New Scareware Displays Fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alerts

[Peaches]

New Scareware Displays Fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alerts

A new scareware threat is using some very convincing tricks, which include displaying fake Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) alerts.

According to security researchers from Symantec, as soon as the malicious installer is executed on a computer, a fake MSE window pops up and warns the user of an alleged infection called "Unknown Win32/Trojan."

The alert lists C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe as being infected and claims that "This program is dangerous and executes commands from an attacker."

If the "Clean computer" or "Apply actions" buttons are clicked, the user is taken to a new MSE-like window, which shows a list of over 30 security solutions allegedly in the process of scanning the file.

The catch is that five programs from this list – AntiSpy Safeguard, Major Defense Kit, Peak Protection 2010, Pest Detector 4.1 and RedCross Antivirus – are rogue

Details & screenshots here: http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Scareware-Displays-Fake-Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Alerts-156892.shtml