Malwarebytes: Also Driver Updaters Are Often Scams

Programs that claim to be able to update drivers on the computer are often scams reason for anti-virus company to Malwarebytes' driver updaters "as potentially unwanted software (PUP) to criticize. The virus fighter would get a lot of complaints from users about these types of programs.

Driver updaters scan the computer and check on missing or new drivers, for example, printers, network cards and video cards. Most computers as Malwarebytes no drivers needed to operate. "Only in some edge cases, updating drivers are handy," as late as the anti-virus company know . Updating drivers including driver updaters advise, Malwarebytes also advises against. The potential benefits would not outweigh the clear disadvantages.

To install the missing drivers that enable the driver updaters users should find the software first or register, which must eventually be paid. In most cases, however, be free to download drivers for consumers. "That is the core of the problem. This driver update programs can sometimes solve a problem by installing a new driver, but in most cases they replace an identical driver and ask for money here," said the virus fighter.

The company's software driver updaters which will behave aggressively, to be appointed by example, certain standard checking checkboxes or bundled surreptitiously, classify as PUP. In this case the software is quarantined. It is ultimately up to the user whether he really wants to remove the driver updater or still want to use. "We can make it clear that these types of programs are scams, but we will not force you not to use them," explains the anti-virus company from. Malwarebytes recently decided even against so-called registry cleaners to act, which also designates it as a scam.

Malwarebytes: Registry Cleaners Are Scams

On the Internet, numerous programs are offered to clean and optimize the Windows Registry, called registry cleaners, but this kind of software is actually meaningless, misleading users only. This enables anti-virus company Malwarebytes. On the forum of the virus fighter users regularly complain about registry cleaners. The programs are often distributed on dubious. Because of the increased complaints will Malwarebytes registry cleaners that are aggressively disseminate weather messages as unwanted software.

The Windows registry is basically a database of configuration settings and options for Windows. By installing and removing software may leave registry keys. Some users may think that the removal of these keys or the optimization of the Windows Registry can improve the performance of the computer. However, according Malwarebytes there is a placebo effect, because users see a nice animation and think that something is happening on their system.

The virus fighter designates registry cleaners also as the digital equivalent of " snake oil . " The performance improvements resulting from these types of programs are "at best, tiny and not noticeable," says Malwarebytes. At worst, it could damage the computer, however, so that a reinstallation of Windows. Even Microsoft does not recommend the use of registry cleaners.

However, the virus fighter will not all these programs consider undesirable. "We can tell you that these programs are scams, but we're not going to commit to not use them." However, the software will be considered undesirable as it presents itself to users and parasitic example through the installation of other software or other exhibits aggressive features.

Researcher Warns Of Software On Download.com

Download.com is a popular download site, but how secure is the software that is actually offered here?A researcher from How-To Geek decided the ten most popular programs from Download.com to install and startled by the result that he advises users not to repeat the experiment on their own computer. For the experiment, the programs were completely installed by default, as a typical user would do.

Download.com , which is part of CNet News, sets the policy that all downloads are offered free of adware, spyware or other malicious software. Many of the software appeared to be bundled with a variety of other programs. Via Download.com users can download the software directly, but there is also a Download.com -installer, which is much more apparent. This includes an installer that in addition to the desired program installs all sorts of other programs. It appears to include "browser hijackers" and fake "registry cleaners" to go.

Remarkably, the virus Avast is one of the first programs were installed and then some other downloads blocked because they were labeled as malicious. "Free software vendors to bundle earn almost all money through complete nonsense and scareware that mislead users to pay to clean up their PCs, regardless of the fact that you can avoid this by this" crappy "freeware nothing to install," says Lowell Heddings .

The experiment was repeated for several months and each time ended Heddings with other software on the computer. "Every software that unifies itself brings with it the same culprits: browser hijackers that hijack your search engine and home page and place ads everywhere because if the product is free, you are the real product.."