Posted on 06/23/2011 10:10:41 AM PDT by decimon
The FBI has shut down two international cyber crime operations focused on the distribution of scareware applications and responsible for over losses of over $74 million.
Under the name "Operation Trident Tribunal," the FBI, assisted by law enforcement agencies from Ukraine, Latvia, Germany, Netherlands, Cyprus, France, Lithuania, Romania, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom, have seized 40 computers, servers, and bank accounts belonging to the gangs responsible.
One ring targeted by this law enforcement action is thought to have tricked 960,000 victims into buing licenses for fake antivirus programs at a price of up to $129.
The gang used various methods to trick users into downloading and installing the rogue applications, including displaying fake security alerts and malware scans on web pages. The damages are estimated at $72.
In addition, two Latvian nationals were indicted in Minneapolis for setting up a phony advertising agency and buying advertising space on legitimate websites for malicious purposes.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.softpedia.com ...
The last time it was this bad I spent a whole day trying to figure it out before giving up and re-installing the OS.
Not gonna waste another day on it.
Reboot to ‘Safemode’ followed by ‘Restore’ is how I got it off my son’s machine a few weeks back.
Good. I hope they execute these vermin. Their malware is a royal pain in the arse to get rid of.
Volunteer here to either throw the switch or pull the trigger or give the horse a slap on the rear.
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ditto. or, at least ONE day in prison, and a fine, for each victim:
“ tricked 960,000 victims “
I got nailed with this one when they infected a business partner’s website last summer. Took our IT folks two days to get the virus out, then another eight to deal with multiple reinstall issues involving Microsoft Vista and Service Pak 1.
If you have Win7 or Vista immediately turn off the power by holding down the power button for several seconds. DO NOT shutdown the normal way. Do not touch the warning box or attempt to close it. Just power off the computer and do not go back to that website when your computer restarts!
Like the tornado that tore through Detroit and caused $1.50 in damage.
This garbage ruined my last computer. It was easier just to buy a new one than to try to get rid of it. with my limited knowledge.
Free scans are BS. I hope they cut off their hands. Next time they can write a virus with a pencil in their teeth.
“Like the tornado that tore through Detroit and caused $1.50 in damage.”
That figure sounds high to me, Larry!
“Just power off the computer and do not go back to that website when your computer restarts!”
Usually, if it’s the “fake anti-virus” pop-ups that I think you are talking about, you can safely close the pop-up using a simple trick. Go to your Internet Options and change the security settings to disable Active Scripting. Then, you should be able to close the pop-up without clicking the “Ok” or “Cancel” buttons, and without it being able to install the software or endlessly displaying the pop-up.
What these enterprising folks (not the fbi, the other enterprising folks) need to do in appoint a vice-president in charge of when to close down operations and get the hell out of Dodge. Then, they need to listen to him when he says “enough.”
Way back at the $60 million mark, they had paid for expenses and salted some away for old age.
Greed gets them in the end ...
I fell for a Trojan once, too. The problem was, I was using an OS which was known for vulnerability to virus problems - so it was easy to con me into thinking I had a problem when I actually didn't.My solution to that humiliating experience was to switch to Unix. Which, having been designed from the ground up on the assumption that there would be multiple users who have to be protected from any trouble caused by other users, is inherently less vulnerable to viruses.
Since I no longer think that my OS is a pushover for viruses, I am much harder to stampede into making an error than I had been when using the less robust OS. I recommend it.
Heh... there's a saying I've grown to like: "Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment."
rkill renamed kills the app then run Malaware.
superantispyware and malwarebytes on a flash - run both several times.
gone.
seems like only machines without their monthly windows updates gets these scareware attacks.
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