Various Tactics Used By Addware Companies

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Since the internet has become global and a wide range of malicious programs have been developed, there have been a number of anti-virus (AV) programs that try to delete spyware.

In fact, with each new virus or adware program that gets developed, there has been new AV software that aims to neutralize the threat. There is essentially a long standing battle between unethical companies making spyware, and ethical companies making AV programs to counter it.

Since companies who make malicious software exist to make a profit (mostly through pop-up advertisements, changing your homepage and installing toolbars), it is in their interest to keep it from being un-installed. A number of sophisticated malicious programs therefore stop known anti-virus programs from running once they have infected a machine, and can sometimes even un-install any program known to delete spyware. In addition, they may block the infected machine connecting to well known sites like Norton AV or AdAware.

Sometimes, malicious software will even come with a pirated and modified copy of a well known AV program, in order to eliminate competing adware on the infected machine. Once it infects a users machine, it drops a pirated copy of an anti-spyware program on the computer; then, the user scans and delete's other adware that has been installed.

Because the modified AV program doesn't delete the infection that actually downloaded the AV software, this leaves only the one infection. There is not only competition between unethical companies who make adware and companies who try to remove it, but also competition between spyware makers themselves. A company can make more off an infected machine if they are the only program on it, and therefore it makes sense to remove competing adware from the infected computer.

In addition to these underhanded tactics, there is also software that can stop your entire computer from working. One such program encrypts every file on your machine, making it impossible for you to access any file. Then, it drops an unencrypted text file on your desktop, with instructions to pay money in order to get your computer back to normal again. Whether or not the company actually does fix your computer after that is another matter.

Similarly, you'll often see adware companies who bombard you with pop-up advertisements, and try to sell you pop-up blocking software at the same time. Advertisements on infected machines for computer cleaners and programs to delete spyware are also common. The aim is to create a major problem, and then try to sell the solution.

 

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