They all have fakes and when you buy the fakes you get what you pay for.

Actually with fake anti-virus software you get even less than what you pay for.  At least with fake Gucci and Rolex’s you get a usable bag or watch after you buy them.

With fake anti-virus you only get more of a headache.

Fake Anti-Virus is one of the biggest threats that we are seeing come into our stores right now.

What is fake anti-virus?

Basically fake anti-virus is a virus that pretends to be an anti-virus.

Virus writers have become increasingly money hungry and increasingly deceitful in trying to separate you from your money.

Contrary to what some believe, viruses are not written just to annoy you or ruin your computer.  They are actually written because they make money for the author or for the authors group.  Usually that group is some type of criminal organization such as the Russian Mafia.

The viruses popup a fake anti-virus software that can look very real.  This fake anti-virus will tell you that you have a bunch of viruses and that you need to purchase their software to remove them.

If you purchase their software the fake anti-virus might do one of a few things.

1. It might do nothing, it will continue to popup and cause you headaches.
2. It might disappear for a couple weeks and then come back and tell you you need to purchase something different.
3. They might simply steal your credit card information and use it to make fraudulent purchases.
4. All of the above.

So what do you need to look out for?

• Look out for a fake anti-virus popup that you did not think that you had.  If it does not look right it probably is not.
• Look out for a fake anti-virus popup that looks just like the one you have installed but will not go away.  Its probably a fake.
• Look out for a fake anti-virus popup that will not go away and your Internet no longer works.  Its probably fake.
• Look out for bad grammar or spelling mistakes on the fake anti-virus popups.

If any of the above is true then the anti-virus is probably fake.

The biggest tip off is the fake anti-virus is usually very annoying.  Real anti-virus will allow you to choose what to do about a virus you might have picked up and then leave you to handle your business.

So how do you prevent fake anti-virus infections?

• Always have a full featured Internet Security software on your computer (I recommend Kaspersky Internet Security which we recommend and sell at our stores).  Many of the free anti-virus work ok but they do not protect you from everything.  You really do get what you pay for.
• If you get a strange email from someone you know, do not open it.  Create a new email and ask the person if they sent it.  Most viruses will come from people you know because their computer is infected and is sending viruses out to people that they know.
• Do not click on strange links on Facebook.  Again these links will come from people that you know.
• Do not buy or renew your anti-virus software from a popup, only buy from reputable sites or at a retail store.

So what should you do if you get infected?

1. Shutdown your computer immediately.
2. Get your computer in to us as soon as possible.  Once these viruses infect your computer they download and infect your computer with other viruses.  They also use your computer to send out spam and Facebook posts to infect other people’s computers.

Real Anti-virus companies are detecting and releasing protection as fast as possible but nothing is one hundred percent because they are always playing catchup just like police trying to stop crime.

While I hope that you never get a virus infection the fact is that most people will.

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