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Microsoft warns of rogue software

Fake internet security software was one of the issues plaguing consumers in the last half of 2008, according to computer giant Microsoft.

The firm's latest online Security Intelligence Report has identified these rogue security programmes as the ones that were used by cyber crooks to both infect and rob them of their finances.

Such malicious software works by using scare tactics to make consumers download the programmes after which they are asked for money in order to get rid of apparent online threats in their machines.

However, consensus among leading online security professionals is that the programmes are ineffective against viruses.

Win32/FakeXPA and Win32/FakeSecSen trojan horse programmes have been identified by Microsoft as just some of the rogue packages that managed to get into more than three million computers during the period.

Users of Windows Vista seem to be more secure as the system was less infected at any service pack level compared to Windows XP.

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