusted on protecting your PC from spyware. In fact these rogue anti-spyware programs are spyware in themselves. There are other free, trusted anti-spyware programs available on the Internet. They include, but are not limited to:
Ad-Aware
AVG Anti-Spyware
Spyware Remover
Do run these trusted anti-spyware programs regularly to ensure that your PC is free from nasties.
If you have been infected by SpySheriff or any other rogue anti-spyware programs, no worries. ParasiteDB provides a disinfection service.
The author is an enthusiast in computer security. He volunteers as a helper in several forums, and helps others remove malware off computers. He also runs a non-profit site that provides a database on the most prevalent malware threats of today.
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