Microsoft Protects Companies From Unwanted Software

Microsoft has the business security of a new feature provided in order to protect businesses and organizations from potentially unwanted software. It involves, for example so-called software bundles containing adware, toolbars and other unwanted programs.

According to the software giant this program may increase the risk of getting infected corporate networks with malware or make it harder to identify malware infections. It would also burden the helpdesks and time consuming to remove the applications. To protect corporate users from this kind of software security solutions System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP) and Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP) with a new opt-in feature rich, so Microsoft through a blog posting disclosed.

The feature can detect potentially unwanted programs and stop, so they are not downloaded or installed. Microsoft claims that the blocking of such software should be an explicit choice, and companies are wise to do to set policy on here. Even end users should be alerted in this case, so they know that potentially unwanted programs are not allowed in the operating environment and will block the security products such software.

Avira Complains Freemium.Com Due To Adware

German antivirus company Avira has filed a lawsuit against the download site Freemium.com because users tricked into installing adware and potentially unwanted software. "It is time to tackle adware directly at the source," said Avira's CEO Tavis Witteveen.

"Freemium.com engages in unfair competition that violates the privacy rights of consumers and invalid contracts used", he tells. Through Freemium.com kinds of programs can be downloaded. The problem is the installation tool of Freemium, a "wrapper", which, according to Avira as potentially unwanted programs may be classified. The tool would use social engineering to users, in addition to the desired software, also letting unwanted applications installed.

The wrapper according to the virus fighter compared with ten layers of wrapping paper for a gift, where there is much room for surprises. Who one program through the wrapper will download may eventually end up with four additional programs, two browser extensions and a desktop link to a gaming site. The wrapper is also applied to other download sites, such as ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, an investor in Freemium.com and the download portal of Computerbild.de, a website publisher Axel Springer.

Scammers Trick Users With Blue Screen Of Death

The Blue Screen of Death for many Windows users a signal that something is wrong with the computer or install Windows, but Internet scammers use the report to highlight users for a lot of money and have this kind of fraud refined.

Counterfeit versions of the Blue Screen of Death will be shown to users in different ways, such as pop-ups. It establishes that there are major problems with Windows and the user "Microsoft engineers" to call. In reality it is to foist telephone scammers people products and services a try. In addition to the pop-ups scammers also use potentially unwanted software (PUP) to display the messages on the user's screen.

Last year, though there ransomware discovered that showed these messages on the computer, but scammers have further refined the message. Through a program called iLivid is a PUP called Sensei Updater then installed on the computer displays a convincing blue screen of death, according to a message on the forum of Bleeping Computer . The warning again contains a phone number of a help desk.

When users dial the number then takes the classic scam phone off. The telephone scammer tells the user that his computer is loaded with malware and clearly demonstrates all kinds of supposedly alarming warnings. Then the user to remove the malware must pay, which can cost between $ 150 and $ 400, warns anti-virus company Malwarebytes .

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.

Avira Wins Lawsuit Over Blocking Adware

The German antivirus company Avira has a lawsuit won so that a program of a German publisher simply as "potentially unwanted software" (PUP) can remain label. It is a download manager game Moorhuhn Remake publisher Freemium. Avira warned users to download manager, because the additional software could download.

It's common for software publishers programs and games with all sorts of bundling other software, including adware or test versions of other programs. Avira warns users before, but it does provide the ability to download and install the software. In this case it was a download manager posing as the game Moorhuhn Remake but was bundled with various other programs.

Freemium went to court in Berlin and demanded that Avira would stop alert, reports Computerworld . According to the business users themselves could determine whether additional programs were downloaded, but the two parties differed about the transparency of this process. Avira stated that there was no clear link between the game and the other bundled applications. It was in this case for applications such as PC Tuneup, Driver Finder and Super Easy Registry Cleaner.

The conditions for users would be unclear. Then Avira decided to classify the download manager as PUP. Freemium claims that revenues since February, bisected by the blockade of Avira. As a remedy, the publisher demanded a compensation of 250,000 euros for each offense and imprisonment for up to six months for the director of Avira. The German court was not here, and decided to dismiss the lawsuit. Additionally Freemium was sentenced to pay court costs of 500,000 euros.