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Be wary of Personal Defender 2009

Internet users should be careful when responding to Windows Security Alert pop-up messages on their computers or they risk exposing themselves to online threats.

Writing in the Guardian newspaper's technology section in reply to a question from a user whose response to the alert led him to a site offering to sell security software, Jack Schofield says people should be wary of the rogue site's threat.

According to internet user Russell Graham, his pressing of the 'Enable Protection' button in response to the security alert directed him to a site offering to sell him Personal Defender 2009 software.

"It's a sales pitch for Personal Defender 2009, which is malware that pretends to be anti-spyware," warned Mr Schofield.

"Don't install it, obviously. However, it's hard to tell if you have a problem because we don't know where the pop-up came from."

He went on to recommend searching "the registry to see if there is an entry for Personal Defender 2009", as well as scanning PCs with anti-spyware software.

Regularly updated internet security software can keep such threats at bay.

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