Virus Primer

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Question: Why are there viruses?

Short Answer: Money

Long Answer:  Most virus, malware and spy-ware infections around today want your money - underlying that are a few broad categories that I see regularly.

  1. Getting your money: pop ups, pop under, or annoying balloon tips that keep reappearing in the system tray usually offering a security package to fix a perceived problem.  They can hijack your desktop and your web browser. 
  2. Sending out spam: Hijack of your computer solely to send out spam. You won’t normally see this one.  You could incur excess data charges from your ISP or you find your Internet access slowed to a crawl.  Spammers get money from the ‘advertisers’.
  3. Keystroke Logging: Sit quietly in the background monitoring keystrokes More often nowdays phishing emails are used to gather credentials. 
  4. Ransomware: Encrypt your files then hold you to ransom in order to recover your data - usually around $400-500
List of known Rogue security software.
Advanced Cleaner
AKM Antivirus 2010 Pro
AlfaCleaner
Alpha AntiVirus
ANG Antivirus
Anti Virus 2010
AntiMalware
Antimalware Doctor
AntiSpyCheck 2.1
AntiSpyStorm
AntiSpyware
AntiSpyware 2009
Antispyware 2010
AntiSpyware Shield
AntiSpyware Soft
AntiSpywareExpert
AntiSpywareMaster
AntiSpywareSuite
Antivermins
Antivir Solution Pro
Antivirus 2008
Antivirus 2009
Antivirus 2010
Antivirus 360
Antivirus 5
Antivirus 7
Antivirus 8
Antivirus 8
Antivirus Action
AntiVirus Gold
Antivirus IS
Antivirus Live
Antivirus Master
Antivirus Pro 2009
Antivirus Pro 2010
Antivirus Scan
Antivirus Soft
Antivirus Studio 2010
Antivirus Suite
Antivirus System PRO
Antivirus XP 2008
Antivirus XP 2010
AntivirusGT
AV Antivirus Suite
AV Security Suite
Avatod Antispyware 8.0
Awola
BestsellerAntivirus
Browser Defender
ByteDefender
ByteDefender Security 2010
Cleanator
ContraVirus
Control Center
Core Security
Cyber Security
Defense Center
Desktop Security 2010
Digital Security
Disk Defrag
Disk Doctor
Doctor Antivirus
Doctor Antivirus 2008
Dr Guard
DriveCleaner
EasyFix Tools
EasySpywareCleaner
eco AntiVirus
Error Expert
ErrorFix
Errorsafe
ErrorSmart
Flu Shot 4
Green Antivirus 2009
Hard Drive Diagnostic
HDD Plus
HDD Rescue
HDD Rescue
HDD Scan
IE Antivirus
IEDefender
InfeStop
Internet Antivirus
Internet Antivirus 2011
Internet Security 2010
KVMSecure
Live PC Care
Live Security Suite
MacSweeper
Malware Bell
Malware Defender
Malware Defense
MalwareAlarm
MalwareCore
MalwareCrush
MaxAntiSpy
Microsoft Anti Malware
MS AntiSpyware 2009
MS Antivirus
MxOne Antivirus
My Security Engine
My Security Shield
My Security Wall
Navashield
Netcom3 Cleaner
PAL Spyware Remover
Paladin Antivirus
PC Antispy
PC Antispyware
PC AntiSpyWare 2010
PC Clean Pro
PC Defender Antivirus
PC Privacy Cleaner
PC Scan and Sweep
PC-Doctor
PCPrivacy Tools
PCSecureSystem
Perfect Defender 2009
Perfect Optimizer
PerfectCleaner
Personal Antivirus
Personal Security
PersonalAntiSpy Free
Privacy Center
Protection Center
PSGuard
Quick Defragmenter
Rapid AntiVirus
Real AntiVirus
Reg tool
RegAlilve
Reggenie Antivirus
Registry Defender
Registry Great
Registry Patrol
Registry Winner
Remove Disk Doctor
Remove Hard Drive Diagnostic
Remove HDD Fix
Remove HDD Plus
Remove Memory Fixer
Remove Palladium Pro
Remove Personal Internet Security 2011
Remove System Tool 2011
Remove Win Defrag
Remove Win HDD
Safety Alerter 2006
Safety Center o
SafetyKeeper
SaliarAR
SecureFighter
SecurePCCleaner
SecureVeteran
Security Center
Security Essentials 2010
Security Master AV
Security Scan 2009
Security Suite Platinum
Security Tool
Security Toolbar 7.1
SiteAdware
Smart Antivirus 2009
Smart Engine
Smart HDD
Soft Soldier
Spy Away
Spy Tool
SpyAxe
SpyCrush
Spydawn
SpyEraser
SpyGuarder
SpyHeal
Spylocked
SpyMarshal
SpyRid
SpySheriff
SpySpotter
Spyware Blaster
Spyware Cleaner
Spyware Doctor
Spyware Protect 2009
Spyware Protect 2009
Spyware Stormer
Spyware Striker Pro
Spyware X-terminator
SpywareBot .
SpywareGuard 2008
SpywareQuake
SpywareSheriff
SpywareStrike
SpyWiper
SysGuard
Sysinternals Antivirus
System Antivirus 2008
System Defragmenter
System Live Protect
System Security
System Tool 2011
SystemArmor
SystemDoctor
TheSpyBot
ThinkPoint
Total Secure 2009
Total Win 7 Security
Total Win Vista Security
Total Win XP Security
TrustedAntivirus
UltimateCleaner
Ultra Defragger
Virus Locker
Virus Response Lab 2009
VirusHeat
VirusIsolator
VirusMelt
VirusProtectPro
VirusRanger
VirusRemover2008
VirusRemover2009
VirusTrigger
Vista Antimalware 2011
Vista Antispyware 2010
Vista Antivirus 2008
Vista Internet Security 2010
Vista Smart Security 2010
Volcano Security Suite
Win 7 Antivirus 2010
Win Antispyware Center
Win HDD
Win7 Antispyware 2011
WinAntiVirus Pro 2006
WinDefender
Windows Police Pro
Windows Protection Suite
WinFixer
WinHound
Winpc Antivirus
Winpc Defender
WinSpywareProtect
WinWeb Security 2008
Wireshark Antivirus
WorldAntiSpy
XJR Antivirus
XP AntiMalware
XP AntiMalware 2010
XP AntiSpyware 2009
XP AntiSpyware 2010
XP Antivirus 2010
XP Antivirus Pro 2010
XP Defender Pro
XP Guardian
XP Internet Security 2010
XP Security Tool
XP-Shield
Your Protection
Zinaps AntiSpyware 2008
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rogue_security_software